Ingersol Rand euro compressor..... Start up fault ?

[Lew_boi]

First post and I'm asking for help already !
Picked up an Ingersol Rand, 150ltr 240v euro compressor abit ago. Tried it and everything seemed dandy, built air up, tripped in and out fine etc... Went to use it for the 1st time properly and........ Pop, spark + smoke.

Took the lid off the connection box and it's full of water : ( Seems it lived outside in all weathers in a past life. Dried it all out tried it again, seems to spark from the motor relay and the starter capacitor smokes and smells fried.

Problem is I can't find any genuine parts for it and the spec printed on the capacitor is half worn off. Anyone know what spec cap I should replace it with ? I'm no electrician so learning as I go with this......

This was the initial fault. Since then I've replaced the starter cap with a 50uf as advised (does this sound about right ?) hooked it up and it started up as it should but as it reached something like running speed it again blew the starter capacitor to bits.
Anyone got any ideas as to what the problem could be or where to look next ?
Arm in the contactor moves freely and isn't corroded shut.


Details of compressor are :
Ingersoll Rand Euro compressor
150ltr
Model no. EN4D30
CPN. 92514207

Details of the top of the motor box :
Type. 1M90L2D
No. 5280/2
1P. 44
kW. 2.2
240v
13.8A
50 Hz
3 HP

Thanks in advance for any help,
Lew

 

[Lew_boi]

 

[Digger6135]

If the starter capacitor you fitted blew up, then it was not a motor starting capacitor, it must have been for dc current and not ac.

Digger6135

 

[carbon]

In my experience with electric motors, start capacitors are usually higher values than 50uf. But if it started and ran for a few seconds before blowing the capacitor up then possibly the relay isn't switching the start capacitor out of circuit as it should. Check where the wires on the relay are connected.

 

[WorkshopChris]

From that image of the relay I would say the contacts are welded shut. I would expect the contacts to only be closed when the relay is energised.

Chris

 

[Digger6135]

From that image of the relay I would say the contacts are welded shut. I would expect the contacts to only be closed when the relay is energised.

Chris

I totally agree they are welded closed, I missed that.

Digger6135

 

[Lew_boi]

Cheers for the comments guys,
The capacitor size was a recommendation but definitely started the motor and got it up close to running speed. I've double checked, it was definitely an AC cap. I also think the fault lies with the contactor although it moves freely enough on and off when worked manually.
Is there any way of testing the part ?
I've had a bit of a look online and struggled to find a replacement.
Cheers, Lew

 

[carbon]

Is the black wire in this picture connected to both capacitors

and was the original start capacitor similar to the run one.

 

[eil]

More pics of the caps would be good so we can see what it says on the white one, which I suspect is your run cap. I would expect the start cap to be more like 150 to 200uf for a three hp motor. If you have put in a 50uf start cap then it would not give you enough umpff to get up to speed which would keep it in circuit too long then it will pop for you. When you try it with a new capacitor and it doesn't get up to speed pretty much instantly then switch it off as you've got something wrong. what numbers are there on the relay and what's connected to where ?.

 

[Lew_boi]

Right, quick update.....

Both caps are connected via a single wire, the starter cap uf was recommended by someone with a similar setup so could be yards off the mark. The original was similar in size to the white running cap but had no markings on at all.
Also the contactor is open when not powered up, I think the 1st pic of it didn't show it to well.
Here's the other pics people asked about.

Massive thanks for your time guys !

 

[carbon]

Was working for a customer earlier who has one of these compressors. Asked if I could look inside the junction box. Run capacitor is 40uf and start is 125-156

 

[Lew_boi]

Cheers carbon,
I'll try a bigger cap and see where it gets me. Fingers crossed it's as simple as that ! I've been trying for an age to find someone with the same setup.