Air compressor safety shut off

altereddezignz · Nov 2, 2013

Hello everyone. I have a question that i have yet to seam to find an answer to.
I have a 6000SF shop that is kinda divided into 2 parts. When we built the shop we placed the air compressor next to the breaker box and ran the main air line down the back wall of the shop for simplicity. Now everything has been plumbed and has beenf or a while with all drops and everything.

Here is my issue. The shop has now kinda been divided i have about a 5000SF area and my brother has a 1000sf area. The 2 sides are locked up independently b/c my brother lets friends come over and work on thier stuff on his side. This is when we divided it and put in 2 front door entrances. My stuff kept comming up moved, left out or laying around.

Now to the main question. The air compressor is on his side of the shop. I paid for the air compressor Puma 7.5 HP 80gal brand new so i have a large amount of money ******* in it. But they keep leaving the air on or leaving the auto on switch on. I am afraid that a line might rupture or something when no one is there and it will ruin the air compressor.

The reason is b/c i had about the same puma compressor a 5hp 80 gal that something happened in the head and it wouldn't build pressure one day when it kicked back on. luckily i was there or it would have burned up the motor.

Is there a way to make or buy some sort of auto shut off of some sorts.

We are always there random times so a timer is out of the picture.

larry_g · Nov 2, 2013

In your situation I would add a N.O. timer between the the pressure switch and the contactor on your brothers side. That way on his side they could set the timer on for a given time and then it would go off. Think a timer like in the bathroom to turn on the heat lamp or fan. On your side of the shop you could install a on/off switch so you didn't have to mess with the timer or a second timer if you wish that would prevent you from leaving it on.

Something like this TIMER

lg
no neat sig line

altereddezignz · Nov 2, 2013

Kinda like a timer that is in a storage building unit that has power. Turn the dial and it turns on for 30 min or so then shuts off?

ratdoggy · Nov 2, 2013

There are heavy duty clock type things that can be wired into your power leads. We use them at work so if someone forgets to turn off a pump they lose power a half hour after we leave so they don't run all night
Something like this http://www.1000bulbs.com/product/3417/ELEC-T104.html?utm_source=SmartFeedPriceGrabber&utm_medium=Shopping&utm_term=ELECT104&utm_content=ElectricalTimersMechanicalTimers24HourDial&utm_campaign=SmartFeedPriceGrabber&thissku=ELEC777dash777T104&site=pricegrabber.com

altereddezignz · Nov 2, 2013

only problem is the random times we are there. i figure he would just change it to be on 24 hours a day lol.. sorry if it seams like it but i am not trying to be difficult. I would just move the compressor but it is already plumed and wired and i dont want to just not allow them to use the air. But i would like to know that the compressor is not gonna burn up if something crazy happens.

altereddezignz · Nov 2, 2013

It would be nice if there was something that would activate a timer when the contractors closed and sent power to the motor to pump. If the pump ran longer than a set time it would shut off the power to the motor like an interupt. So you could set it for like 15 minutes. If the motor tried to run for 15 min or longer the timer would cut the power until it was reset.

G_P · Nov 2, 2013

If your brother and his friends are too irresponsible to even shut off the compressor when they leave perhaps you should rethink letting them use that space at all.

What is going to happen when one of them screws up and starts a fire?

altereddezignz · Nov 2, 2013

This sounds worse than it is.. Most of the time they do shut it off. I would just like a backup. This is by no means saying that they or he is irresponsible but i have done it. I have left my own shop and left something one..

altereddezignz · Nov 2, 2013

** on

Rookie2 · Nov 2, 2013

Timers are usually low voltage. It can be done but you would have to buy a contactor (like in an A/C unit).

I would call these people (Franklin Pumptec)
http://www.pumpsandtanks.com/Motors-Switches/motor_protection.htm

This unit turns off water pumps if the well goes dry etc. It has a time delay .

also you could use a temperature cut out thermostat (sensor) and a contactor.

Cougar · Nov 2, 2013

You could do the timer and for extra backup wire a light into the auto switch.
Put the light by the door so they will see it when walking out.
They will think, why is that light on, oh yeah, turn the compressor off.

larry_g · Nov 2, 2013

Does your compressor have a contactor already? I would think so at 7.5 hp. If so the timer is referenced above would work as there is very little power in the pressure switch circuit. If you installed a 2 hr timer then the pump could run for two hours before it needed to be reset for another 2 hours of running. There are timers out there what will give any amount of time you want. If they work long periods of time in there then use a longer duration timer. The one linked can be had in 2,4,6,& 12 hour times.

lg
no neat sig line

brucer · Nov 2, 2013

anyway to run separate disconnects to your end of the shop and his side? I'm no electrician, but surely there is some way you can wire two separate disconnects.

anyway to wire it using a magnetic breaker then wire two switches..

I'm no electrician but I know they wire up air conditioner units with two separate disconnects, one outside/one inside, got to be a way to do it with an air compressor.

sberry · Nov 2, 2013

I would make sure the hoses are decent and call it a day, **** happens but this is pretty rare. In my whole career never had it or know of it personally.

brucer · Nov 2, 2013

to add, there is a remote relay thermostat, that can give you complete control over a 220v electric heater using an ipod or iphone or laptop, there would have to be a way you could use that on the compressor using just the on and off control..

There is a post on here covering a guy installing the setup on one of those G73 17,000 btu electric heaters in his garage.. seems like you could do the same with the compressor.. might be something a good electrician can figure out.

altereddezignz · Nov 2, 2013

I think i wanna clarify exactly what i am wanting. Im not really looking for a timer to set so it will only allow the compressor to be on for a specific amount of time. I just want something that will shut off the compressor if a line ruptures in the middle of the night or something of left on.

The best thing would be a remote timer that when the pressure switch kicks on the motor it activates the timer. If the compressor only runs its normal 5-6 minutes everything is good and when the pressure switch kicks off the motor the remote timer no longer gets power and does nothing. But if the pressure switch kicks on the compressor and it tries to run for 15-20 minutes the remote timer will disconnect the power to the compressor until reset so that whatever caused it to run for so long is fixed.

The timer above would still allow for the compressor to run unattended long periods of time.
Lets say they come in set it for 2 hours then leave 30 minutes later.. The line ruptures now the compressor is still allowed to run for another 1.5 hours before the timer shuts it down..

Again not trying to be difficult but there has to be something out there that will do this i just have to find it lol...

Bluearmflames · Nov 2, 2013

Just buy a time off delay relay and a push button switch. Wire it into the motor contractor coil. A push button on both sides wired in parallel.

altereddezignz · Nov 2, 2013

sberry said:
I would make sure the hoses are decent and call it a day, **** happens but this is pretty rare. In my whole career never had it or know of it personally.

All my hoses are good and all my lines are kept up. But you never know what might happen. I am just trying to protect my investment a little more.

altereddezignz · Nov 2, 2013

The simple solution would be to just move the compressor and cap the end the compressor is on now. Run new power to where the compressor will be now. But i do not want to just stop them from having air in the shop. I mean i am probable thinking to much into it and nothing will ever happen and we will never have an issue of any kind. But its like any other high value item you own the more protection the better if the protection can be added for a reasonable price.

altereddezignz · Nov 2, 2013

Bluearmflames said:
Just buy a time off delay relay and a push button switch. Wire it into the motor contractor coil. A push button on both sides wired in parallel.

Not sure i understand. A time off delay Upon application of input voltage, the time delay relay is ready to accept a trigger. When the trigger is applied, the output is energized. Upon removal of the trigger, the time delay (t) begins. At the end of the time delay (t), the output is de-energized. Any application of the trigger during the time delay will reset the time delay (t) and the output remains energized..

So this would only allow it to run for a specific amount of time but it would not auto kick on when the PSI lowers for the compressor to kick back on again?

Dick in Wisconsin · Nov 2, 2013

altereddezignz said:
i am probable thinking to much into it and nothing will ever happen and we will never have an issue of any kind. /QUOTE]

I don't know your brother or his friends. But ... you might have answered your question in your statement above!

There have been a bunch of good suggestions. The one I tend to like is to replace your brother's on/off switch with a timer than gives them only 2hrs or 3hrs or 4hrs of power-on before the timer needs to be reset. If they are in the shop on a Saturday ... then if the timer is set at 2hrs max, every two hours they will have ask the timer for another two hours. If they forget when they leave, you have only to worry about no more than 2hrs of running if something breaks. Could a motor burn up in that time period? Maybe, depending on the situation.

Keep us posted.

altereddezignz · Nov 2, 2013

It also wouldn't even have to be anything to do with the motor. If it was something stop the air flow at the tank out.

OccupantRJ · Nov 2, 2013

Wire the contactor on the compressor to the shop lights. When the lights are off, the compressor is off.

altereddezignz · Nov 2, 2013

OccupantRJ said:
Wire the contactor on the compressor to the shop lights. When the lights are off, the compressor is off.

Im from Arkansas. Most of the summer until about 8 at night we have the shop doors open and no lights are on. The shop has 6 10x10 doors so a lot of light is let in. lol.. Thats about one of the only good things about Arkansas and daylight savings time.

Rookie2 · Nov 2, 2013

The Puma 7.5 HP 80gal air compressor at HOME DEPOT shows a magnetic contactor ! thats 90% of your solution.
look up Grainger.com Dayton no.2NNR6 (up to 120 deg.) or Dayton no. 6ED9Y (up to 250 deg.) wire it in series with the magnetic contactor control wires. them mount the sensor to the electric motor case.

I do like the idea of interconnecting it to the overhead lights but you have a divided shop.

larry_g · Nov 2, 2013

So now you want something like this http://jodogsport.com/Safety-Air-Flow-Shut-Off-Valve.aspx

lg
no neat sig line

OccupantRJ · Nov 2, 2013

Wire it to an occupancy sensor switch? As long as there is movement in the room, the switch stays on.

altereddezignz · Nov 2, 2013

larry_g said:
So now you want something like this http://jodogsport.com/Safety-Air-Flow-Shut-Off-Valve.aspx

lg
no neat sig line

Its funny u posted this b/c i already have that link open lol. I was reading about it.. I would just have to plumb a bypass i could turn off b/c it would not allow my pressure blaster to run at full potential lol.

altereddezignz · Nov 2, 2013

OccupantRJ said:
Wire it to an occupancy sensor switch? As long as there is movement in the room, the switch stays on.

Divided shop. Wouldn't work when i am on my side. No motion on side with compressor lol

altereddezignz · Nov 2, 2013

Rookie2 said:
The Puma 7.5 HP 80gal air compressor at HOME DEPOT shows a magnetic contactor ! thats 90% of your solution.
look up Grainger.com Dayton no.2NNR6 (up to 120 deg.) or Dayton no. 6ED9Y (up to 250 deg.) wire it in series with the magnetic contactor control wires. them mount the sensor to the electric motor case.

I do like the idea of interconnecting it to the overhead lights but you have a divided shop.

the model of my compressor is a tue7580vm if that helps

altereddezignz · Nov 2, 2013

It is a magnetic contractor

Spareparts · Nov 2, 2013

Sounds like your brother is taking advantage of your good nature, you are very generious to let him use part of your shop and he apparently has no respect for that or you. Time for him to have his own place.

A_Pmech · Nov 2, 2013

An Allen Bradley 700-HR will do what you want with a little creativity.

altereddezignz · Nov 2, 2013

Spareparts said:
Sounds like your brother is taking advantage of your good nature, you are very generious to let him use part of your shop and he apparently has no respect for that or you. Time for him to have his own place.

Lol you guys are really taking my brother or the way i started this the wrong way.. Normally they do turn stuff off but like i said i have left before and forgot to turn it off myself. I just want a safety backup.

altereddezignz · Nov 2, 2013

Allen Bradley 700-HR hmmmmm. looking up specs on this now. Just trying to figure out how to wire it and it is fairly inexpensive.

Norcal · Nov 2, 2013

60 min. Intermatic® spring wound timer wired in the compressor control circuit, low cost & easy to use.

http://www.intermatic.com/en/Produc...uto-Off_Timers/FFCommercialSeries/FF60MC.aspx

Spareparts · Nov 2, 2013

Sorry don't want to offend you, but you asked were just trying to help.

A_Pmech · Nov 2, 2013

altereddezignz said:
Allen Bradley 700-HR hmmmmm. looking up specs on this now. Just trying to figure out how to wire it and it is fairly inexpensive.

Without working out the logic, I would use it in one-shot mode. If the compressor runs for more than x amount of time it trips the starter out by opening the control circuit. Use a reset button on both sides of the wall to reset the timer and control circuit.

Spareparts · Nov 2, 2013

Have you thought about just putting a sign on the door, "Turn the Compressor Off"

larry_g · Nov 2, 2013

altereddezignz said:
Divided shop. Wouldn't work when i am on my side. No motion on side with compressor lol

Do you know what a parallel circuit is? Or if your an electronics guy, an OR circuit?

lg
no neat sig line

Air compressor safety shut off

Well-known member

Well-known member

Well-known member

Well-known member

Well-known member

Well-known member

Well-known member

Well-known member

Well-known member

Well-known member

Well-known member

Well-known member

Well-known member

Banned

Well-known member

Well-known member

Well-known member

Well-known member

Well-known member

Well-known member

Well-known member

Well-known member

Well-known member

Well-known member

Well-known member

Well-known member

Well-known member

Well-known member

Well-known member

Well-known member

Well-known member

Well-known member

Well-known member

Well-known member

Well-known member

Well-known member

Well-known member

Well-known member

Well-known member

Well-known member