Failed to find check valve now looking for another A. Compressor

[YLee Kioti]

So just spoke with a Quincy rep. in New Braunfels. Here's the summary.
A 3.5hp unit will eat pressure switch due to frequent cycling and small contacts and new switch is about $700 or so. (fact or fiction or a sales guy being a sales guy? have no clue)
His recommendation is the QT54 because it comes with a mag. starter prewired.
Next he explained that trying to install a mag starter on the 3.5hp unit would be difficult and not a very doable approach.
I viewed a few videos of folks installing them on different brands. I cannot conceive why this model would be any different.
Well a visit to Quincy website and opening up the PDF, I did not see a mag. starter on the QT54 but on the QT5. So Hm, sales pitch to supersize my fries?
So, I am asking for a sanity check from those that have installed a mag starter after the fact.
The difference in price from the 3.5hp ($1400), versus the QT54 ($2,000) is what he quoted me as the replacement Press. Sw. for the 3.5hp unit.
I don't do drugs and am now wondering if I stepped into the twilight zone.
Sanity/reality check please???? Whew this will be worthwhile and well done early next year but this leg work....heh...Oh joy...!

 

[WinterDeere]

Half truth. If the larger unit has a contactor or other motor starter, and the pressure switch is only toggling the coil to that rather than the motor current directly, then yes... the pressure switch contacts will last longer, assuming they're the same size and rating.

But you're only transferring that problem to the contactor or motor starter, which will now be toggling the motor current, so you've only relocated that particular "problem".

I'd consider the larger compressor if you plan to do a lot of needle scaling or air hammering, just because those two tools use a crap-ton of air. But unless this guy knows of some design deficiency that's causing their 3.5 hp unit to eat pressure switch contacts (bad design? under-sized switch?), I wouldn't let the current-switching device be a factor in my decision.

Do you have the p/n of the pressure switch? What's its hot-switch rating? Do they have a supressor on the motor, such as an MOV or TVS? If switches are failing, and FLA of motor is well below switch rating, then usually additon of a suppressor to the motor is a cheap and simple fix for that. But the manufacturer should have already figured this out, it shouldn't be on you to worry about their design.

 

[YLee Kioti]

Half truth. If the larger unit has a contactor or other motor starter, and the pressure switch is only toggling the coil to that rather than the motor current directly, then yes... the pressure switch contacts will last longer, assuming they're the same size and rating.

But you're only transferring that problem to the contactor or motor starter, which will now be toggling the motor current, so you've only relocated that particular "problem".

I'd consider the larger compressor if you plan to do a lot of needle scaling or air hammering, just because those two tools use a crap-ton of air. But unless this guy knows of some design deficiency that's causing their 3.5 hp unit to eat pressure switch contacts (bad design? under-sized switch?), I wouldn't let the current-switching device be a factor in my decision.

Do you have the p/n of the pressure switch? What's its hot-switch rating? Do they have a supressor on the motor, such as an MOV or TVS? If switches are failing, and FLA of motor is well below switch rating, then usually additon of a suppressor to the motor is a cheap and simple fix for that. But the manufacturer should have already figured this out, it shouldn't be on you to worry about their design.

Just got a reply from Bud. His company, The Compressor Guru, out of Pa.
He told me the same thing.
And added (He's also a Quincy dealer btw), that he had a heavy duty switch if this one failed.Also added no switch for any Quincy is near Hunnert bucks.
So this local fella was being a sales guy.
I now have two solid sources with the same reply.
Now, I go into project planning.
BOM for electrical, and another oil, water separator and half inch bolts to anchor down.
Y'all been awesome, greatly appreciate it all!