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Hi

Has anyone got any ideas why my air compressor keeps tripping? Its a Pilot Air Trademaster 12. I bought it second hand. I'm not using an extension cord. The last time Dave was over it ran really well for an hour or so and then the problems began. Not good if you're in the middle of painting...

Can the electrical motor on these units wear out?

Stewart

Stu,


Is it tripping a thermal overload on the machine, or an earth-leakage circuit breaker on the house?
For the former:
a) low oil/high bearing temp will load up the motor?
b) failure of the high pressure cutout (compressor keeps trying to pump even when resevoir is at the operating pressure)?
For the latter:
a) wiring fault (one phase leaking to earth) - start by checking the plug, as they get the most wear and tear?
b) bad powerpoint?

Cheers,
Harv.

Hey Stuart
My air compressor has a problem with the cutout valve. That is, it cuts out when correct pressure is reached, but at the cutout point, a check valve is engaged, preventing air escaping the tank and the line between the pump and the tank is opened off. ( notice should be a short "hiss" when the pump cuts out). Sometimes, there's no hiss, because this relief valve fails to vent. At next startup, the pump (and therefore the motor) is starting under load.

-If it's a cap start single phase motor (most decent ones are) the motor doesn't get the chance to reach changeover speed (normally where a centrifugal switch turns off the starting winding) and the motor just keeps starting over and over, and eventually tripping the overload.

-If it's an inductive start, then it is starting under load and stalling at low (or no) revs. And will thrip the thermal or the breaker feeling the outlet.

A way to prove this is letting all the air out and see how she starts.

If the compressor is in the same area that you spray paint, then the fan cooling the motor will draw over spray
into the motor and being hot the paint residue can set over the winding etc over a period of time you can imagine how much crap can get in there causing it to over heat , i its belt driven make sure the belts are not over tight

Hi Andrew and BH thanks for your replies and suggestions. It's the compressor itself that is tripping not the circuit breaker in the garage. I've done an oil change with the correct oil. There is a definite hiss when the motor cuts out.

I've done some more investigating since my post and noticed the impellor? fan that cools the electric motor only has one blade! The others have all been snapped off at some previous stage to me owning the compressor. Now I just have to get what remains of the fan off... I'm hoping that's all it is...fingers crossed.

Will let you know how I go...

Stewart...that's with an 'ew' not a 'ua'...

Hi TM

Yep the compressor is definitely getting some overspray...there is no fan!

How do you check if the belt is too tight?

Stewart

push the belt in between the two pulleys, you wanr it to move a littl bit say 13 mm if it doenst budge then it to tight and can put udue pressure on the motor shaft and bearings, causing heat ,

Ok thanks for that - will check that too.

Stewart , a plastic generic type fan blade is cheap and pretty easy to get hold of - find a motor rewinder and tell them the diameter of the shaft and the OD of the fan and they will be able to sell you a generic fan blade , if the OD is too big just cut the blades down , all the same amount of course - and you are in business

Thanks for that Blacky. Pilot Compressors have a spare parts shop at Silverwater so will duck in there on the way home this arvo.

I broke a small section off the fan when I removed it but still there wasnt much to it....hopefully this will make a difference....

Buy a bigger compressor...

Hopefully its fixed. See you on friday.

Buy a bigger compressor...

how about put less paint on...

Will call you about Friday Dave.