Hydrovan 15 keep blowing 13amp fuse

[mred406]

My compressor keeps blowing the fuse in the plug. I think it is trying to pull too much power?

Its a 240volt, 2.2kw plugged into a normal wall socket. You can hear it trying to start and then the reset button clicks.

Any advice on what is wrong?

 

[the snooper]

have you just aquired it ? if not did it work fine ?
has it seized up ?
does it make any strange noises or loud buzzing

 

[mred406]

Got it last week, it was working fine.

Running it from a different socket and now wont start properly. Opened plug to change fuse and see someone has wrapped up the old fuse in foil

 

[rich r]

I think that's pretty damning proof that there is a fault with it, and the previous owner knew about it. Certainly 2.2kW, even allowing for a startup surge shouldn't cause a 13A fuse to blow.

 

[mred406]

So what I need to know is what could be wrong.

I am just wondering if this needs to be wired into a higher rated socket, as I had similarar problem with a piston compressor and had a 30amp socket fitted and it was ok after that??

 

[the snooper]

Got it last week, it was working fine.

Running it from a different socket and now wont start properly. Opened plug to change fuse and see someone has wrapped up the old fuse in foil

when the tin foil was around the fuse did you have start up problems or did you replace it before hand and then it started to blow the fuse

the start up current on a 3hp compressor can be as high as 60 amps briefly so it could be that the fuse is just too small

 

[mred406]

It worked fine with the foil around the fuse, but then I started using it from a different socket and it starts ok when empty, but when it is cutting in because pressure is getting low, it started struggling to start. So I looked at the fuse and see there was foil around it. Changed the fuse and it blew straight away.

Looking at the electrical box on the top it states 16amp, so I think it needs to be wired into a proper socket or have a 16amp plug on it.

Just wanted to see if anyone else had this problem with the hydrovane?

I had a sparky take a look and he knows nothing about compressors but he suggested fitting a 30amp socket and wiring the compressor straight to it?

Don't want to shell out on this if the compressor is faulty.

 

[the snooper]

is the supply to the socket your using upto the job, it sounds like it just needs more power when starting under load i would try another socket on a different circuit and if needed use a bigger fuse it should be ok to try if there is nothing else on the circuit at the time the cable is rated at more then 16 amps

 

[GrahamGKD]

I have a HV02 which I think is the modern equivalent of a 15 - mine is also 2.2KW? I bought it from new and there is no way it would start on a 13A plug - the starting inrush is too high - it needs a 16A socket (I have mine on a C curve 16A MCB). I imagine that is why the previous owner bodged the fuse. My guess is that there is nothing wrong with your compressor?

 

[the snooper]

I have a HV02 which I think is the modern equivalent of a 15 - mine is also 2.2KW? I bought it from new and there is no way it would start on a 13A plug - the starting inrush is too high - it needs a 16A socket (I have mine on a C curve 16A MCB). I imagine that is why the previous owner bodged the fuse. My guess is that there is nothing wrong with your compressor?

i would agree with that

 

[tigler]

If it's struggling to start when at cut in pressure there is either a problem with the unloader system or a motor capacitor is on the way out, neither is a serious problem. I've run loads of 3hp compressors off a 13 amp plug and the only problem that ever happens is a type C MCB is sometimes needed to take the surge current.

 

[mred406]

So, should I get a socket fitted next to the compressor with a 30amp supply and then fit a 16amp plug that can be unplugged when compressor needs a service?

This is what a sparky has suggested.

 

[GrahamGKD]

I just experimented with my HV02RM - it won't start on a 16A or 20A B curve MCB. It does now seem to start happily on a 32A ring with a B curve MCB through a 13A plug - it wouldn't do that when it was new (maybe the weather was colder at the time?). The supplier told me not to expect it to run from a 13A plug.

 

[GrahamGKD]

So, should I get a socket fitted next to the compressor with a 30amp supply and then fit a 16amp plug that can be unplugged when compressor needs a service?

This is what a sparky has suggested.

I'm not a sparky but I thought those 16A plugs had to go back to a 16A MCB - otherwise there is no 16A fuse in the system (the 16A plugs do not have a fuse in them like an ordinary domestic 13A plug). I expect a sparky will be along in due course? I have a separate circuit from my Consumer Unit - a single 16A socket running from a 16A C curve MCB.

 

[eric_knapper]

I had the same problem when I first had my 502 you really need to change the MCB as said above to C type I couldn't get hold of a 16A and had to use a 20A C type for mine and I still had some cold startup problems but after also changing the start and run capacitors for new ones it been fine since. So I would get new caps upgrade your MCB and wire if possible.

 

[mred406]

Do you know what capacitors I would need?

There are 2 on there but they are both painted black so can not see any info or numbers?

 

[brightspark]

It worked fine with the foil around the fuse, but then I started using it from a different socket and it starts ok when empty, but when it is cutting in because pressure is getting low, it started struggling to start. So I looked at the fuse and see there was foil around it. Changed the fuse and it blew straight away.

Looking at the electrical box on the top it states 16amp, so I think it needs to be wired into a proper socket or have a 16amp plug on it.

Just wanted to see if anyone else had this problem with the hydrovane?

I had a sparky take a look and he knows nothing about compressors but he suggested fitting a 30amp socket and wiring the compressor straight to it?

Don't want to shell out on this if the compressor is faulty.

some sparky sugesting putting it on a 30 amp supply when the data plate says 16 amp a dedicated supply on a 16amp c -curve breaker will be all that is needed wired on 2.5mm cable

 

[tigler]

Do you know what capacitors I would need?

There are 2 on there but they are both painted black so can not see any info or numbers?

Look on the motor data plate, with any luck the values are indicated there.

 

[mred406]

Many thanks for all your help.

I have an electrician coming tomorrow to fit separatete socket from the fuse board and then I can go from there. The compressor is in a small unit I rent so I can not really go messing with the electrics myself as they need to be checked for my insurance. I have been quoted £120 for parts and labour so will have to go with it for peace of mind.

I will check what amp socket and fuse type or breaker is fitted before he does it as I know these compressors can be hungry on start up, especially in the cold weather.

I just need to try and get these caps sorted as well now because I have a feeling they could be causing problems, if not now they will when I least expect it. I have looked on the plate but not sure what I should be looking for?

 

[tigler]

Look for a number, probably 2 digits, like 16, 22, 32, followed by a a symbol that means microfarad but is written using a symbol I don't have on the keyboard that looks like a u then f, so uf.