2014 Champbell Hausfield 80 gallon compressor, It Works! Kinda

[Rktpwrd]

Time for a serious question....I finally got around to picking all the pex lines and fittings to set the air lines in the barn. My son set up a paint room so I had to get my *ss in gear. Here's the question, I have the 10/2 wiring going to a 2 pole breaker with the bare wire going to the neutral bar. Hit the switch and no go. I pull out my multi tool and I have power on both line right to the motor. I bypass the switch and still nothing. I grab my extension for the welder and jamb the wires into the docket. The motor fires up. WTF am I missing, I'm no sparky when it comes to electricity but I do now how to follow diagrams...

Sounds to me like the motor isn’t grounded correctly. When you plug your welder extension in, it completes the circuit allowing the motor to run.

And for gods sake, GET RID OF THAT PEX!!!!
I can’t stress that nearly enough. I work in the compressed air industry as a service tech, and Pex is not rated for use with air pressure. IT IS ONLY FOR WATER PRESSURE.

Pex is extremely hard and brittle and if it breaks or ruptures under pressure (someone accidentally drops something on it etc), it can explode catastrophically sending sharp shards of hard plastic flying everywhere at extremely high velocity. The only worse choice is PVC, but Pex isn’t exactly the safest either.

I’d hate for you or someone you love to get seriously hurt. Any time I visit any new customers and see them with Pex, I have to explain what an extremely poor idea it is to use it for compressed air lines, despite what the internet says.

 

[pontiacgp]

I think it's the ground issue as well but I have tested the ground and it's good from the motor all the way to the breaker box. I'm going to have to look to see how I wired the welder in the breaker box. This has me stumped cause there isn't much to wiring a 240v 1 phase motor...


I have read about the complaints of the pex and the number of people who have been using for years but I don't completely rely on that. You'll notice that for testing they use air and I will never get up to the pressure they test it at...

Pressure ratings, testing and pressure drop

PEX Tubing Pressure Ratings	Pressure testing - Hydronic & Radiant Heating	Pressure testing - Hot & Cold Water Plumbing
200°F at 80 psi 180°F at 100 psi 74°F at 160 psi	3 times the maximum working pressure or a minimum of 40 psi, but no greater than 100 psi. Duration: 30 minutes minimum, 2 hours recommended	1.5 times the maximum working pressure but no greater than pipe’s pressure rating at given temperature. Duration: 30 minutes minimum, 2 hours recommended

Notes:

1. Maximum working pressure indicates highest anticipated operating pressure.
2. Pressure testing requirements and procedures should be in compliance with local codes and PEX manufacturer’s instructions.
3. Air pressure testing is recommended over water for practical reasons and due to difficulties arising from water freezing during winter months.
4. Since PEX is a flexible pipe, it will expand somewhat (especially PEX-a) during the initial pressurizing of the system, causing a drop in pressure reading. Some manufacturers recommend "conditioning" of the system, or allowing the PEX system to stay pressurized for about 30 minutes prior to taking a reading.
5. For concrete slabs, pressure is maintained at 30 psi during the pour and is monitored to assure integrity of the system.

 

[Rktpwrd]

I think it's the ground issue as well but I have tested the ground and it's good from the motor all the way to the breaker box. I'm going to have to look to see how I wired the welder in the breaker box. This has me stumped cause there isn't much to wiring a 240v 1 phase motor...


I have read about the complaints of the pex and the number of people who have been using for years but I don't completely rely on that. You'll notice that for testing they use air and I will never get up to the pressure they test it at...

Pressure ratings, testing and pressure drop

PEX Tubing Pressure Ratings	Pressure testing - Hydronic & Radiant Heating	Pressure testing - Hot & Cold Water Plumbing
200°F at 80 psi 180°F at 100 psi 74°F at 160 psi	3 times the maximum working pressure or a minimum of 40 psi, but no greater than 100 psi. Duration: 30 minutes minimum, 2 hours recommended	1.5 times the maximum working pressure but no greater than pipe’s pressure rating at given temperature. Duration: 30 minutes minimum, 2 hours recommended

Notes:

1. Maximum working pressure indicates highest anticipated operating pressure.
2. Pressure testing requirements and procedures should be in compliance with local codes and PEX manufacturer’s instructions.
3. Air pressure testing is recommended over water for practical reasons and due to difficulties arising from water freezing during winter months.
4. Since PEX is a flexible pipe, it will expand somewhat (especially PEX-a) during the initial pressurizing of the system, causing a drop in pressure reading. Some manufacturers recommend "conditioning" of the system, or allowing the PEX system to stay pressurized for about 30 minutes prior to taking a reading.
5. For concrete slabs, pressure is maintained at 30 psi during the pour and is monitored to assure integrity of the system.

It’s not the working pressure that’s of concern, it’s of failure of the plastic while under that pressure when subjected to impact/damage/temperature fluctuations etc. But what do I know, it’s only my career. To each their own, you’ve been forewarned.
Good luck.

 

[pontiacgp]

Sounds to me like the motor isn’t grounded correctly. When you plug your welder extension in, it completes the circuit allowing the motor to run.

I think I may have found the issue. The breaker box in the barn is a sub box, the main box is in the garage attached to the house. In a sub box the neutral and ground need to be separate, the main box has the two connected. In the sub box I am working with there is a strap connecting the ground and neutral which should not be there

 

[pontiacgp]

Sounds to me like the motor isn’t grounded correctly. When you plug your welder extension in, it completes the circuit allowing the motor to run.

Fixed, turns out not all 2 pole Snap Lok breakers are good for 240v applications. I took a look at the breaker for the welder and it had 3 prongs for each pole instead of the single prong per pole on the 2 pole breaker. I was just lucky with the breaker for the welder cause that was just sitting spare in the box. I had a 3 pole breaker 20 amp with the 3 prongs per pole so I used that and it works perfect. I will replace that breaker with a 30 amp

 

[Rktpwrd]

Glad you got it sorted Steve. Electrical diagnosis can be really tough to do without seeing it in person, as you know.

 

[Turbo Zach]

No no no we can't be done all ready! You have not even made it to 100 posts yet!

 

[85442/86buick]

wait a minute , Steve has a fresh batch of popcorn popping now........in a few minutes it will be a 100

 

[Northernregal]

Almost 100!

 

[Turbo Zach]

100!!!!!!