Fatal error with extension cord?

by Monica
(Springfield Illinois)

I used my son-in-laws small air compressor with a very long extension cord to fill a backyard blow up ring pool. It worked but air leaked out and when I went to refill, the air compressor was making quite a racket and had no air pressure but was still running. I then used my large capacity more powerful unit and of course still had to use the extension cord. The compressor cranked up blew air for a couple of minutes, rattled and completely quit running. Zero pressure, no motor sounds. What did I do and can it be fixed?

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Bill says...

Can it be fixed? Sure, anything can be if you are willing to throw enough money at it.

One of the by products of too low power flow to an electrical motor is that it gets very hot. Many electrical motors have a thermal cut out that stops the motor before the temperatures reach a critical level.

Some of the thermal reset buttons are automatic, some are manual. Check the motor on yours to see if there is a reset button and if so, give that a push to see if that makes any difference.

The nice thing about a too long air line is that even if the pressure getting through to the air tool is too low to run it properly, the air tool won't be damaged.

The same cannot be said for a too long extension cord and an electrical tool or electrical motor.

If the reset button doesn't work, I would take the motor to an electric motor rebuild shop to have it checked out.

Good luck,

Bill