Air compressor troublee shoot question

[radioman]

your motor identification sticker on the tank says 110 volts at 17A. Are you using the compressor on a 20 amp breaker? you are not using 220 volts at all. It looks like a simple 110 volt motor and I suspect your brushes are worn to nothing. you should try pulling out the old brushes and get replacement for it. You either will have a plug to turn to access which I doubt on your kind of motor. I think it might be right behind the fan held in by a clip and screw. If not then you will need to pull the shaft with magnets on it to get the brushes out.

 

[PalmSprings]

I tried to tell you how to fix it ,it is not the capacitor these small compressors run hot and can seize easily take the fan off and work the shaft in both directions until it moves freely , You can not buy that capacitor with out ordering it from china even if it was the problem make sure it's full of 30 weight non detergent oil

My shaft isnt frozen as you state and it moves freely. With that, the only conclusion i could arrive at was it had to be something else. You state its not the capacitator,and i assume it apparently isnt seized since the shaft still moves freely,so what else could it be?

 

[PalmSprings]

your motor identification sticker on the tank says 110 volts at 17A. Are you using the compressor on a 20 amp breaker?

I suspect your brushes are worn to nothing.
============================
it is on a 30 amp breaker,and never problems with that CB

Ok Ill look into the brushes condition .

 

[kenmac]

You don't have to buy a capicator. If you don't have a cap. tester,any motor shop should be able to test it for you

 

[uglyboywith11fingers]

don't look too hard for the brushes... :confused2:
with that capacitor in plain site, IMO it's an induction motor, no brushes.

Pete

 

[hayabura]

thank you

air compressor

vacuum pump

 

[PalmSprings]

You don't have to buy a capicator. If you don't have a cap. tester,any motor shop should be able to test it for you

Whats a "reasonable" price range I can expect to have one tested?
Maybe there are cheap testers I could buy and test it myself?

 

[kenmac]

here's a cap. tester Supco MFD10 Capacitor Tester

 

[Gary Fowler]

here's a cap. tester Supco MFD10 Capacitor Tester

I don't think you want to spend that kind of money to test a capacitor. Take it to a shop for a test if bad and you buy a new capacitor there shouldn't be a charge for testing.
Check your breaker on the circuit you are using, a 20 amp breaker will be marginal to start a 17 amp motor with without tripping especially if it is a little hard to start due to a bad capacitor. Make sure the tank is depressurized completely also. Check the oil in the compressor. Drain it and refill with synthetic 5w -30 or 10-30w and it will work better also.

 

[kenmac]

I don't think you want to spend that kind of money to test a capacitor. Take it to a shop for a test if bad and you buy a new capacitor there shouldn't be a charge for testing.

Mine cost more $ than that. I just posted the cheapest I could find for him.Unless he is going to use 1 alot.I wouldn't buy it.That's why I also advised a motor shop to have his tested.He could probably buy several caps. for the cost of the tester

 

[MasseyWV]

I don't think you want to spend that kind of money to test a capacitor. Take it to a shop for a test if bad and you buy a new capacitor there shouldn't be a charge for testing.

One doesn't have to spend much money to test a capacitor. In fact, one may not have to spend any money at all if they have an ohm meter. While a capacitor tester will give you the actual capacitance, a simple ohm meter is often adequate for a simple go / no go test. As a former electronics technician, I did it this way for years. Unless a capacitor was marginal, where I would then use a capacitor tester to get a more accurate reading.

test capacitor with ohm meter - Google Search

 

[PalmSprings]

Mine cost more $ than that. I just posted the cheapest I could find for him.Unless he is going to use 1 alot.I wouldn't buy it.That's why I also advised a motor shop to have his tested.He could probably buy several caps. for the cost of the tester

Thanks! You got my implication in my prior post correct.
i guess i should have been a little clearer on that post.

 

[Steave]

If you're testing it yourself using the link posted by MasseyWV and find your cap bad here's a link to a new one.

DAYTON StartCapacitor, 124-149 MFD, 330 VAC, Round - Capacitors - 2MEL9|2MEL9 - Grainger Industrial Supply

As stated before the voltage reading of 330 VAC on this cap is the max rating of the cap not the voltage the motor runs on.

Also before testing make sure you touch the two leads on the cap together to discharge any voltage that may be built up in the cap. If voltage is present poof there goes your meter or at least the fuse protecting the meter.

If you buy another cap and the leads are a different configuration just splice the wires as needed. It don't matter which of the two wires goes to which on the cap there's no ,+ or - , or any polarity on this type cap. Either wire you remove from the old cap will just tap back onto either terminal of the new.

If by any chance there's 3 leads on the old cap you have a dual cap. That means it's two caps in one. One for start and one for run. If it has two leads you can do as I mentioned above. If it has 3 leads it will matter where the leads hook up and the cap I refered to won't work.

 

[kenmac]

One doesn't have to spend much money to test a capacitor. In fact, one may not have to spend any money at all if they have an ohm meter. While a capacitor tester will give you the actual capacitance, a simple ohm meter is often adequate for a simple go / no go test. As a former electronics technician, I did it this way for years. Unless a capacitor was marginal, where I would then use a capacitor tester to get a more accurate reading.

test capacitor with ohm meter - Google Search

B-4 meters came out.I use to test caps. with my tongue like testing 9v batteries :laughing:

 

[MasseyWV]

B-4 meters came out.I use to test caps. with my tongue like testing 9v batteries :laughing:

Try that on a high voltage, high capacitance capacitor like those used on electric motors and let us know how it works out.

 

[kenmac]

Try that on a high voltage, high capacitance capacitor like those used on electric motors and let us know how it works out.

Guess that's why I have no taste buds.Testing too many HVAC caps. like this

Disclaimer:
Seriously, no one should actually try this at home.

 

[MasseyWV]

Guess that's why I have no taste buds.Testing too many HVAC caps. like this

Disclaimer:
Seriously, no one should actually try this at home.

I just hope nobody takes us seriously and decides to try it. Oh well, it will suck to be them if they do. :laughing: