Sears 30 gal Air Compressor blows fuses

by Cyrus
(Cleveland)

I hav a 30 gal compressor every time i turns it on it blow fuse in the house.....plase help me and give me some ideas on what maybe the cause...

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Bill answers...

Hi Cyrus:

Fuses and breakers blow when the circuit they are protecting tries to pull more amps than the fuse or breaker is built for.

In a typical household circuit, there aren't many items that pull high amperage, stoves and dryers being excepted. They've got special fuses and breakers.

That your fuse blows when you turn on your compressor tells me that it's trying to draw more amperage than the circuit is rated for.

Home DIY compressors will normally run on a 15 amp circuit. What's your fuse rating? Is the blowing fuse something that's just started, or did you just try the compressor in that circuit, and it blows the fuse from the first time?

If it's a first time and it's blowing the fuse, it may be simply that your fuse isn't big enough for the amperage draw of the compressor motor.

If it's just started blowing fuses, then something has changed in your compressor to make that happen.

Is there a possibility you've cut the plug wire? If you short out the plug wire by allowing bare wires to touch, that will blow the fuse.

Next thing you have to consider is the pressure switch. Since it's electromechanical, there is movement inside the switch, and where there's movement there is wear and tear.

The third thing that might be cause your blown fuses is the motor itself. It could be that the motor has developed a short, or has worn to the point where it can't start and draws too much amperage while it tries, or it could be that the motor starter has failed, and that would cause too much amperage draw.

On a scale of lowest to highest cost, check the cord, then replace the pressure switch, then take the unit to the shop unless you are comfortable with changing the motor starter or motor.

If you need a source for a pressure switch, here's one:




Don't attempt to change the pressure switch unless you are comfortable with doing so.

If you aren't OK with electrical work, and it isn't the cord that's causing a fault, take your compressor to the shop for an electrical evaluation.

Cheers,

Bill