Compressor motor 59 amps

[snapmom]

When my compressor is turned on its putting out 59 amps, and throwing the breaker, i replaced the starting capacitors, but no help, is it the motor or maybe the run time capacitor?
The motor is 1.5 hp. single ph. 115v.

 

[Gary S]

What size breaker and wire are you trying to run it on? What amperage does the motor plate say? What is the temperature in your garage?

 

[Norcal]

The centrifugal switch may not be disengaging & the start winding would still be online, that would account for the excessive current.

 

[Falcon67]

Considering that motor should pull around 10A running and maybe 15~20 starting, I'd have that motor serviced or replaced.

 

[PT Doc]

59 amps....WOW.

 

[Aceman]

59 amps with or without the pump hooked up?

 

[Stuart in MN]

Take the belt off and try running the motor with no load. If the current drops to normal there's a problem with the pump, if it doesn't the motor is at fault.

 

[snapmom]

Well, either way its probably not worth fixing, its very old, has one of the old cast iron motors.

 

[pop pop]

It's probably better than one you could buy. Duty cycle is greater than 1.0 most likely. Rugged. If you haven't let the smoke out of it yet, it should be fixable fairly easy.

 

[snapmom]

Well, I fixed it. I took the belt of, the motor ran fine. Looked at this old compressor, and noticed that I had not drained the (whatever that cylinder piece that is) off the motor that feeds into the tank. It had maybe 4oz of oily gunk in it, put the belt back on, and now it starts up like it always has. I have had the machine like 30 years, and get it used then. Replaced the tank about 15 years ago.
Thanks for your help.
Rosenna.

 

[Charles (in GA)]

the centrifugal switch may not be disengaging & the start winding would still be online, that would account for the excessive current.

^^^this^^^

 

[Falcon67]

Good fix - glad it worked out well. Sounds like a robust older compressor.