Air Compressor power problem

[RickP330]

Hey Gang,
I just bought a new air compressor and my garage outlet doesn't seem to have enough power to run it. Here is a little background:
I have a 220V 5HP / 80 gallon air compressor and plenty of tools for it. I recently moved, and now am renting a 1 car garage in a residential area. My garage only has one outlet for power. I'm really dieing to get some work done and broke down and bought a 110VAC compressor from harbor freight Amazing it is actually pretty nice.

Anyway, here's my problem. I tested it in my GF's house. Runs fine off of her refrigerator outlet. Great I thought, I totally unpacked it and moved it into the rental garage - when it kicks on The garage door light dims and nearly goes out, and it starts to run, but starts 4 cycling like it's missing a cylinder. I presume the voltage drop is too great What's a guy to do? Here are some of my thoughts:

Get an inverter/battery to run it
swap out the pulley for a smaller one
Get a generator to run it.

Can you guys think of anything else I can do???

Thanks Rick...

 

[chris142]

run bigger wires to the garage.

 

[ranger302]

Change out the unloader valve with one that stays open until the motor is up to speed.

 

[RickP330]

run bigger wires to the garage.

yeah, If I could do that I'd just use my Quincy 5hp compressor. This is a rental garage, I can't change the electric...
RP

 

[RickP330]

Change out the unloader valve with one that stays open until the motor is up to speed.

That's a good Idea. I think the next thing I need to do is measure amperage / voltage and see what's going on...

RP

 

[BD1]

MOVE, Relocate, SELL

 

[bsaint]

The difference is ambient temperature. Change the oil to 10w. The norm for us in New England when servicing tire changing truck compressors in the winter.

 

[Ben Buck]

Are you running it on an extension cord by any chance?? That will hurt it!

 

[Pantsfall_McFixit]

Tell us exactly how you have it hooked up, and the amperage rating on the compressor.

 

[RickP330]

MOVE, Relocate, SELL

I won't be here too long, maybe another year don't worry

Well I emptied the tank and it ran fine all the way up to 155 psi. The problem is when it cycles, it appears the unloader valve is not fully unloading the compressor prior to start up. This I can fix.

So the compressor is a keeper. Honestly it is a little more than I wanted to spend - especially at HF, but it's the smallest two stage compressor I could find. Overall it's quite a nice little thing. Let me see if it stands up to some usage, but so far its a

RP

 

[RickP330]

Are you running it on an extension cord by any chance?? That will hurt it!

Hi, no its plugged directly into the wall outlet. The problem is that it's a cheap rental garage. I'm sure it has some light guage wiring behind the walls and that's what I'm fighting...
RP

 

[RickP330]

Did I not upload a photo? Sorry gang. Here it is...

2HP, 30gallon.
RP

 

[pipsters]

I won't be here too long, maybe another year don't worry

Well I emptied the tank and it ran fine all the way up to 155 psi. The problem is when it cycles, it appears the unloader valve is not fully unloading the compressor prior to start up. This I can fix.

So the compressor is a keeper. Honestly it is a little more than I wanted to spend - especially at HF, but it's the smallest two stage compressor I could find. Overall it's quite a nice little thing. Let me see if it stands up to some usage, but so far its a

RP

That's not two stage, that is twin cylinder, bigggggggggg difference.

I looked at that one, problem I had with it is that it takes forever to pump up.

 

[JASTECH]

If it works good it's because they have infringed on USA patends.
>
>
How far away is the panel? What size of breaker? You could install a seperate oulet (30amp), then run EMT to your compressor that you can remove easily l8tr. Or run 8awg cord to it. All this suggestion if it's pwr starved.

 

[RickP330]

Hey Guys, I want to put a new "unloading" pressure switch on this to reslove the starting problem. I see they are like 50 bucks in McMaster carr. Anyone have a source for a cheap one? I'll check Ebay for used ones but just curious. I didn't think they would be that expensive...

BTW, I don't have access to the panel and I cannot make any modifications to the structure. It is a rented garage guys, I probably won't be there that long...
Rick

 

[RickP330]

That's not two stage, that is twin cylinder, bigggggggggg difference.

Thanks for the input, but I don't think it is possible to get 150psi out of a single stage. I am pretty sure it's dual stage, short of taking the head off, there is really no other way I can tell...

RP

 

[Trey T]

It's common to see single stage pump to have output at 150psi but the air flow rate (CFM) is what matter.

 

[Major Ramifications]

Thanks for the input, but I don't think it is possible to get 150psi out of a single stage. I am pretty sure it's dual stage, short of taking the head off, there is really no other way I can tell...

RP

Of course you can get 150 PSI out of a single stage pump, you could get a HELL of a lot more than that if all you were after was PSI. It's a trade off between PSI and CFM. The main indicator of how much work the compressor is capable of is how many CFM at 90 PSI it puts out, since many tools run at 90 PSI.
That is obviously a single stage pump.