Eaton 5HP compressor, magnetic starter or no?

[fordper4mance]

I have been looking at getting a new compressor for a couple weeks now. I was leaning toward Eaton because i felt like was the most bang for your buck but now Im not sure. I called to them to verify that the 5HP 80 gallon included a magnetic starter, but was told it was a variation of a pressure switch with some thermal overload protection. I looked at the 7.5 HP model and in the specs it clearly states an TRUE 5HP needs a mag starter? Its little inconsistancies like this that lead me to believe its all just a sales pitch? Has any one with a 5HP model had any trouble with the swtiches.

 

[Davefr]

Unfortunately "HP" is a totally meaningless spec. thanks to our friends at Sears who started this whole deceptive marketing practice in order to defraud the consumer.

Unfortunately others have followed suit.

For making meaningful comparisons and purchasing decisions you need to find out "nameplate amps". Amps should dictate whether you need to go magnetic starter or not.

(My Crafsman shop vac is 6 HP. I wonder why it doesn't have a magnetic starter.)

 

[PT Doc]

Quincy makes 5hp 80g compressors that use a Condor pressure switch they had over load protection that can be dialed in to specific amperage. I wouldn't pass on a compressor rust doesn't have a mag starter that was wired by the factory.

 

[fordper4mance]

I asked them about amps and they stated it pulled 24 amps. Again refering to their information, it states any draw larger than 15 amp requires a mag starter. Im not scared of the pressure switch, im just trying to determine why they say it needs one, but doesn't equip the 5hp model with one.

 

[trboxman]

Most companies putting out 5hp compressors just use the pressure switch wired directly to the motor. 5hp is generally considered to be a bit hard on pressure switches when wired this way because the full load amperage of the motor running is going through the pressure switch rather than the pressure switch being used to trigger a mag starter.

A good quality pressure switch is about $50 or so and a good quality mag starter is at least double if not triple that. I don't have a mag starter on my 5hp compressor and would like to put one on at some point but don't feel any urgency to rush out and buy one.

 

[kartracer55]

.

 

[fordper4mance]

thanks Kart, i was hoping to here from some current owners

 

[Gary S]

My 5hp compressor does not have a mag starter. It draws 23 amps and the pressure switch handles that just fine. If they use a heavy enough pressure switch, it functions just like a relay, which is what a mag starter is. It is all about contact size and rating.

 

[RangerDaleXp]

5 hp is about the cut off point on running main power through the pressure switch then adding a mag starter. A mag starter is nice to have but not necessary on 5 hp.....