why wont it work

[wozza35]

I have an airmaster (i think)compressor and it has developed a problem ,when i switch it on using the pressure switch it blows the fuse in the fused spur ,now by accident i found that if i leve it on at the pressure switch and turn it on at the plug it will run but i have since found out that the plug then gets too hot to handle
any ideas what could be wrong ?
i have checked the plug and had the top off the switch but it all looks ok to me

 

[rtbcomp]

Has it ever blown the fuse in the plug? When it runs, does it work OK? Is the motor getting hot? If it's belt driven try slipping the belt off and see if it still blows the fuse.

 

[wozza35]

It has never blown the fuse in the plug and it is working fine when it does go
but the one thing that got me thinking was when i could smell burning thats when i found the hot plug

 

[Robotstar5]

Cut a couple of inches off the cable and fit a new plug (and fuse), you probably had a terminal coming loose in the plug which causes it to get hot and it can also harden the insulation for an inch or so.

 

[ian of fev]

whats the hp of the motor ?

 

[peterd51]

Hi,

a hot plug is either too much current or something loose inside the plug. If it's been a bad contact and it arcs a few times the carbon build up will cause a high resistance and it'll ge hot.

One point to mention here on plugs in general...

they should all be checked at regular intervals, I do mine a couple of times a year, as even if they're plugged in permanently and powered up, ie, the fridge, etc, the screws will gradually untighten and the plug will then get hot.

Every six months or so I go round the house and check all plugs and I usually find 2 - 3 with a loose screw. It's a regular 'wet day' job!

Regards
Peter

 

[peter99]

I think most compressors (except the small 'aldi' type) struggle with a three pin plug. my 3hp comp at home used to go through a plug around every 6 months so I changed it for a 16amp blue trailing socket which is what it really needed. I then changed the 32amp to a 16amp breaker in the consumer unit as obviously the trailing socket doesn't have a fuse, wired the trailing socket on a single feed to it (as the ring main is on 32 amp) and works a treat. (take professional advice first with electric etc).