Compressor will not cycle - turn on initially and run fine for a period of time

by John
(Plano, TX)

My compressor will turn on initially and run fine for a period of time.

If it is close to the cut out pressure it will shut off automatically and will cycle a couple of times.

Once the pressure drops too far it will not fill up to the cut off pressure. If this happens it will not longer cycle. I have to turn it off and let it sit for several minutes and turn it on. Once on it will run for a period of time. It seems to hold pressure.

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Bill says...

Hello John... you seem to have a few issues with your air compressor.

When the compressor tank almost fills to cut out pressure and the compressor shuts off, then tries to cycle back on again, suggests to me that you have a pressure switch that is failing.

I am not sure what you mean by "Once the pressure drops too far it will not fill up to the cut off pressure". Are you saying that the pressure in the tank falls below the normal cut in, and the compressor doesn't try to start at the pressure it should?

Please post a bit more info here, including the make and model if you would. Also, do, please, check to make sure that the unloader valve is working, just to eliminate that possibility from the mix.

Thanks,

Bill






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Compressor will not cycle - turn on initially and run fine for a period of time

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Dec 06, 2011
 yes
by: John

Yes after it fills it might cycle properly (meaning turn on when low pressure cut in is reached and turn off when high pressure cut off is reached) once or twice (I emphasize might). Then as I use the air it will drop below the point where it should cut in but it does not start and will not start until I turn it off and let it sit in the off position for some time (few minutes) then turn it back on. At this point it may not run until it hits the high pressure. Some times it will fill about 20 PSI and turn off. I will turn it off wait a few minutes turn on and it will fill maybe 20 psi. etc etc.

I am not sure if it is thermal thing or a pressure switch thing, or what.


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John, did you check to see if the unloader valve was working?

Turn the compressor off. Drain all the air from the tank. Turn it on again. Does it start and fill to normal cut out pressure?

If so, do this a number of times. If it starts and fills properly to cut out each time, then I suspect your unloader valve is not working properly, or your pressure switch may be the problem.

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