I bought a new Hitachi electric 2HP oil filled compressor this summer. Went to use it in the cold (less than 40 degrees) garage and it puttered on startup and tripped its overload. On third try it started and ran ok. It’s filled with synthetic oil, per spec. I’ve heard of trouble at below zero conditions, but this was not that cold.
Is this common?
Replies
How long, if any was the extention cord? If so, what ga?
What was the voltage at the point of plug in?
50 ft 12 ga. It's not the voltage."With every mistake we must surely be learning"
Next time open the drain valve before you start it the first time.
It still may trip the first time, but it should not take as long to finally run.
Then you can close the drain again.
Get over it....... The angry going eat you up. ~Brownbagg '06
Thanks Luka. I just tried your method (since it's freaking cold tonight!). It worked. Guess that's now the standard practice. I'll call it "Luka's Rule".
"With every mistake we must surely be learning"
Cool !! Luka's rule of compressors. I like it. LOLI sussed it out while looking at my compressor try to start in the cold. I knew that it had to fight to warm up the cold metal. Thought of the piston bores. Then immediately thought of the fact that it had to fight as well to build up a head of pressure. Take away that fight to build the pressure, and you take away half of it's cold start problem.
Get over it....... The angry going eat you up. ~Brownbagg '06
Odd....that's never worked for me, as I drain my compressor daily and leave valve open at startup to drain any possible remaining moisture.
Guess I'm the exception that proves the (Lukas) rule.
I avoid extension cords in general.....but especially at start up on a cold morning....once she's up and running, she can be moved.
Oh how they pound, raising the sound, o'er hill and dale, telling their tale, Gaily they ring while people sing songs of good cheer, Christmas is here....
Try the overpressure relife valve. Mine has a little ring on that makes it easy to pull. Sheds the compressor of it's load while trying to get itself moving & warmed up.
Thanks John....I will try that.
Oh how they pound, raising the sound, o'er hill and dale, telling their tale, Gaily they ring while people sing songs of good cheer, Christmas is here....
I use the pressure relief valve way of doing it. On the occasions when I am forced to use a generator on a site I block the compressor up high enough to have the exhaust from the generator warm the compressor.