Replacing a Capacitor

[rstar]

As a further to my question about ballast yesterday; I opened my ballast this morning to find that all that was blown was the capacitor so i sourced a replacment in the city and picked it up this afternoon. My question is in regards to wiring the new one in. There are no marks on either wires (they are both plain white) on the new capacitor. Does it matter which wire goes where on the ballast, or is there a pos and neg on the cap. How do i tell which goes where if there is. Ill include a pic of the cap.

http://i147.photobucket.com/albums/r302/rstar26/P3227005.jpg

http://i147.photobucket.com/albums/r302/rstar26/P3227008.jpg

[hillegom]

I am not an electrician, but I have been told that AC capacitors, doesn't matter.
Its the DC ones that you have to get the polarity right.
Hopefully someone else will chime in

[Bloodasp]

Normally if a capacitor has no markings and the leads are the same length they can go either way. That is if they are new.

[bvlester]

+1 Bloodasp on the no marking and the wires being of the same lenght it can be installed in either direction. A capaciter in a AC enviroment will change AC to DC it will charge and discharge at a set voltage this Cap is probably for firing up the bulb. That is a complete circuit not just a cap in that plastic container, you should be ok to just hook it up but you can call the guy you got it from and check with him.
Bill

[rstar]

Thanks alot for the advice guys the wires were both unmarked and the same length so i just installed it closed the box plugged it in, and the bulb fired right up!!!!

[banditpowdercoat]

Yup, AC cap's have no polarity :D