Orphan Compressor

[bora492]

I picked up a compressor this afternoon. Sticker says "Astro Air", which is a dead-end. There are no casting marks or legible ID plates. It's been painted blue, so dunno original color. I was told it's a 5hp, 120v motor, and I'm hoping it looks familiar to someone. It looks very similar to my Swan (Swanco) compressor, which is hammertone green, powered by a 5hp, 240v motor.

I ran it up to 125 psi on a 20A circuit, and it worked fine. However, I'm thinking the safe move is to get a 30A breaker and run a circuit with 10-gauge wire. Thoughts appreciated.

 

[cvairwerks]

I'd seriously doubt that it's 5 hp on 120....that would require a 60 amp circuit....

 

[wyliesdiesels]

I picked up a compressor this afternoon. Sticker says "Astro Air", which is a dead-end. There are no casting marks or legible ID plates. It's been painted blue, so dunno original color. I was told it's a 5hp, 120v motor, and I'm hoping it looks familiar to someone. It looks very similar to my Swan (Swanco) compressor, which is hammertone green, powered by a 5hp, 240v motor.

I ran it up to 125 psi on a 20A circuit, and it worked fine. However, I'm thinking the safe move is to get a 30A breaker and run a circuit with 10-gauge wire. Thoughts appreciated.

You ran a 5HP 120v motor on a 20a circuit? Not possible without tripping the breaker. The NEC table FLC is 56a and this the FLA would be just under 50a... no way that motor would run on 120v...

 

[bora492]

Thanks, so maybe it's 3HP? 2HP? But, absent any markings on an electric motor, how do you determine HP and/or Amp draw? Also, absent markings on the compressor head, how can you determine CFM?

I guess it's all academic. If it runs and doesn't trip a breaker and provides sufficient air for my needs, who cares? Thanks for the replies.

 

[BillK]

Have you tried calling the number of the company who's sticker is on the tank ??? Maybe they can tell you since they must have serviced it at some time. You can also pull the cover off the motor where the wires go in and see if there is a label inside of it.

 

[fitter30]

Looks like a Quincy compressor call that number on the tank
Look for a quincy distributor.

 

[PoorUB]

If you ran it on 120 volt at best it is 2 HP, more than likely 1-1/2 HP. If you have an amp meter I would verify the amp draw as the tank it nearly full. 2HP will be close to 20 amps, 1-1/2HP will be close to 15 amps.

 

[bora492]

Good idea, Bill. Nothing of note under the cover except a starting capacitor. It appears "Qualified" in Corona is still in business, so I'll call Monday, though it's a long-shot. I'll report back.

I finally figured out how to use my clamp ammeter! I measured draw at 22 amps, so it's likely a 2HP motor. Thanks for the suggestion, PoorUB.

I'd like to know CFM, but I suspect it's less than my 220V SwanCo rated at 15 amps.

 

[mikedodge]

2 in one day..

Identify Air Compressor

Hi all. New to the site. Wife and I are starting to build our own home, doing it ourselves, and so I'm needing to get my old air compressor running well. I got it free a few years back. I can't find any documentation on it - it says "AstroAir" on the tank and "Pony Air" on the regulator. I'm...

www.garagejournal.com

 

[PWC Repair]

With that kind of amp draw, it's 2hp at best. Looks VERY similar to a 'powermate' or 'general' v twin compressor. My guess is late 90's to early 2000's imported.