Hey! This site is reader-supported and we earn commissions if you purchase products from retailers after clicking on a link from our site.
Your compressor blows breaker or fuses? Is it a compressor electrical issue? Here is where you can ask or find out!
Please note I have a healthy respect for electricity. I know that if I am well grounded 120 VAC can kill me. I also know that 220 VAC will finish me quite quickly if I am not very careful.
Folks, if you are working on the electrical part of your air compressor, don’t take any risks. Make sure that the power supply is off!

This page provides another user location to post questions about why a compressor would blow a breaker or a fuse, and, if you’ve got some ideas about answers to any of the questions already posted, do us all a favor and add them.
If you do not see an answer about why your air compressor is blowing breakers already posted, then do please use the form at the bottom of the page to ask your question.
We all have more information in our collective knowledge base than just one person can have, so feel free to chip in.
I am relying on others with more electrical experience than I to help if they can, with our thanks.
Cheers,
Bill
A new Compressor Blows Breaker question?
If so, do add it here, and please upload some photos focusing on the problem area?
I have a Fortress 27 gallon model FT27200 compressor. I’ve been using it on and off for months but started using it recently more often. In the middle of use it tripped the house circuit breaker. If I try to turn it on it’ll shoot a few sparks from the motor housing and try to run for about half a second or less before tripping the breaker. I’ve tried it with an empty tank and no change. I’ve also tried different outlets and circuits, same problem. Nothing else is plugged in. What could be wrong with it?
Is this the same as the HFT tem# 56403 ?
If so, it looks like the motor has a commutator, and therefore brushes, which would explain the sparks. If present, they are either stuck or worn out.
If that’s not the case, please send some pix of the machine and the motor.