MogLite Posted June 29, 2008 Share Posted June 29, 2008 My Clarke compressor has packed up 1/2 way through a rustproofing job Its one of these and has been giving sterling service for a couple of years. Here is the full spec On top of the motor is some kind of overload protection, its got a 16A switch/breaker on it. This tripped out a couple of time yesterday, I let it cool, and carried on. The there was a plume of smoke from that box, and the compressor was no more. Do I need a new motor, or can that bit be repaired separately ? Or is it a sign of a bigger problem I'm not using a motor starter, should I be ? Its just plumbed into a 16A feed from the house at the moment. Thanks All Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paintman Posted June 29, 2008 Share Posted June 29, 2008 I'm not using a motor starter, should I be ? Its just plumbed into a 16A feed from the house at the moment.Thanks All What did the instructions say? And what have Machine Mart advised you to do? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
roguevogue Posted June 29, 2008 Share Posted June 29, 2008 For the relatively reasonable cost of a motor I would just replace it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
roguevogue Posted June 29, 2008 Share Posted June 29, 2008 It occurs to me that you should check that the compressor hasn't started to sieze overloading the motor. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MogLite Posted June 30, 2008 Author Share Posted June 30, 2008 Cheers Nick - just had the guard off, and the motor and pump seem to turn freely. I took that box on top of the motor apart, and the little breaker switch is melted and burned up - proper job. Short-circuiting that switch, and it springs back into life I guess I'll just replace the switch/breaker and see how it goes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
roguevogue Posted June 30, 2008 Share Posted June 30, 2008 Cheers Nick - just had the guard off, and the motor and pump seem to turn freely.I took that box on top of the motor apart, and the little breaker switch is melted and burned up - proper job. Short-circuiting that switch, and it springs back into life I guess I'll just replace the switch/breaker and see how it goes. It's nice when it turns out simple, proves I can't be trusted though! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Debs. Posted July 4, 2008 Share Posted July 4, 2008 In case it helps anyone else: I recently had my Clarke portable compressor suddenly stop working; no evident-smoke (thankfully) but the motor wouldn`t turn the compressor, `producing just a quiet 'hum' and a slight twitch of the shaft (as if trying to work). I worked my way through all the obvious (likely) faults; siezure, pressure switch, thermal circuit-breaker, fuse etc., but to no avail.....then I thought it might be the failure of the 10 microfarad motor-run capacitor. I swapped it for a known good cap. with a similar rating (from a water pump I had about the workshop) and the compressor sprang into life! Knowing-now the cause, I ordered the correct rated motor capacitor from Maplin (£6.24) and now the compressor is fully functional. I wonder how many such electrical items are needlessly 'binned', because of such easy to fix minor faults. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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