Having problems with our air compressor. We bought it brand new and ran great for 4 years no trouble. All of a sudden it trips the breaker. Before we can turn the breaker back on we need to turn the belt a little otherwise it hums. There is nothing to grease and we keep an I on the oil in the compressor. Nothing else is on the breaker other than the aircompressor. Whats the deal?
air comppressor
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Snowkiwi
New member
If your compressor has a single phase motor, then the problem could be the centrifugal switch, inside the motor, the switch may not be closing, keeping the motor start winding open, until you rotate the shaft, causing it to close. Without the start winding in circuit, the motor will stall, causing the breaker to trip.
I’m assuming that you bought this Air compressor at a discount hardware store like Lowes or Home Depot. They use the cheapest motors that they can use. Your problem is with the motor centrifugal start switch in the motor or the start capacitor. There is not really much you can do yourself to fix the motor. I’d buy a new motor and see about having the repaired by an electrical motor shop. I keep a spare motor and pressure switch for my air compressor, with a spare Air compressor in standby.
What kind of air compressor is this? How many HP is the motor? 110 volt or 220 volt?
soonermajic
Well-known member
CH used to be really good. I'd get a cheap backup, for situations like this
6t7gto
Member
I would take the belt off and see if it starts.
It may be the unloader.
It may be the unloader.
wash4me
Member
After taking the belt off and seeing if it will start. you could try banging on the end of the motor with a rubber mallet or lightly with a regular hammer while it's humming trying to start. Also there's a possibility of a bad breaker. You could check the capacitors as well it's possible they have gone bad. Smell the motor and if it smells badly burnt it's probably shot.
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