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compressor shutting off

I would shop around and know were to get one but I would wait on making the purchase. Sounds like you solved the problem. Feeling how warm the motor is is a VERY crude way of testing. If the motor goes bad it will trip the overload no matter how much you crank up the amp setting, more important how high can you set the overload and what is the recomended setting?
 
Thanks. Recomended is 9. It's pulling 10 and I cranked it all the way up, almost to 12. I'll take a look to see what I can find. How important is brand in an electric motor?
 
I find it very important, especially when there's a real brand name on a plate rather than some generic information on a sticker. I replaced the no-name motor on our compressor with a Baldor, and right off the bat I could hear an improvement in the way it fired up.
 
Sounds to me like your real problem is that the compressor is undersized for the job. How many CFM is this unit? How much does it run during the day? Can it keep up during peak demand?
 
Ryko sold him the air comp so I really doubt it's undersized. Make sure you don't have too much oil in the crankcase. also make sure the motor is turning the correct way
 
Jimmy Buffett it's true distributors make mistakes just like everyone, however since your A.C. has been in and problem free for 5 years I'll bet being undersized is not the problem. I'm guessing you have a 5hp 2 stage with 80 gal tank. If so that's big enough for 2 SGXS with bifold doors (Ryko doors are air pigs) Please check the following:
1. Oil level, too much is as bad as not enough. you should be able to see the level in the sight glass
2. Check your air filter located on the pump if you've never changed it its time.
3. Make sure the belts are turning the correct way if they are spinning backwards the A.C. will still work but the cooling air is blown away from the pump instead of across it. I doubt this is it though since it's been opperating correctly for so long.
4. Still can't get it let me know, i'm in Iowa also and may be able to stop by and find the problem.
 
Did you make sure the check valve in the tank is working, if it is staying open at times it would put a load on the motor when it tries to start, that could cause the motor to over load
 
Etowah
car washing systems inc said:
Did you make sure the check valve in the tank is working, if it is staying open at times it would put a load on the motor when it tries to start, that could cause the motor to over load
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You're close - there's a bleed-off valve in the switch that releases the pressure from the head and plumbing. If the check valve in the tank were bad, it would leak air continuously from that bleeder when the compressor isn't running. If the bleeder is bad you won't hear a blast of air when the compressor shuts down, which is when it bleeds off pressure from the head.
 
I think it is sized correctly although I think it may only be 3hp. It had been doing fine for 5 years and is doing fine now cranked up. I have airlift doors from Overhead Door and they do use their share. On a busy winter day we use a lot of air. The funny thing is that when it started kicking off we were not busy at all so I don't really know what changed. I would have heard it if the check valve was bad so I don't think it's that.
Thanks
 
I'd like to go back to the cold as a possibility - when the original motor on our Ingersoll-Rand started failing, it would trip at night or first thing in the morning when it was slow and cold. It went through two winters like that, and finally failed half a year later. I could hear it slow to start when it was cold, sometimes I'd see it fail to start and trip if it was late in the evening and cold. During the first winter it started acting up I added a second compressor as back-up, just tee'd it in right along with the IR so if one failed the other would be waiting behind a check valve.
 
Something that I did, one of mine died (blew apart the aluminum head, I took the 80Gal tank and added it to the new compressor giving me twice the air storage, the compressor came on less and ran longer which is better for anything.
 
That's a good idea if I can find another tank somewhere.
It was very cold when it tripped. It was not as cold when I had it checked and it was pulling 10 amps, cold but not as cold. My doors are actually open today for the first time in quite some time. Could be golfing by Monday!
 
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