I have this small compressor that I use with an airbrush. Its a medical surplus of some kind. Its somewhat round with a fan at either end. When I connect it to power I hear a loud humming sound and the compressor won't run unless I spin one of the fans by hand, then it works fine. I think installing a big condenser should make it work without having to spin the blade by hand. How is such a condenser installed and what value? Thanks in advance for your help. Bob
How to install a big condenser?
Jan 09, 2005
1 Replies
A condenser (capacitor) can be used, only if the motor is wound as a capacitor run motor. If not, there is some other mechanism to produce torque when stalled (a start winding that is switched out by a centrifugal switch once the speed gets up) or pole shading copper bars that enclose part of each field pole. Perhaps you can send a picture or two of the motor, especially what it looks like with an end bell removed. You need to understand how it was intended ot start before you try to reinvent it. Perhaps it contains a defective starting capacitor that you just have to replace.
Does your motor look like any of these?
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John Popelish
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