Sears air compressor model 106152040
by Paul
(bloomfield , Ny,USA)
The compresor starts and runs smoothly until it reaches about 50 lbs pressure the compressor starts knocking and then about 70 pounds it trips a 15 amp breaker. Starting amps is supposed to be about 15 and run is supposed to be 7.5 approx. It actually starts at 15amps and continues to climb until it trips the breaker at about 25 amps. I changed the capacitor on the motor because it was reading open. It made no apparent difference. Got any suggestions what is causing the overload and knocking and not letting it build to 100#?
Bill answers...
Hello Paul:
Anything that increases the load on the motor will cause it to draw more amps, and if the amps exceed the capacity of the circuit, it blows the breaker.
In your case, it sounds like your compressor head or 'drive train' are creating more load as the pressure in the tank increases, to the point the system can't overcome the increased load, and the breaker pops.
What specifically is causing it is impossible to diagnose from afar, yet I'm pretty sure that you've got a mechanical failure that needs to be corrected.
Good luck.
Bill
