Help, I have a Speedaire Proffessional Compressor model #5F562E

by Dave
(New Brunswick Canada)

Help, I have a Speedaire Proffessional Compressor model #5F562E hardly used 5 or 6 years old. Blows a breaker everytime after running for aprox. 15 - 20 seconds. I have tried higher amp breakers with the same result. Does anyone know what would cause this????

Thanks
Dave
____________________
Bill says...

Dave, when it's running for 15-20 seconds, are you seeing a pressure increase in the tank, before the breaker pops?

The breaker is popping because you either have a short in the circuit, or the load on the electric motor increases to the point it pulls too many amps for the circuit and pops the breaker.

Maybe an electrician can chime in?

Cheers,

Bill




Comments for
Help, I have a Speedaire Proffessional Compressor model #5F562E

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Jan 27, 2011
 Bad pressure switch
by: Rich

I had the same problem with my compressor, had the motor bench tested and found that it was fine. I replaced the pressure switch and all was fine!
Sep 04, 2010
 Some Additional Thoughts On This
by: Terry

Hi,

Your comment on hardly being used sticks out to me as a clue. Plus the time specified to trip you seemed pretty sure of. I assume that at one point the compressor was working OK, and then it wasn't after sitting for a few months. If it never worked since you have had it, then thats another story.

I will offer some ideas up for you to check.

1. If there is a blockage in the air line from the compressor pump to tank, or a stuck check valve at the tank, not allowing air to enter tank, then pressure would start building immediately with no where to escape, and start overloading the motor. Within a few seconds of operation, the motor would become so overloaded, that it would draw too many amps and trip the breaker.

2. Something may have changed internally on the compressor pump, such as no oil in pump causing piston near-seizure and creating excessive torque load to turn the pump. Or , moisture has entered the pump cylinder walls, causing the pistons and cylinder walls to rust and also create excessive torque load. Disconnect the belt from pump and turn the compressor pump over by hand. It should turn over fairly easily. This sort of excessive torque loading would also create too much load on the electric motor and trip the breaker after a few seconds

3. In East Texas, there is an insect that creates havoc with electric motors. I don't know if they exist in Canada, but here we call them dirt daubers, some call them mud wasps, but in any case, they create mud nests inside electric motors that aren't being used very often, perhaps such as yours. The mud hardens to nearly rock hard and sticks to compoents such as armatures, brushe or split rings like concrete. Your motor may work for a short while like yours, or not at all. In some cases, their mud nest is created in such a fashion and in the right place that they can ruin your engine when you turn it on. The nest creates a short and you can watch the internal windings go up in smoke. You might check real close inside your electric motor for this. If no dirt daubers in Canada, well any other source of intrusion into your motor should be looked into.

4. If possible, try another electrical source, by using an extension cord of 10 gauge wire. This should do just for a test. This can help determine if you have an issue between the compressor wiring and the wiring leading back to the breaker panel. Obviously if the motor ran as it should with an extension cord from another source, then the problem most likely is with the existing wiring, and if no change, then you are beck to the compressor, with one less doubt.

Perhaps this can help.

___________________
Very good thoughts indeed.

Thanks Terry.

Bill

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