Tools, Sharpening and Power Machinery - Campbell Hausfeld 2 hp 8 gal. Air compressor stopped working. HELP?

Hi, My husband was putting air in my car tires and the compressor just stopped. He looked for the breaker and didn't find one. I have since read on line that you shouldn't use an ext. cord, but always a long air hose. Could this be our problem? And any suggestions for what we can look at to possibly fix our compressor?
Thanks, Jana

Jana, yes the rule is add hose and keep the compressor plugged directly into a receptacle. You can run air for miles and it will be the same pressure, so adding hose is the best method of delivery.
Now, to your problem, you may have burned the extension cord, especially if it wasn't large enough to carry the load. Have you tried directly plugging the compressor in the receptacle, yet? Further, is it an airless compressor, or does it take oil? If the latter, how's the oil level? Using the extension cord could have heated up the contactors in the switch.
Check things out and let us know how it goes.

Larry

"Further, is it an airless compressor"

I think Larry meant oil less :D

Whenever you have to use an extension cord with HD motors like an aircompressor has it needs to be a heavy duty extension cord [#10 or #12] and not a lightweight ext cord like the most common #16

Is there a reset switch on the compressor? I had the same thing happen on my compressor the 1 time I used a lite gage extension cord and had to just reset the switch and plug directly into the receptacle. I almost made a fool of myself at the repair shop before I remembered that the recommendation was to not use extension cords.

I get too accustomed to using my "airless" nail guns, so it was a slip. I did mean "oilless", and wondered why spell check didn't underline it like it normally does, so I kept on typing. Thx for the catch, Mark.

Bruce, I think my husband did look for a reset button or breaker or something of that nature. I don't know if he found one and flipped and nothing happened or if there isn't one. Since reading this I looked around on it and can't find anything in plain (or slightly hidden) view. If there is one, it would have to be under the plastic cover that contains the motor. And I am not sure how to get under that without ruining it. I will ask my husband if he's plugged it in directly to an outlet, or do it myself and let you know what happens. Thanks everyone... stay tuned!:o

Look at the operating manual, or go online to look for the reset button.

Chandler: " You can run air for miles and it will be the same pressure,"-----

5. Use a minimum 3/8" ID air hose up to 25 ft, from air compressor to cabinet and remember to consider air pressure drop as illustrated in table below. Example: If using 25 feet of 1/4" ID air hose, at 60 lbs pressure, you will experience a pressure drop of 19 lbs, meaning you actually have 41 lbs working pressure.

Air Pressure Drop with 1/4" or 5/16" ID Air Hose
. Pressure Drop (Loss) . Pressure Drop (Loss)
1/4" ID Air Hose 25 feet 50 feet 5/16" ID Air Hose 25 feet 50 feet
At 60 lbs pressure 19 lbs 31 lbs At 60 lbs pressure 6 lbs 11 lbs
At 70 lbs pressure 22 lbs 34 lbs At 70 lbs pressure 7 lbs 13 lbs
At 80 lbs pressure 25 lbs 37 lbs At 80 lbs pressure 8 lbs 14 lbs
At 90 lbs pressure 29 lbs 39 lbs At 90 lbs pressure 10 lbs 16 lbs
At 100 lbs pressure 33 lbs 42 lbs At 100 lbs pressure 12 lbs 18 lbs
I'm sure you typed that wrong...... lol.
Be safe, Gary

Pressure is pressure. Sitting still it is the same no matter how far it goes. "Working" pressure changes with the length of hose and the tool, surely, but once it rests, the pressure is the same. Still the advice is correct. Add hose, don't move the compressor.