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Air compressor not working

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AC-WC

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NE, Indiana
Craftsman 20 gal/5 hp air compressor-unplugged it to work on the wall behind it. Turned off the breaker, removed outlet box from wall, noticed it still had air pressure drained the water and pulled the release valve. Plugged the compressor back in without touching anything and now it doesn't turn on. Inspected outlet, still solid connections, checked breaker could not find anything wrong, replaced with a spare still will not start. Verified it has power at the outlet, verified the switch on the compressor is on (turned off and back on 2x).
Either my new compressor switch I replaced about 3 months ago is dead or something with the pressure valve?
 
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PCustoms

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AC-WC said:
Verified it has power at the outlet
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How did you verify?

Odds are.its something dumb, it would be extremely unlikely the compressor randomly died because you unplugged it to get behind it.
 
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johnre

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Check the voltage one more time - except this time pull the cover off the pressure switch and look on the motor side of the switched contacts, not the input cord side.
 
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AC-WC

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Follow up-had a friend come over to investigate. Turned out it was stupid simple. Verified power was all good. Took the tester to see if there was continuity at the plug (no). Took the cover of the switch off and found 2 of the spade terminals were not tight/loose. Tightened the crimp and bingo. Either the crimps were never really snug when I installed a few months ago or they worked themselves loose. At least if it happens again I will change from spade terminals to rings and be done with it.
 
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wyliesdiesels

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Modesto, CA
AC-WC said:
Follow up-had a friend come over to investigate. Turned out it was stupid simple. Verified power was all good. Took the tester to see if there was continuity at the plug (no). Took the cover of the switch off and found 2 of the spade terminals were not tight/loose. Tightened the crimp and bingo. Either the crimps were never really snug when I installed a few months ago or they worked themselves loose. At least if it happens again I will change from spade terminals to rings and be done with it.
Click to expand...
a 5HP motor should not be using a plug and receptacle. the plug is not rated for 5HP. it should be hardwired
 
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A

AC-WC

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nadogail said:
I have found that the horses claimed on the sides of compressors are much smaller than Full Sized. They remind me of "Detroit Horse Power" of 70 years ago.
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Yes, like lawnmower HP ratings from years ago they lied in the advertising on the compressor:oops: It's really more in the 2/3 HP range. It can be converted to 110 but would pull a lot more amps and that never sounded like the right thing to do for a compressor.
 
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wyliesdiesels

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AC-WC said:
Yes, like lawnmower HP ratings from years ago they lied in the advertising on the compressor:oops: It's really more in the 2/3 HP range. It can be converted to 110 but would pull a lot more amps and that never sounded like the right thing to do for a compressor.
Click to expand...
Post a pic of the nameplate
 
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