My air compressor starts but wont stay on shuts down after a few seconds

by kim bass
(chandler texas)

I turn on my compressor and it starts but it wont stay running it shuts down within a few seconds.

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Bill says...

When you turn it on, is the air tank empty, or is there pressure in the tank and it's below the normal compressor cut in pressure level, so the compressor starts?

When it stops, does the pressure switch trip? Are there any other symptoms besides the motor stopping?

Thanks,

Bill

Comments for
My air compressor starts but wont stay on shuts down after a few seconds

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Dec 26, 2011
 tries to start
by: Anonymous

kobalt digitech plus model 103798

by Joe buscemi
(jacksonville, FL.)

Compressor makes clicking noise like 2 clicks per second. It would do that when it reached its maximum pressure and would shut off. Now with no pressure in the tank, it still makes that clicking noise but will not run. When I pressure the start button the motor tries to run but shuts off in 1 second. will keep doing that every time I press start.Sounds like a bad capacitor if there is one, or something telling it is full maybe. Can you help?
Joseph Buscemi

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It would be good if we knew what part of the compressor is clicking. See electrical category from site map for info on checking capacitor. Are you able to bypass the pressure switch (very briefly) to see if the compressor will run if powered directly?
Nov 06, 2011
 I have a similar problem.
by: Steven Hoff

I have a 23 gallon compressor. It turns on and the compressor runs for a few seconds and then cuts off. The reset is tripped. I can push the reset and get it to start again. It will run anywhere from 2-10 seconds each time I hit the reset and then trip again.

It's not plugged into an extension cord. Directly in a wall socket. I've moved and tried different sockets. Same result. What actually causes the reset switch to trip?

__________________

Anything else pulling power from the same circuit while the compressor is trying to start? If not, then you may have a capacitor or motor issue.
Sep 17, 2011
 Similar problem solved
by: Larry

I had a problem similar to the problem mentioned here. The solution I found in my situation was
the Power Strip my compressor was plugged in
to had gone bad. I plugged the compressor directly into a wall outlet & pushed the RESET BUTTON & it works as it is suppose to.
The overload breaker on the 6 way power strip was malfunctioning causing the Power strip to shut completely down after a few seconds. Maybe this will help, I HOPE SO! Good Luck!
Jun 09, 2010
 No there is no air in the tank
by: Anonymous

there is no air in take builds up a little before it shuts down,i don't think the switch trips.

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If the pressure switch trips to turn the compressor on, and the motor stops before there is any build up of air in the tank, and when the motor stops the pressure switch doesn't trip off to shut it off, then I'm thinking it wouldn't be the pressure switch.

Though, from what your original post describes, my first thought was that the pressure switch was turning off the motor even though there was no pressure, because the cut out pressure side of the switch had failed.

If not the pressure switch, the it may be the motor. The pressure switch is cheaper, so if it were me I'd change that first, to see if it solved the problem.

Sorry I can't be any more specific as I can't see or hear what it is that your compressor is, and isn't, doing when it goes through it's startup.

Good luck.

Bill

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