Yeah, I know…there’s 50 million threads on compressors, but I started searching and just want a quick answer.
If I’m using Astro Touch up guns and a Binks (or similar) for full board sprays what low cost compressor is easily available that will shoot at around 40 to 50 lbs. and not have to sit there and wait for the thing to catch up for one longboard?
I shot myself in the foot so to speak.
I found a Sears 1 HP 2 cylnder Craftsman on Craig’s List for $75 that a wife had from her deceased husband…hardly used. I went to town picked it up…in great condition. Stats looked good to me:
1 HP 2 cylinder
12 gal. tank
Displacement 8.8 CFM
Handle and wheels easy to move. Even came with perfect 50’ hose and blow off gun.
6.6 SCFM @ 40 PSI
5.3 SCFM @ 90 PSI
So where did I screw up?
I didn’t notice the amps…
Volts 115
HZ 60
here’s the kicker…Amps 17.6
I didn’t notice the Amps! I plugged it into my shop plug and bip! It shut off within a second or two at the most. I went to the panel and flipped it on…back to start…zip maybe half a second off again. That’s when I took a closer look and noticed the things draws 17.6 Amps! Yikes! Pushed the rest button, tried to start and nothing. Maybe this sucker pulls nearly twice that on start up. I went to the panel and was bummed to see that the contractor who built this house for himself was stupid enough to only run 15 Amps to the garage and shop. The only 30 Amp I have goes to the laundry.
have other circuits that are 20 Amps but nothing happening there by pushing reset button when plugged into that ciruit with nothing else drawing from it.
I can’t quite believe I fried the motor in less than 2 secondes, but the reset isn’t doing anything and it did initially want to start up until the breaker tripped.
Any suggestions?
Change out to smaller motor?
Go test on a bigger circuit somewhere?
If it won’t reset on a bigger circuit did it really fry in a nanosecond?
Was there a bad burning smell after it shut off? If not I doubt it fried the motor that fast, especially if it was short on amps to begin with. Try getting to the shaft that connects the motor and the compressor and see if it will turn by hand. If it won’t turn the problem may be that the thing had been sitting long enough for the cylinder to get dry and the piston seized.
I’ll have to pull off the protective shroud to crank…get back to ya. No smell…but it had been sitting in the deceased workshop for a year or more…the 1st starting attempt it never was on long enough to move anything.
Looking at the laundry room discloses the washer and gas dryer plugged a typical 115 duplex outlet. I shut off that circuit but it is only a 20 amp. Next to it is also labelled laundry room with a 30 amp breaker but in the laundry room behind the dryer is a heavier duty plug in heavier loads…220v? You know, the big round receptacles with slanted prongs. That seems to be where the 30 Amp is wired to. I can’t be sure the guy wired heavier gauge wire to both plugs. And I can’t take the chance of swapping out breakers and melting wire.
I may just cave for the moment and drive to the nearest Harbor Freight and buy a smaller unit that will still do the job. I’m just trying to figure how many SCFM’s will be needed to use my guns decently. I had a smaller compressor (oiless…noisy) that finally crapped out so I’m just trying to get a cheap replacement that I can primarily use an Astro touchup gun and the bigger Binks once in awhil for full bottom or deck sprays w/out having to wait around for the compressor to catch up or uneven spraying. Seems like less than a 1/2 or 3/4 horse won’t work…so 1-2 horse and what gallon storage tank?
If you have any friends with industrial space (automotive, workshop) it might be worth your while to take the compressor to one of their shops and test it out where the outlets can handle the draw. I realize this doesn’t solve your dilemma but at least you’ll know if it works and can sell it with a good conscience to get your money back and use it toward the new compressor. If you are going to Harbor Freight, check their website first and if there is a good price on a compressor that you want print the page and they’ll honor that price. Good luck!
Pretty funny…I just did that for HF and I’m heading that way. I think the other compressor will work but will have to do what you suggested, which had crossed my mind. I’ll also make sure it is lubed up before running it a bunch.
I would consider pulling heavier gauge wire to the shaping room and plugs for workshop but I’m trying to keep it simple here. Then again I plan on installing some A/C for the shaping bay and that will pull some amps but I don’t think it will be much past 5 or 6 amps for a 10x15 room…I can get a one room small cpacity 5000 BTU that will plug in and not trip when running the planer.
Thanks for the thoughts. I figure I’ll look for a compressor @ HF that will spray around 5 SCFM’s @ 45 PSI. I should be able to find one that doesn’t rate over 5 to 7 amps or at least doesn’t double the amp draw on startup…
Okay…her’s another question. Has anyone used power convertors to use a tool…not unlike what we do in Europe when we use one of our appllicances or chargers over there.
Apparently there are convertors that you can use a 220-240 air compressor, appliance or other in a 110/115-120 plug. I say a killer compressor at Harbor Freight on sale but it said you must use 230/240 plug in…well, the thing showed on the panel that it only draws 7 amps!!! I asked the sales guys there but you know it is hard to get someoone that actually knows anything…minimum wage help. The thing was a vertical and had good stats…if it worked with a convertor that would handle needs for my whole mini-shop!
Otherwise I’m also trying to see if I can use a convertor (step down) to access the 30 Amp heavy appliance plug in the nearby laundry room to step down to the 120 60 hz plug that the existing air compressor has. If I can do that and the thing draws 17.6 A then (as long as I didn’t fry it…which I doubt as a lot of these compressor have a temp. protector, trip)…then maybe I’ll be in business. Sh-t, all I wanna do is paint some sticks…
Update: Okay, so I called Harbor Freight and asked them about the compressor mentioned above. It is a 3 HP Iron, Oil using 21 gal. compressor that requires 230 V and 60 HZ…the thing is currently on sale for $159. I would be appy to have it as it produces 8.8 scfm @40 PSI. More than enough and I would plumb in some PVC airlines for convenient blow off here and there throughout shop.
H.F. says they have a 3 to 1 single phase covertor that will plug into my 115 duplex plug 15 amp circuit and allow me to convert the residential to power an industrial tool like this compressor…all for $199.99. Wheeeee!
They also confirmed that the compressor states 7 amps and that is what it draws…now I have to determine if the other compressor I got off Craig’s works and should just be sold…plus it’s an energy beast at 17.6 A
Geez, I’m answering myself now…this is really getting bad…what’s next Alzheimer’s?
Okay, learnf rom my predicament. I called the Quick 220 guys in AZ…all you do to convert the HF 230V single hase compressor that pulls 7 Amps is to get their box…it’s even less from them than Harbor Freight. $140. You plug their box into one residential receptacle. You then have to locate at the electrical panel the other 115 that complete the 230 or 240 the electric company runs to your box. Basically just envison 230 or 240 coming in to the box (panel) and that being broken in half (115-120 V) with a couple 15 or 20 Amp circuit breakers. So in this case we call them “A” and “B”.
Quick 220 sends a little tool along with the convertor box that you plug the box into one receptacle then walk around the corner or wherever to anothoer receptacle and when it picks up on the othe half (A & B) the light goes on. Then you just plug a 16 guage extension cord into that rceptacle and run it o their convertor box. You now have completed the 230/240 V into their box that feeds the compressor without having to have an electrician run new heavier wire from the box to your outlets and changing those outlets in the process.
So in essence, this will enable me to take an industrial tool and run it in a residential electrical setup w/o any rewiring thru walls, or creating any dangerous overloads. It also allows me to use a superior compressor drawing less Amps leaving power for other tools and not overloading the circuit.