Compressor Problems

[Bubbles Galore]

Arrived at the wash this past Friday and my 5 HP Emerson motor on my 2 stage 80 gallon Ingersoll Rand was burnt up. I did my best to troubleshoot the problem and replaced the motor with an AO Smith and all was well through this weekend. My maintenance tech arrived at the wash tonight and the compressor was running non-stop. He attempted to shut off the switch on the compressor, but it continued to run. At this point he flipped the breaker and shut it off that way.

It sounds to me like the pressure switch isn't operating properly, what do you guys think? I need to get to the root of this problem quickly so I can quit worrying about this compressor.

Thanks!

 

[bighead]

Its your pressure switch

 

[Bubbles Galore]

I thought so...thanks!

 

[sprocket]

If not the pressure switch the motor starter contacts might be stuck or welded together.

 

[JMMUSTANG]

Same thing happen to us 3 weeks ago. Always seems to happen on the weekend.
My son replaced the pressure switch...problem solved.

 

[MEP001]

He attempted to shut off the switch on the compressor, but it continued to run.

That points to the contactor. The pressure switch on the larger I/R compressors has no load on it so it's unlikely to stick closed. You can confirm this by taking the covers off both the pressure switch and the contactor to see which one is sticking.

 

[Bubbles Galore]

I switched out the pressure switch with a Square D style from TSC and things have gone well so far. Man this can be frustrating.

 

[jprb]

I've had several pressure switches changed after they have welded the contacts closed (causing the motor to run continuously). I think it's another example of things not being made as well as they used to be. I may look in to using a motor starter/contactor if the pressure switches continue to go bad.

 

[Randy]

We always keep at least 1 spare, sometimes 2 pressure switches. They always seem to go bad on a Saturday or Sunday morning.