New shop started

[plastikosmd]

Compressor safety, it always bears repeating:

I’m one of those people that always believes in shutting off the power to the compressor after leaving the shop. I do this every time I leave (apparently mostly every time.)

I was working on the plasma table late last night, and apparently didn’t shut off the compressor. I came into a very loud Shop this morning. thankfully, no overheating, no fire, etc.



Something was missing.

Found it.


Old file as ez-out


So, time to add a timer to the outlet so that doesn’t happen again

(And time to replace all the pop off valves on this one)

 

[EddieWalker]

I never seen that happen before.

I'm so terrible at remembering to turn off my air compressor that I wrote on the door from my garage to my house in big massive letters with a marker "Compressor" to remind me to turn it off.

And I still forget.

 

[plastikosmd]

That is my fear, ignoring a light, sign etc.

I need to figure out what sort of timer would control 220v, 30??amp

Failure, agreed! Who would have guessed the device fails at a lower psi than the spring pressure?

 

[EddieWalker]

Fortunately for me, my compressor is just loud enough that I can hear it when I go to bed. It's one of the most annoying things ever. To be laying in bed and hear it running. I have to get up, and go out there to turn it off. Drives me crazy!!!!

 

[JPRambo]

A water heater timer would work.

 

[wolc123]

I plug a compressor into an outlet that is controlled from a switch next to the front door of my shop (on the right side of the photo below the sub-panel). The overhead LED fixture up there is also plugged into that outlet. I never leave the light on when I’m not out there so I never forget to kill the power to the compressor. Of course it’s just a little 120 volt model.

That wouldn’t work out so well with a 240 or 480 volt one. Also, I just plug that compressor into that outlet when I need it, because it annoys me to hear it come on when I don’t need it.

I have a second small 120 volt compressor on the opposite end of the shop, that I can plug into a non-switched outlet by the back door, when I need air back there. I prefer (2) small compressors, over one big one, because I always have backup that way.

 

[bindian]

It probably blew apart when the pressure went too high, instead of opening like it suppose to.

Sometimes my pressure cutoff switch doesn't cut off the compressor. A couple of times I have came into the barn to hear the relief valve blowing and the compressor running. I try to make a habit now of turning the compressor breaker off.

So..................., a new pressure cutoff switch might be needed.

 

[dstig1]

I am religious about turning mine on when I enter the shop (if I am going to need it) and off when I leave. But yeah even us religious ones sin occasionally... I have forgotten a time or two and it will run every few hours due to leaks in the airlines/regulators/etc. My shop is 400' away and very tight so you can't hear it from the house.

Had a weird one tonight. Went to shut it off and the moment I flipped the switch it started to cycle - while I was mid switch. So it started and then stopped immediately. I waited for the relief valve to stop hissing and then turned it back on to make sure all was well and it was. What are the odds of hitting that just right like that?

 

[Kyle_in_Tex]

y'all just reminded me to go turn off the breakers to mine at 9:30pm and 36F....

 

[gstrom99]

Yep. Back in Illinois, I could hear the compressor from the house. Not in the shop I built, out here. I'm pretty good about turning it off when I'm done needing it.

usually....

 

[plastikosmd]

Oil changed
New check valve(s) installed

Back up and running

 

[gstrom99]

Oil changed
New check valve(s) installed

Back up and running

That's good. I bet you had some anxious moments watching that pressure gauge, as it worked up to the shutoff point, eh?

 

[dlctcg]

I need to figure out what sort of timer would control 220v, 30??amp

@plastikosmd - I've installed a few different versions of timers / remotes for my brothers shop -

Both used 2-pole 240V 40 Amp Contactors with 120v coils (similar to this Contactor). Then for the timer circuit I just used a 120v 2hr - 12hr push button timer (similar to this Timer) to control the Contactor. Basically press the timer button from 2 - 12hr it energizes the coil in the Contactor & the compressor is only powered for that amount of time.

His other compressor is installed in a separate room so for that one I used the same contactor with a wireless remote switch / relay (similar to this wireless unit) to control the Contactor. So, this does not have the timer feature like above but we installed the remote switch right next to the light switches in his shop, so it easy to remember & he has control over the unit without walking all the way around the shop (Bonus was I didn't have to run any additional wire)

Oh, I know they say the wireless units are rated for 30Amps but I was more worried about the start-up inrush amps the compressor required, so for the couple of dollars the Contactor cost, I felt it was worth it.

 

[repete]

Although it would not address a ruptured relief valve on the compressor, I installed a shutoff solenoid valve in the air line off the compressor. It is "opened" when I turn on the shop lights. It shuts down my air system when I leave the building.

I have never been a fan of using a breaker as a "switch", especially if the compressor starts immediately upon contact closure as that is creating an arc in the breaker which, to my knowledge, it was not designed to do.

 

[civilian]

I have never been a fan of using a breaker as a "switch", especially if the compressor starts immediately upon contact closure as that is creating an arc in the breaker which, to my knowledge, it was not designed to do.

My electrician told me breakers that I have are switch rated. Did not ask about 220v breakers though. We wired 2 circuits on the ceiling for lighting strings, and use the breaker to control them. Jon

 

[plastikosmd]

That's good. I bet you had some anxious moments watching that pressure gauge, as it worked up to the shutoff point, eh?

I stood outside the room it is in, lol


Thx guys, dlctcg = that may work for me

Thk u

 

[plastikosmd]

Update

Timer switches added w relay

 

[EddieWalker]

I've never seen a switch like that before. I need one!!!!

 

[plastikosmd]

Here is relay side





So 120v controlling a 220v relay

Timed 1/2/4/8/12 hrs or on/off

 

[EddieWalker]

I wasn't expecting that. So you have your 240 line going into the box. Is there just one 240 line? What does the 120 line do? The more I look at it, the more confused I get.