This page is for anyone that has air compressor wiring problems and cannot figure out how to fix it themselves.
It is important that, along with your question you upload a photo or two of the area on the air compressor power supply, ON/OFF switch, pressure switch connections, motor connections or capacitor connections where you are experiencing the problem. Doing so will help others help you.
Not being electricians, we are hesitant to offer specific electrical advice to others ourselves, though with adequate care and concern we have no problem monkeying around with the wires on our own air compressors.
Adequate care means to ensure that the power supply to the air compressor is off until you are ready to test it, and an understanding the air compressor capacitors are simply fast discharge batteries, and if the capacitor on your air compressor has a charge, then you can easily get zapped if you don’t take care.
We will certainly offer compressor wiring advice in general terms, like check to make sure your air compressor is plugged in and the like but cannot dispense specific electrical advice.
We expect that any air compressor wiring problems will be responded to fairly quickly by the host of visitors that visit this site.
Air Compressor Wiring Problems
Postings and responses are below. If you are in a position to offer advice to a questioner about their air compressor wiring problems, please do.
I have a SpeedAire compressor model 1Z721C. 2 stage, 3 hp, single phase. Motor is Dayton 5K675K 115/230.
I inherited this compressor and am installing it in my workshop. It came with a GE magnetic starter model CR306K1000AAMA. I have the starter and motor wired as follows;
120v to L1
120v to L2
L1 to top of coil
L2 to front terminal of overload
Back overload terminal to pressure switch
Pressure switch to bottom of coil
T1 on starter to T1 on motor
T2 on starter to T4 & T8 on motor
T2, 3 and 5 taped at motor
I can not get the motor to run with the starter & motor wired for 230v. The starter pulls in and 240v are present at motor. I used the diagram present on the motor to connect for 230v. In thinking the motor may be bad, I wired a cord directly to the motor for 115v and it runs fine, pressure switch works as well.
I am hoping someone can see something that I have wired wrong.
Can anyone help Kevin with this wiring problem?
I have a Porter-Cable pancake compressor. It is about 15 yrs old. Two days ago I plugged it in. It began to run slow and smell like an electrical burn. I tired it again a day later, same thing almost immediately. What is the fix/how do I figure it out?
I am assuming that the smell you refer to is coming from the motor? Has anything about your use of the compressor changed? When did it last work well?
Add a photo or two of the compressor when you respond, please. Thanks.
Sorry, no pic but it is model CFBN125N. It is the smell from the motor. I have used it intermittently as of late. so, no change in use. It worked just fine two weeks ago.
While I cannot see “under the hood” if the motor has a capacitor on it, that may be the issue. If it doesn’t, then I suspect the motor is pooched.
Thanks, I’ll check it out.
Why does a Craftsman 33 gallon air compressor melt the plug?
If you are speaking of the power cord plug melting, odds are pretty good you’ve got a much greater than normal power draw, and that could be a variety of issues including a short, motor failing, mechanical lock up of the pump stalling the motor etc., though I’m surprised it would melt the plug before a fuse or breaker blew. Not safe to use, that’s for sure.
i have a MT30004 PowerPal handheld. i have taken the rear plate off(rear bell assembly) and i disconnected some of the wires from their terminals and now am scared to trial and error them back. can you/somebody help. i cant find a clear picture and manual prints don’t even show wires there. cord comes in the housing with the usual blck,wht,grn. inside the machine itself are red, blue,black white. the problem is on the plastic terminal plate under the rear plate are a bunch of male terminals. where does everything connect? thank you
Hi Travis. We’ve created a new page on the site to help address air compressor wiring problems, and moved your post to there.
We were unable to find a photo of the MT30004 air compressor. We did find out that it is made by Campbell Hausfeld, so if you have not contact them for details, it would be a good idea to do so.
We can tell you that on the supply side typically the black wire is the hot, the white wire is the return, and the green wire is ground. As to “red, blue,black white. ” not being able see any circuit diagram makes this a bit difficult to interpret.
For example, does the Power Pal MT30004 have an ON/OFF switch? If so, again typically, the black wire from the supply side would connect to one side of the compressor ON/OFF switch, and the other wire from the switch would feed to the motor or motor capacitor if there is one.
Hope this provides a bit of guidance, and that someone with the MT30004 can offer specific advice.