The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area The Tool Chest Compressor problems

Went to the shop tonight to sandblast a few small parts and the compressor won't run. Kinda cold here, 23 degrees, compreesor sits in non heated part of the barn. Could this have anything to do with it. Always ran before in cold weather. Checked and have power to it. It's a 220 volt unit. Any suggestions?

Mike

call Zim to bring over his hair dryer and warm things up
if it doesn't make any noise at all when you try to turn it on maybe the starting capacitor went south, if it does make some noise [click or hum] maybe there's some frozen moisture in the cylinders

Bill

yea, you could take the belt off and see if motor itself runs and it's comp that's froze up.

it 23 degrees!! its too cold for the machine, most compressors are indoor tools only

All of my compressors are outside and cold doesn't affect them. I have seen single digit nights and teens during the day and it didn't affect the compressors. However if you have water in a line, it will freeze. I had one to pop a circuit breaker night before last when we had short sleeve weather. We took the belt off. The motor turns free, but it just hums. I ordered a new Baldor 10 HP single phase motor for $800. They are not worth trying to fix any more.

i have a 60 gal upright and it says intended for indoor storage

It needs to be sheltered, but can be in cold storage. I can hear a difference when my compressor gets too much condensation in the tank. If you get too much condensation and it freezes, It will start to give you problems. Drain the tank regularly.

Thanks for the replies. I put a little heat under the pressure switch and in a few moments it took off. Think i'll enclose it and add some heat. Thanks again guys.

Mike

Glad you fixed your problem. I have my compressor in an unheated shop,and it gets pretty darn cold around here.In fact 23 is a warm temp. here in the winter. My compressor has never failed to run even in below zero temps.Dont know why.

I dont know about you guys but I start and run a lot better when I am warm. Same for machinery - ideally keep it at constant 70F.

Refrigeration compressors have crank case heaters to reduce cold start problems - not only ambient "cold" I know.

Really big compressors and engines have circulating hot water and oil to ease starting and to allow "instant" loading.

Dan Bentler

Hey Squeeze,

Zim told me I was more than welcome to his hair dryer.

Mike

The cold doesn't really affect it, BUT, you need the proper oil so it can start up even if the oil is cold. But if it ran before in the cold with the same oil, it is obviously not that.

glad to hear its up and running again....and good point 1953panel I am sure this is often over looked but probably better to adjust your oil in the colder temps.