Compressor on remote switch

[blaze_125]

I think I read in my owners manual that the compressor should always be turned off using the compressor's built-in switch instead of pulling the power cord out of the outlet.

In my upcoming setup, I'd like to have the compressor in a box in the backyard right next to my garage wall. In that box, there would be a power outlet connected to switch inside the garage.

Turning the compressor on/off with the switch in the garage would practically be the same as if I was pulling the cord out of the outlet... What's your thoughts on this? Am I going to kill my compressor if I connect it to a remote switch?

 

[sneezer41]

As long as it has an unloader valve, it doesn't really matter. a real switch is not just like pulling the plug

 

[blaze_125]

As long as it has an unloader valve,

Yeah, it still got all the factory safety features.

it doesn't really matter. a real switch is not just like pulling the plug

Forgive my ignorance but, breifly, what difference is there?

 

[porcupine73]

Hm, does it have a cooling fan or other other features that continue to run after the compressor portion shuts off? Or maybe it has an unloader valve that unloads, then continues to run for a short period, hence making simply unplugging undesirable?

 

[Steve in Mi]

Switch contacts are made to handle the current cycling, plug spades are not. Plugs are a means of connecting not switching.

 

[Charles (in GA)]

If this is a portable compressor, many of them have a lever type "switch" on them marked AUTO-OFF or similar. This is really a lever that offsets the pressure switch so it cannot cause the compressor to come on when moved to the off position. In addition, and importantly, it unloads the head pressure, just as the pressure switch normally does when it opens and shuts off the motor. This way, if you flick the lever to OFF while the compressor is running, it will stop and the head will be unloaded. If you merely remove power while it is running, the pressure switch is still closed, and does not unload the head pressure, and the unit may stall the next time the power is applied to it.

This is an issue with any compressor that has a pressure switch operated head unloader, if you shut off the power while it is running, the next start will probably be a stall with a tripped breaker to follow.

Charles

 

[blaze_125]

Thanks for the info.

The compressor I'm using is this one:

I guess it may not be a good idea to wire it to a switch then... ?

 

[blaze_125]

While I'm on the compressor subject, I also have one of these:

The motor on it keeps shutting off for some reason, so, how would I go about taking the motor off and upgrading it to a belt driven system?

 

[kbs2244]

Charles has got it right.
If you are trying to keep it from cycling on and off due to leaks while you are not using it, the easy thing to do is use your set up but just let it turn it self off before you turn of the power. That resets everything.
Then when you turn off the power it will leak down but not turn on.

 

[blaze_125]

the easy thing to do is use your set up but just let it turn it self off before you turn of the power.

At first I did not understand it that way but, it seems like a great idea.

What's an extra 3 minutes before I flip the switch off anyway...

 

[rwhite692]

At my old house, we had a compressor located in one building and underground air lines running about 75 feet to the shop building. We put a 110V Asco (industrial type, continuous duty rated) solenoid valve right at the air output of the compressor, and ran an underground 110V line out to the shop.

When we needed air, we'd just flip the switch, the Asco valve would open, and the compressor would run to keep up with demand as usual, then when demand stopped, it would just run until it's pressure shutoff switch would turn it off...When not being used for extended periods, The compressor itself (with the Asco valve powered off (closed)) would hold it's accumulated pressure for a looooong time, in some cases for several weeks, without bleeding down and needing to run again....