Thread: Compressor motor failing ?

One for the Electric-Techs.

Friend has a shop "binFord" compressor, 3hp (2.2kW) single phase cap-start + cap-run motor driving a 3-piston pump. Motor mfd in 2003.
Caps are big black made-in-USA 250 mfd start and an anaemic weakling at 30 mfd. Both are 'starting' style, going on the moulded shape on the ends...

Recently it has been popping the (switchboard) CB, taking out several other factory circuits at the same time. Very annoying.

The Master Welder's diagnosis is dud or 'rrong value' caps. There's no traditional signs of cap. failure..... nor any expensive smell from the motor.

Suggestions ? I'm very rusty on my 1ph. motor theory... - wandering winding or dud centrifugal switch? Or...

I've advised him to start pricing a replacement motor, seeing as its 9 years old and made in......

... the Proper way... after much technical talking, phases, leading/lagging, power factor correction, rotating magnetic fields, inrush currents blah blah etc et al (really did a job on him...) he took the sensible way out. New motor and all is well. Phew !

Talk may be cheap... but with enough of it anything can be fixed !