Craftsman Compressor

[mc5w]

Re: Craftsman Compressor

A heftier cord is NOT going to hurt the compressor. I also wrote that the compressor probably needs a bigger motor.

The UL listing for these units is BOGUS because the compressor is deliberately overloading the motor. You cannot get 2 or 3 or 4 horsepower out of a 15 amp circuit breaker unless the running current is more than 15 amps! You can only do that so much and so often and not trip the breaker. You might as well be using a 2 ounce bird to airlift a 1 pound coconut. (From Monty Python and the Holy Grail.)

This application is probably also overloading the pressure switch or at least loading it enough that it will have short life.

This is not to mention that a 15 amp Federal Pacific circuit melter will often carry 20 or 30 amps indefinitely.

 

[iwire]

Re: Craftsman Compressor

Originally posted by mc5w:
A heftier cord is NOT going to hurt the compressor. I also wrote that the compressor probably needs a bigger motor.

You can not do either of these things to UL listed equipment and not violate 110.3(B)

It is not a question of what it will hurt, it is a question of being a professional and following the code rules.

Originally posted by mc5w:
The UL listing for these units is BOGUS because the compressor is deliberately overloading the motor.

You will have to take that up with UL.

 

[steve66]

Re: Craftsman Compressor

If it is a new unit, I would take it back and get another one.

If it is an older unit that just started tripping the breaker, then there is something wrong with it. (I would also assume that "something" doesn't have anything to do with the design of the unit. Craftsman probably sold thousands of these compressors, and they wouldn't make any money if they all tripped 15 and 20 amp breakers).

Does the motor have a starting capacitor? If it is an older unit, the capacitor may be going bad.

Steve

 

[mc5w]

Re: Craftsman Compressor

Just put a new motor, new cord, and new pressure switch and claim that you built part of the compressor with used pneumatic and mechanical components.

If you put in all new electrical components then the U.L. does not really apply. Remember to REMOVE the U.L. sticker.

Actually, these compressors should be banned by law because they do deliberatly overload the motor and branch circuit breaker.

[ April 08, 2005, 05:58 AM: Message edited by: mc5w ]

 

[iwire]

Re: Craftsman Compressor

Originally posted by steve66:
If it is a new unit, I would take it back and get another one.

If it is an older unit that just started tripping the breaker, then there is something wrong with it. (I would also assume that "something" doesn't have anything to do with the design of the unit. Craftsman probably sold thousands of these compressors, and they wouldn't make any money if they all tripped 15 and 20 amp breakers).

Thank you Steve you put into words what I was thinking.

Bob