How long can I run my compressor safely?

thatguy · March 27, 2009, 6:57pm

LanceM:

Check your grounds, then check them again. Check your relay(s), check the main power wire for heat build up (increase the gauge is it gets warm), check all fittings for leaks with soapy water.

Up around 110-150, the compressor is pulling max amps and starting to drop in amp draw, at lower pressures, it pulls fewer amps and is slower because of it. As compressors reach their maximum operating pressure, they should start to drop in amp draw.

If you keep having issues, and its less than a year old, send it in for an inspection. (An RGA number must be issued first). I have been helping with warranty inspections lately and I’m seeing a lot of compressors that complete initial testing and show no problems. This tells me that there are a whole lot of compressors out there with installation issues.

my ground is good its bolted through the floor

danh · March 27, 2009, 7:06pm

But how clean is the connection there and where the battery is grounded. The chassis is lousy conductor. Can you connect the ground wire directly to the battery, especially if the ground wire is copper?

thatguy · March 27, 2009, 11:50pm

hmm i’ll have to try it,i figured it wouldnt make a differance in performance i mean a grounds a ground i thought

djQUAN · March 28, 2009, 7:14am

lance, just a quick question…

what temp is the thermal cut-off set in viair comps? are they similar in all models?

tippmannphreak · March 28, 2009, 2:36pm

I figured it out. It’s my pressure switch. Should be here in a few days…Gotta love hornblasters warranty/customer service!!

FEXPLORER07 · March 29, 2009, 9:26pm

hornblasters rules!

LanceM · March 30, 2009, 1:09pm

Ground, as in CHASSIS ground… a sheetmetal ground is never going to be as electrically sound as a quality chassis ground. Ask anyone with a unibody car, they’ll tell you…

danh · March 30, 2009, 1:52pm

That’s excellent, glad to hear you got it solved and yes HB FTW.

lah33 · March 30, 2009, 6:13pm

my jeep was unibody and the ground was suffecient when it wanted to it seems. run it to battery…

tippmannphreak · March 30, 2009, 11:11pm

LanceM:

Check your grounds, then check them again. Check your relay(s), check the main power wire for heat build up (increase the gauge is it gets warm), check all fittings for leaks with soapy water.

Up around 110-150, the compressor is pulling max amps and starting to drop in amp draw, at lower pressures, it pulls fewer amps and is slower because of it. As compressors reach their maximum operating pressure, they should start to drop in amp draw.

If you keep having issues, and its less than a year old, send it in for an inspection. (An RGA number must be issued first). I have been helping with warranty inspections lately and I’m seeing a lot of compressors that complete initial testing and show no problems. This tells me that there are a whole lot of compressors out there with installation issues.

Yupp I got the new pressure switch and sure enough it was that. It still takes a while to fill the tank tho oh well, atleast it works!

trafficjamz · May 30, 2009, 6:43pm

most compressor companys recomend from every 10 minutes of run time allow 5 minutes of cool time

danh · June 1, 2009, 11:07am

Unless you get an Oasis XD4000. That’s continuous @ 200 PSI for hours.

LanceM · June 1, 2009, 12:11pm

This is only true if the compressor is 50% duty cycle. All compressors of different make and manufacture have varying duty cycles - so your recommendation is incorrect.

Shocker 240 Kit Includes:

[ul]
[li]Shocker S4 Train Horns
[/li][li]DOT Rated 2 Gallon Air Tank
[/li]
[li]Viair 400C Compressor THIS COMPRESSOR IS 33% DUTY CYCLE
[/li]
[li]Viair 110/150 PSI Pressure Switch THIS COMPRESSOR IS ONLY RATED TO 150 PSI
[/li]

[li]Remote Mountable Intake Filter Assembly
[/li][li]Air Filter Cartridges
[/li][li]20’ of 5/16” D.O.T. Approved Airline
[/li][li]6’ of 3/8” Airline (For Intake)
[/li][li]20’ of 12 Gauge Power Wire
[/li][li]1/4” NPT Electric Solenoid Valve
[/li][li]Brass NPT Fittings Kit Including Safety Valve and Blowoff
[/li][li]Wiring & Plumbing Kit
[/li][li]Mounting Hardware
[/li][li]Detailed Instructions
[/li][/ul]

At 33% duty cycle, you would see 15 min. on, 30 min. off as a typical maximum run time per cycle. Operation exceeding 15-20 minutes may trip the thermal overload protector, depending on the ambient temperature in the environment the compressor is being operated.

LanceM · June 1, 2009, 12:12pm

Totally missed this… I believe its somewhere around 185F

trafficjamz · June 1, 2009, 6:23pm

i stand corrected i was going off my air zenith

LanceM · June 2, 2009, 8:13pm

Air Zeniths claim to be 100% duty cycle at 200 PSI - which they are not.

danh · June 3, 2009, 6:44pm

I heard AZ was a cheap spin off from Viair so you’re better off getting the real thing.