Any electricians out there? Please help
 

My air compressor will turn on and run but some times it will flip the breaker than when I flip it back on you can hear a humming sound and it will flip again. Let it set for a min. or two and it will start and run again. Well to day the breaker would not even make a noise when I flipped it back on. I let it set for about 5 mins. Then it turned on. Is the breaker bad because when I felt it was a little warm? Or is there something in the wiring?


Thanks

Re: Any electricians out there? Please help
 

Sounds like you wore out the breaker - replace it. Also, might want to check the load on that circuit, breakers don't usually go bad unless they are constantly overloaded.

Re: Any electricians out there? Please help
 

If the breaker makes noise when the compressor isn't trying to run, I'd suspect the breaker.
If the compressor's trying to start, suspect the comp.
Test the breaker w/ the comp off...
BTW, breakers aren't meant to be used as switches. Not saying you did.

Re: Any electricians out there? Please help
 

is new/old? one worked fine before?
is it wired correctly?
some can be wired both 120/240
length/gauge of wire to it?
how many amps it draw to start

Re: Any electricians out there? Please help
 

Use to get that roofing by having the air compressor on to small gauge and or to long of a cord. [They have short cords on purpose.]

the hummin is not enough juice to start the motor, its pullin amps till it throws the circut. With time it destroyes it. We went through so many till we stopped using extension cords to get it closer to us, instead leave it next to the plug and just run more hose.

Re: Any electricians out there? Please help
 

The hum or buzz is the motor fighting and failing to turn.
It could be a few things. These listed, or maybe a failed unloader valve. If the unloader valve fails, the motor is trying to fight the compressed air trapped in the piston and can cause this.
If the breaker has undergone multiple trips like that, you should replace the breaker too, but note that the breaker itself will most likely NOT be the problem, unless you have repaired the compressor and not the breaker, then the breaker would be the issue.
Yes I have stayed at a Holiday Inn Express. But I'm also an OR General Journeyman. :lol:

Re: Any electricians out there? Please help
 

me i'd spend the money to have a professional electricial come and have it fixed right

it's cheaper than replacing the compressor or the house due to fire

Re: Any electricians out there? Please help
 

My boss was able to look at it for me and he said to him the humming sound I heard was more like a vibration when the compressor was cutting on. Also that I might want to replace the breaker. We did find that the belt was a little lose and the online manual said that could be a reason to have power failure.

Franken the only time we used the breaker to turn on the compressor was when it flipped.

Cdowns if it is not the lose belt or the breaker yes I am going to call some one to come look at it

Thanks for all the help

Re: Any electricians out there? Please help
 

Sorry, I read the breaker was making noise. Doh!
It could also be the check valve.
Maybe try running w/ the belt off.
See how the pump turns with the belt off.
What is the current rating of the motor, and that of the breaker?
120V? 240V?
Wire size from the breaker to the compressor?
Describe the compressor.

Re: Any electricians out there? Please help
 

I do not know much about the wiring but I think it is 3 phase and it is a ingersoll rand compressor.

Re: Any electricians out there? Please help
 

some 3 phase motors need to be wired a certain way,to help it start/turn.
pics may help here,of panel,schematic diagram,color wire used.

Re: Any electricians out there? Please help
 

from what ive read I would think the issue is with the compressor. only real issue with 3 phase starting is if you lost a phase somewhere or if the rotation was messed with.I would do as someone mentioned and remove belt from motor and see what happens. may have to replace breaker after comp. issue is resolved. breakers trip off from heat. caused by load. if it got hot its ampacity could have been compromised? is there other three phase stuff in the shop? if they are all working right probably have proper voltage to the building. call your power company if not.

Re: Any electricians out there? Please help
 

do you have 3 phase power in your shop? had to ask...
has this compressor ever run in your shop?
what voltage do you have in your shop?
post up a picture of your motor data plate and the starter wiring
i speak 3 phase :D

Re: Any electricians out there? Please help
 

I would guess it to be your start windings, if you have a multimeter you can check by resistance. Google the model of motor and you should be able to find some info on what you should be getting. Also 3 phase motors are not typically thermally protected so they require an overload between the motor and the breaker. Breakers are sized in increments that wouldn't provide correct protection. An overload is sized to the ampacity of the motor and size the breaker up to 300% the rate full load amperage. Confused?

Re: Any electricians out there? Please help
 

working on my panel and thought about this today.
do you have a joining clip on the big breakers?

Re: Any electricians out there? Please help
 

Sorry guy been busy at work. I had a guy come look at it and he said it was the low oil switch. He replaced it and so far so good.

Re: Any electricians out there? Please help
 

sounds like wiring gauge to small .how long is th run to breaker