Tools, Sharpening and Power Machinery - did i burn up my new compressor?
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robert smith
10-22-08, 06:31 AM
hi
i bought a CH ironforce compressor about 4 years ago. it is the cast-iron type, 20 gallon. anyway, it was running fine and then i plugged it into a questionable outlet (i don't know if i wired the outlet wrong and i have too much amps/volts going through it). anyway, the compressor made a god-awful sound and then the motor started to smoke. i shut it off immediately but when i tried to turn it back on again it continued to make the weird noise and didn't seem to be builing enought air pressure or holding it.
i haven't tried it since and i miss my compressor. i hate going to gas stations and paying for air.
so, how would i know if i burned up the motor? is there another problem i should check?
by the way, the questionable circuit is a double pole 15amp circuit breaker which runs off of a 60amp circuit from the main panel.
thanks
i bought a CH ironforce compressor about 4 years ago. it is the cast-iron type, 20 gallon. anyway, it was running fine and then i plugged it into a questionable outlet (i don't know if i wired the outlet wrong and i have too much amps/volts going through it). anyway, the compressor made a god-awful sound and then the motor started to smoke. i shut it off immediately but when i tried to turn it back on again it continued to make the weird noise and didn't seem to be builing enought air pressure or holding it.
i haven't tried it since and i miss my compressor. i hate going to gas stations and paying for air.
so, how would i know if i burned up the motor? is there another problem i should check?
by the way, the questionable circuit is a double pole 15amp circuit breaker which runs off of a 60amp circuit from the main panel.
thanks
markiz37
10-22-08, 07:25 AM
Is this a 120 or 240 volt motor? Cos you mention a double pole breaker... I will guess it's 120. Take it to a known good outlet and put a clamp meter around one of the wires going to the motor. Start the compressor, let it run and read the amp draw off the meter, then compare it to the motor nameplate amps. If it's like double the number, you can stick a fork in that motor - it's done. Smoke usually means that one of the windings has burned out, sorry about your mishap.
ps
Just thought of this. If this is a belt drive unit, disconnect the motor from the pump and test as described above under no load first.
ps
Just thought of this. If this is a belt drive unit, disconnect the motor from the pump and test as described above under no load first.
furd
10-22-08, 08:16 AM
Plug the compressor into a standard (meaning 120 volt) receptacle and try it. If you wired the receptacle at the pool as I think you did you have 240 volts on it and that may have very well have smoked the motor on the compressor. (I'll respond to that question in the electrical forum in a few minutes.)
The good news is that IF this is a belt driven compressor all you will need is to replace the motor. If it is a direct driven compressor you may still be able to get away with a motor replacement but the motor will cost more.
The good news is that IF this is a belt driven compressor all you will need is to replace the motor. If it is a direct driven compressor you may still be able to get away with a motor replacement but the motor will cost more.