Motor on my compressor is getting hot

by Darrell Schultz
(Michigan)

I can turn on my compressor when its cold and it will pump up to pressure but by the time it does the motor is so hot that it trips the internal thermal switch and won't come back on till it cools off

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Bill says...

Darrell, a compressor motor that's running hotter than normal, and in your case tripping the thermal overload, is telling you something.

The load on that motor is increasing to the point where the motor can't rotate fast enough for fan cooling to keep it below cut out. If no fan, then it's just running too hot for the thermal.

The question is, what is increasing the load? Is there an issue with the pump head or is the motor wearing out? That I can't tell you from my desk here in my office.

One other thing; have you added more electrical appliances of any kind to the same circuit that is powering the compressor? If your compressor motor is not getting enough current, that could cause a motor to run hot too.

Picture you electrical circuit as a garden hose. If the hose runs right to the sprinkler, then there is lots of water spraying out of the sprinkler head. Now, start taking water from that hose every few feet into another hose to go somewhere else. Soon you won't have enough water to even dribble out of the sprinkler head. It's the same with electricity. Only so much can go through a wire, and if you are draining if off elsewhere, your motor can't get enough to run properly. If this is the case, you are doing damage to your motor.

Cheers,

Bill