Air Conditioning - Capacitor test ?? Compressor locked up??

I have a small trane AC which is not blowingn cold air. It started with a bad breaker, once I replaced it, now the out side cooling fan comes on back the compressor does not. I had to clean the contactor but before I did, I could hear it kick in so my tstat is working. I narrowed it down to compressor. I checked and do have juice going to compressor. I pulled the capacitor and will look for one on Monday but was thhinking if there was a way to test it. I think they're not that expensive so I'm okay with spending a few dollars even if it's not the problem. If it is not, I'm assuming it's my compressor, correct? any test I can preform? THANK YOU... It's "HOT"

There are a couple of tests you can perform. The cap should be checked with a cap checker but you can kind of cheat using the ohm setting on a multimeter, it should count up like the resistance is going up, if you then switch the leads, it will start counting back down. This cheap test doesn't mean the cap is within spec, it just mean that it isn't completely destroyed.

The compressor can be checked by killing the power, then pulling the wires off the compressor, make sure you pay attention to which wire goes to which terminal. Then use the ohm setting to check resistance between each terminal. The resistance of one pair should equal the other two pairs added together. ie 1 + 2 = 3. No continuity between any two terminals is also bad. Then check each terminal to the compressor casing. If these numbers add up, and you don't have any ohms to ground, the compressor is electrically ok. That doesn't mean the compressor will run, the bearings or valves could also be out of it. Make sure the compressor is not super hot when you do these tests, they usually have an internal overload that will mess with your readings.

A tripping breaker usually indicates a short to ground, in your case I would follow the previous suggestion and see if you show continuity between any comp. terminal and the casing of the compressor. Any reading confirms a bad compressor.

Thanks. I checked the Cap and hom meter shows nothing. I will try the compressor tomorrow.