Turn the air compressor switch to “ON,” restarting your air compressor. Measuring the amps that your air compressor produces while in use can be done one of three ways at the breaker box, exposing the wires at the compressor or using a splitter between the outlet and the cord of the compressor. If you plugged the compressor into another outlet and the breaker did not trip, or you measured the amperage draw during use and the beakers ratings are above that witch the compressor is drawing, chances are the breaker is weak or there is a loose wire in that circuit.
This page will provide you with the reasons as to why your air compressor keeps tripping its circuit breaker as well as providing you with existing reader problems and responses. If your air compressor circuit breaker trips and you check your air filter and it is dirty, replace it and try again! If your compressor still trips, you will need to troubleshoot further. The key difference between an air compressor blowing the circuit breaker and the motor thermal overload switch is that the latter is solely due to the compressor motor overheating, and so, the thermal overload triggers and doesn’t allow the compressor to turn on until it has sufficiently cooled.
When the air compressor tank is drained down to the cut in pressure level, the pressure switch reacts to the drop in tank pressure, it trips to “Passing” and the compressor should start and run until the compressor tank pressure has reached the normal cut out pressure setting, at which time the compressor should stop and wait for the tank air pressure to drop to the cut in pressure level again. If for some reason the motor cannot start, it will continue to draw power, and may pull enough amperage to exceed the capacity of breaker or fuse and as a result the compressor trips the breaker or fuse on restart. If the compressor starts easily again, then it’s pretty much certain that it’s the air compressor unloader valve failure that is causing your air compressor to trip the breaker on restart.
Most air compressors have a built-in circuit breaker that performs these functions to protect the air pump and compressor. When an air compressor has a dirty air filter, the air compressor motor has to work harder than it normally would have to. The most common reason why an air compressor keeps tripping the circuit breaker is a failed start capacitor.
In this article, I will be writing about some of the ways to troubleshoot a tripping circuit breaker so you can know when the circuit breaker is the reason your air compressor is not starting. A dirty air filter is one of the reasons circuit breakers in air compressor trips. Another reason the circuit breaker in your air compressor trips too often is if it is faulty.
If you have multiple devices plugged into the same circuit, turning on your air compressor may simply put it over the edge – air compressors tend to draw a lot of power when the motor starts up. It’s typically more common for an air compressor to trip the breaker after running for a short time or as the motor kicks on a second time to maintain pressure in the air tank. As you can see, there are numerous reasons your air compressor might be tripping the breaker.
Motors can draw 6-8 times there normal full load current when starting. Breakers work don’t tripp the instant the current is more than 20.1 amps. First check if the Unloader is working on the compressor.
The amp draw check will tell you if there is a problem in the motor or compressor. If the air compressor is tripping when it tries to restart, the problem is in the check valve on the air compressor. The air inside the discharge line then bleeds off through the pressure switch and lets the compressor restart without a load. You can disconnect the power to the air compressor and bleed the pressure out of the tank.
air compressor keeps tripping breaker Related Question:
How do I stop my air compressor from tripping the breaker?
Sometimes on new compressors, the easiest way to cure this concern would be to move the compressor to a dedicated circuit large enough to handle the load. Moving the compressor may also identify a week breaker. If the breaker trips on one 15 amp breaker but not the other, The tripped one may be old and worn.
Why does a compressor trip?
Lack of Maintenance: This is a common cause of compressor overheating. This makes the air conditioner work harder than required, thereby heating up the compressor. High Voltage: High voltage surge would damage the capacitor inside the unit, which makes the compressor motor to overheat and trip.
Why does my compressor keep blowing the fuse?
The most logical cause of your air conditioner tripping a breaker or blowing a fuse when it comes on stems from a problem with the electrical connection, the power supply, or the circuit that powers the system. Breakers and fuses are designed to trip or blow when too much voltage is sent through the line.
How do you reset an air compressor?
To reset your reciprocating air compressor, allow time for the compressor to cool down and then push the reset button before attempting to turn the unit on again.
Where is the unloader valve on an air compressor?
Where Is the Unloader Valve Located? If you own a smaller reciprocating air compressor, you’ll likely find the unloader valve mounted on or inside the pressure switch. When the switch shuts the compressor off, it actuates the valve.
What size breaker do I need for a 15 amp compressor?
A 12 wire and a 20A breaker is needed. 15A ends can be used on 20A circuits.
Does an air compressor need a dedicated circuit?
If the air compressor is larger then it is best to install a dedicated circuit to make sure the air compressor has plenty of power by itself. You could install a switch that would control the air compressor as well, however once the air tank has been fully pressurized the unit should not cycle on and off.
What size breaker do I need for my air compressor?
James5: If you are are running 6ga, make sure to use at least 3/4 emt, and stick a 50 amp dual pole (240v) breaker on it. You are most likely going to put a 50a plug on the end for the compressor anyway.
Why does a compressor trip on high pressure?
The most common cause of a refrigerant high-pressure switch tripping in the wintertime is lack of airflow across the indoor coil. One of the signs of lack of airflow is a high temperature split across the indoor coil. Inspect the filter, not just if it is dirty but restrictive.
Why does my outside AC unit keeps tripping the breaker?
If your air conditioner fan motor is tripping the breaker because it’s not getting enough power from your circuit, then a broken coil fan may be to blame. Broken or missing parts of an ac unit can cause this issue that results in higher electricity usage and possible breakers trips.
Why does the 3 amp fuse keep blowing?
The 3A fuse on a furnace circuit board can keeps blowing because of a faulty transformer or damaged thermostat wiring. Every furnace circuit board has an inducer and if it is faulty it can cause a fuse to keep blow continuously. Check the transformer for any faults.
Does an air compressor need a fuse?
When an air compressor is causing an electrical fault a fuse will blow or it will trip the breaker system. If that’s happened there is no electricity going to your air compressor. Some air compressors have reset switches while others will have in-line fuses that need to be checked.
What is unloader valve?
An air compressor unloader valve is a device used by air compressors to release the trapped air inside the compression chamber and tank discharge line when the motor stops. This allows the motor to start up easier. In general there are two types of air compressor unloader valves, electrical and mechanical.
How do you know if your air compressor unloader is bad?
You can have two problems. Air leaking from an “unloader” valve on the pressure switch continuously (after the motor shuts off) is an indication of a leaking tank check valve, not a bad pressure switch. Air leaking from the unloader while the motor is running is an indication of a bad unloader valve.
How do you know if your unloader valve is bad?
Water leaks and inconsistent behavior are also signs of a potential failure in the near future. González: The typical signal when there is an unloader malfunction is a reduction of flow through the nozzle, which results in pressure loss. Dean: Typical symptom of an unloader failure is a sudden smooth pressure loss.
