Air Compressor Issue Question

[nomadicbohunk]

I don't know enough about these and have never tore into one. I have a piston 30 gallon big box special. It hasn't been used that much and is 5-6 years old. I run it when I need it. When it goes on, I can hear something click once and the same thing click once again when it goes off. I'm guessing that's the pressure switch. I've used it in the winter below zero with no issues in the past.

I ran it yesterday and accidentally left it plugged in. It does leak down and always has. The low temp last night was 11 and I did run a big propane heater quite a bit during the day and got it nice and humid in there.

Today I noticed the breaker was tripped and the compressor was plugged in. When it goes on now, it slow starts, and makes that same clicking noise over and over about 1/2 second apart each time. I'd assume this is the capacitor, but the motor is running and it makes that same noise when it goes off when it works normally.

It's going to be in the 40's in a couple days, and I'll run the heat in there to thaw it out and see if it works. If it continues with this issue what do folks think I should look at?

 

[The Cobbler]

if it is an oiled compressor you probably should run a lighter oil or switch to synthetic.

 

[nomadicbohunk]

if it is an oiled compressor you probably should run a lighter oil or switch to synthetic.

I changed the oil to synthetic after I got it good and broke in about a year after I bought it.

 

[micromind]

If the click is right after it starts and the second click is when it stops, most likely it's the centrifugal start switch in the motor. Perfectly normal. Some motors are louder than others.

 

[rlitman]

The click when it starts and stops is the both the pressure switch AND the unloader (they're a combined part). The click when it stops should be followed by a hiss, as the unloader releases air trapped between the pump head and the tank inlet check valve.

My guess is you have some moisture trapped that froze up something. If the unloader is unable to release the trapped air (due to being clogged with ice), the pump has to fight that before the motor has time to come up to speed, and that can lead to a tripped breaker. Or maybe the tank inlet check valve is frozen shut.

Give it a chance to thaw, thoroughly drain any water from the tank and see what happens.

 

[nomadicbohunk]

The click when it starts and stops is the both the pressure switch AND the unloader (they're a combined part). The click when it stops should be followed by a hiss, as the unloader releases air trapped between the pump head and the tank inlet check valve.

My guess is you have some moisture trapped that froze up something. If the unloader is unable to release the trapped air (due to being clogged with ice), the pump has to fight that before the motor has time to come up to speed, and that can lead to a tripped breaker. Or maybe the tank inlet check valve is frozen shut.

Give it a chance to thaw, thoroughly drain any water from the tank and see what happens.

Thanks! I didn't know the unloader was combined with the pressure switch. That all makes sense.