A capacitor is an electronic device which stores an electric charge. They are used in single-phase motors to increase starting torque and reduce operating current. The capacitor introduces a phase-delay on the single phase power which in effect creates a secondary phase for the motor, enabling its secondary winding to be effective. A three-phase induction motor, by contrast, does not need capacitors because it already has 3 phases, each delayed from each other by 120 degrees, to power each of the 3 separate phase windings in the motor.
Single phase motors typically have both start capacitors and run capacitors. Some single-phase motors only have run capacitors, and some small fan motors do not have any capacitors.
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