SIPAIR Workshop Series Compressor

[Tom Fortune]

Hi,
My dad bought a SIPAIR Workshop Series 420/100 compressor many years ago whilst running his own fleet of lorries. I have recently purchased a car and motorbike and thought that it may come in useful for many things in the future. Unfortunately when speaking to my dad about this compressor he initially stated that it was running on 3phase electric. Although when i went into the garage where it is kept there was a standard single phase 3 pin plug adapter connected to a three pin circular plug which is connected into the compressor motor. When looking at the identification plate on the air receiver it is dated as being manufactured in May 1987. The compressor motor has an identification plate that states it is manufactured by Brook Crompton Parkinson. Hope someone can help me out with identifying whether it is single or 3phase.


Many Thanks
Tom

 

[rikrobson]

iirc the round pin ones are 15A plugs. They get used in theatre lighting.

 

[eSCHEn]

Any chance of a better picture of the motor plate Tom? Hard to make it out.

 

[rtbcomp]

Round pin plugs come in 5 and 15 amp flavours, they used to be used in domestic premises before the 13 amp plugs became the standard.

Any chance of a better photo of the motor plate?

 

[Tom Fortune]

Hi all,
thanks for your quick reply's,
unfortunately i am unable to get better pictures of the motor until tomorrow as its not in front of me at the moment.
Many Thanks
Tom

 

[500e]

Don't forget the 2\3Amp one rtb

 

[rtbcomp]

^^ I don't recall the 2/3 amp ones. All our sockets were 15A and we had 15A adaptors with 1 x15 and 2 x 5 amp outlets.

Hopefully we'll get back on topic when the OP gets a photo of the motor plate

 

[Digger6135]

On the motor plate, I think it is stamped 1/ 50 which to my mind is single phase 50 cycles, could be wrong?

Digger6135

 

[eSCHEn]

On the motor plate, I think it is stamped 1/ 50 which to my mind is single phase 50 cycles, could be wrong?

Digger6135

It's hard to make out but I think you're the winner mate

 

[rikrobson]

the small oes were 3 amp. you used to be able to get light socket converters for them

 

[Tom Fortune]

Hi guys,

Sorry for the delay, i have taken a better picture of the motor plate and attached it at the bottom, now looking at the picture i can see that it does state "PH 1 HZ 50" so im guessing that as stated from various members above it is single phase 50 Hertz. I have also found an adapter that i am told was used to power the compressor at my Nans house. I have also attached a photo of the adapter as the "modern day" standard plug has a 10amp fuse fitted (picture 3 behind red cap). Surely im thinking this is incorrect and if plugged into a wall socket would blow due to a larger draw from the compressor than the fuse allows. Does this mean that i would need to fit a 15amp fuse into the plug to replace the 10amp fuse?



This is the adapter that the old three round pin plug attaches too!

Many Thanks
Tom

 

[dobbslc]

13amp is the biggest fuse you'll fit in a plug like that. If the motor is 3hp / 2.2kw or less you should be ok with a standard plug and 13a fuse.

 

[Tom Fortune]

Thanks for such a quick reply,
I guess theres only one way to find out if it really works now, as its not being used since 1992 according to my dad.
Is there any procedures that you recommend i should carry out before turning it on?
Many thanks
Tom

 

[HughF]

Check it isn't seized, if not, plug it in. If it blows the fuse halfway through start-up, probably has a seized centrifugal switch.

 

[slim_boy_fat]

.....Is there any procedures that you recommend i should carry out before turning it on?....

Don body armour.......

Nah, just change the plug fuse to 13A and give it a go. Be worth opening the drain on the tank to check for any water in there before switching on, and give the drive belt [assuming it has one and isn't direct drive] a look over to check condition too.

Keep us posted.

 

[dobbslc]

Check it turns over by hand first (I'm assuming it's a belt drive one) check the oil level , make sure there's no obviously dodgy wiring on it ! Drain the tank of any water, there will be a drain off valve on the bottom of the tank.
Plug it in and see if it works.
Keep an eye on the pressure gauge to see if it cuts off at the correct pressure, it should make a quick hiss just as it cuts off. Then when it restarts it should start without any buzzing.

 

[dobbslc]

If you have any problems with the pump etc on it and don't want to muck around with it let me know as I need a motor for my sip compressor. I could swap you a nice working 25 litre Clarke or Ingersoll Rand one.

 

[Tom Fortune]

Ok thanks guys, just need to make room in our garage to bring it home now haha,
thanks for such great support,
Ill let you know how it all goes
Tom