motor bogs down / possible a bad check valve ?

by Craig
(Worcester,Ma)

the electric motor bogs down after building a little air pressure
about 20-25 psi.It wants to cut out on overload, it's a 5 h.p. 2 stage reciprocating air comp.
230 volt motor 13 amps.(just replaced)the motors amp load starts to increase from 6 to about 17 amps or so before I shut it off .

If I run it with the tank discharge vale open the motor n compressor run fine.The motor is wired w/ 12 awg. wire on a 40ft. run . Also I was told the compressor heads were rebuilt last by a compressor service company. thanks very much Craig

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Bill says...

Craig, sure. Check out the check valve to be sure it's operating properly. That's a quick and low cost fix.

When you say "It wants to cut out on overload, " by that I understand it's going to cut out on thermal overload, and you shut it down?

You are watching the amps and as the pressure in the tank approaches 25 PSI the amp load gets to 17?

Sounds like a failing motor to me.

Cheers,

Bill