RE: Air compressor repair - When is enough, enough?

[ItchyChimp]

RE: Air compressor repair - When is enough, enough?

Hi there - first post since joining.

I inherited a compressor with a house I bought, which looks to be from 1948; NATLBD with a Baldor L1410T 5HP electric motor with a monster horizontal tank.

When I tried to fire it up, the breaker would pop, and after pulling the capacitor cover, I could see the start cap had been changed and both of the run caps had severely corroded to the point the connections just broke off and were laying free on the underside.

So I figured that must be it - so I sourced a new cap cover which also included the caps and I wired it up from what I could match up from what was there.

Now when I fire it up, the motor/pump spin up for like 1 sec and then the breaker pops again - guessing the pressure switch isn't bad since when I remove the motor leads leaving the line leads, nothing pops, only when the motor is connected.

So ..... back to my title, when is enough, enough? I could roll the dice and get another motor for like $500 (Cap cover already cost me $120) only to discover the pump is bad, or I could just by a new upright for $900-$1200.

Thoughts?

Thanks,

IC

 

[Sevenhills1952]

Re: Air compressor repair - When is enough, enough?

Pictures of it?

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[matt_i]

Re: Air compressor repair - When is enough, enough?

An idea: remove the belt(s) and try to start the motor running no-load.

While the belt is off and the motor turned off you should be able to roll the pump over by hand with the large flywheel under zero backpressure in the tank.

Either fail will give you a direction.

 

[The Cobbler]

Re: Air compressor repair - When is enough, enough?

x2 on the above.
if that passes, then try to run the pump with the line to the tank/check vale unhooked
if that passes, perhaps the check valve is bad . but try those steps first & report back

also, what size breaker is it that you're hooking up to?

 

[Odd-job]

Re: Air compressor repair - When is enough, enough?

Think it’s time to double or triple down in true garage journal fashion. Would be really cool if you could get that compressor working given the vintage.

 

[beamrider]

Re: Air compressor repair - When is enough, enough?

Would be really cool if you could post some flippin pics......

 

[greg13]

Re: Air compressor repair - When is enough, enough?

Find a motor shop and have them check it.

 

[bsaint]

Re: Air compressor repair - When is enough, enough?

It’s a simple compressor any repair is gonna be inexpensive - you’re almost there!


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[tym]

Re: Air compressor repair - When is enough, enough?

 

[marinusdees]

Re: Air compressor repair - When is enough, enough?

And more information.

 

[ItchyChimp]

Re: Air compressor repair - When is enough, enough?

Thanks all for jumping in!!!

Pics will be coming shortly/tomorrow.

IC

 

[ItchyChimp]

Re: Air compressor repair - When is enough, enough?

I guess I need 3 more posts to be able to post a link to pics (2 after this)

IC

 

[ItchyChimp]

Re: Air compressor repair - When is enough, enough?

Maybe one more?

IC

 

[ItchyChimp]

Re: Air compressor repair - When is enough, enough?

This may be the final one?

IC

 

[ItchyChimp]

Re: Air compressor repair - When is enough, enough?

Pics: http://1drv.ms/u/s!AqLwm-X6--9hgpgzl-4x3KM07BlFnw?e=1dxRjS

IC

 

[The Cobbler]

Re: Air compressor repair - When is enough, enough?

have you tried any of the advice given above yet?
also , it's not kosher to post trivial posts just to bump up your count!

 

[TRWham]

Re: Air compressor repair - When is enough, enough?

Need photos of the compressor pump. Can you see a nameplate or other identifying info on the compressor (not the motor)?

 

[BD1]

Re: Air compressor repair - When is enough, enough?

My motor died on my RIDGID 400 pipe machine. Took it to a motor repair facility that's been around forever. Talked with the owner and he said he'll open it up no charge to see what it needs wether I repair it or not.
Ends up the rebuild would cost more than buying another machine. Since it's not used daily I bought another machine.
Some guys enjoy old nostlga. As for the compressor, I would replace with new. No telling the condition of the tank.
New units have proven specifications and should be more efficient running.


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[matt_i]

Re: Air compressor repair - When is enough, enough?

This involves minimal data but a triple sheave on a 5hp motor seems wrong like somethings over/undersized.

My T-30 compressor runs with a single belt. I've been around a lot of 7.5-10hp drives which were double sheaves.

 

[428PI]

Re: Air compressor repair - When is enough, enough?

The first shop I worked at had a compressor on the 2nd floor and I think it had a tag on it says it was inspected in 1948. It ran great. I worked there in the early 80's.

 

[ItchyChimp]

Re: Air compressor repair - When is enough, enough?

UPDATE: Motor runs without a load on it - but hooking up the belts again pops the breaker.

I swapped out the air shutoff switch since I already had a new one on hand - same breaker popping result.

Pump is a DeVilbiss Model 230 with S/N: 353627

Any thoughts given new troubleshooting results?

Thanks,

IC

 

[MacMcMacmac]

Re: Air compressor repair - When is enough, enough?

Your electrical service is up to the task? Are you running directly through the pressure switch? Are your wires big enough? What is the pulley ratio? This determines pump rpm. It may be set up to run really fast with a 5hp motor. I'm pretty sure a 230 is a 2-3 hp machine. Someone may have been spinning it to the moon to get more air from it. Caps may be hooked up wrong. Just sound like it is overloaded on your electrical supply to me.

 

[The Cobbler]

Re: Air compressor repair - When is enough, enough?

you have been given several points above .
seems you're only reporting on one of them. what have you done with the rest of the ideas?

 

[TonyJ]

Re: Air compressor repair - When is enough, enough?

What size is the breaker it’s kicking


Tony

 

[ItchyChimp]

Re: Air compressor repair - When is enough, enough?

Looks like two 40's ... and now that I look at the wiring, it looks like 12AWG which could be the problem - I may have fallen victim to assuming.

Guy I bought my home from said he was a commercial electrician, so I assumed it was wired right and at some point was working correctly.

I'm gonna buy a breaker box with a throw switch and re-run the circuit back to the box and report back.

Thanks again,

IC

What size is the breaker it’s kicking


Tony

 

[MacMcMacmac]

Re: Air compressor repair - When is enough, enough?

If it's a real 5hp motor I doubt you will ever run it off of household power service.

 

[vanapplebomb]

Re: Air compressor repair - When is enough, enough?

A single phase 5hp motor should be drawing a running current of around 22-24 amps on a 230V line. That requires a 30 amp breaker and 10 gauge wire.

A good 3 phase 5hp motor will draw slightly less current, in the neighborhood of 15 amps of running current. With that you can get by with 12 gauge wire and a 20 A breaker.

 

[MacMcMacmac]

Re: Air compressor repair - When is enough, enough?

Will that handle the inrush current?

 

[vanapplebomb]

Re: Air compressor repair - When is enough, enough?

Yes, the start up current is a short term surge and will not overheat the wires, or trip the breaker if the compressor is functioning properly. The amount of heat buildup in the wires from from that 1/2 second burst of start up current isn’t going to hurt anything. Spec your breaker for the running current of the motor, and spec your wire gauge for that breaker. A 30 amp breaker would require 10 gauge wire. The breaker amperage always drives the gauge of wire you should use. That way, if there is a short, the breaker will trip before the wire burns up.

Now, if there is a problem with the motor like a bad start capacitor or a shorted winding, then yeah, the motor will draw current that will overload the breaker and trip it. Same goes if there is a problem with the pump that stalls the motor. But, as long as the wire is sized for the breaker, you won’t damage your household circuit.

 

[oilslick]

Re: Air compressor repair - When is enough, enough?

Did we ever get pictures of the whole setup?

 

[FTG-05]

Re: Air compressor repair - When is enough, enough?

Did we ever get pictures of the whole setup?

Tagged to see the pics.

ETA: Oops, that's embarrassing! See post #15.

 

[greg13]

Re: Air compressor repair - When is enough, enough?

The first shop I worked at had a compressor on the 2nd floor and I think it had a tag on it says it was inspected in 1948. It ran great. I worked there in the early 80's.

I bought a compressor at an auction last month for $100. Its an Erie 80 gal certified in 1948. Runs fine (a little slow to build up to full tank) but over all great shape. The tank is 1/4" thick steel and weighs the better part of 700#

 

[seber]

Re: Air compressor repair - When is enough, enough?

Looks like two 40's ... and now that I look at the wiring, it looks like 12AWG which could be the problem - I may have fallen victim to assuming.

Guy I bought my home from said he was a commercial electrician, so I assumed it was wired right and at some point was working correctly.

I'm gonna buy a breaker box with a throw switch and re-run the circuit back to the box and report back.

Thanks again,

IC

A current measuring meter would be a lot cheaper than a whole breaker box and contents. It will be handy in future issues. That would also tell you exactly where the problem lies before you dump a load of money into it.