Compressor help

[Paulbav]

Hi

I managed to get one of the bargain £50,00, SIP 50ltr 2.5hp compressors from halfrauds a few weeks back and have just got round to trying to use it and I have issues already...

I turned it on and let it run up for a while expecting it to shut off around 80psi?? (no instructions sadly) but it didn't it carried on up to 120psi and the blew the safety valve
Being new to compressors I am thinking the worst and think I have a broken one?? But could any one confirm this or point out where I am going wrong.

Ta

[Mikey G]

Hobby type of compressors are usually set to around 7-8 bar (100-115psi) so seeing 120+ would indicate you have a potentially stuck shut off regulator. This is usually fitted into the switch housing. They can be adjustable but if the unit is new and under warrenty I would take it back to be checked. I would have thought the safety valve wouldn't blow till about 9-10 bar though.

[DrDeAtH]

To be honest... clarke compressors... cheap enough and will last for ages. Get the biggest you can afford as you will use it more than you think. My personal choice? 3hp 150 litre tank, anything over 10cfm.

[Mr2Mike]

Paulbav said:

Hi

I managed to get one of the bargain £50,00, SIP 50ltr 2.5hp compressors from halfrauds a few weeks back and have just got round to trying to use it and I have issues already...

I turned it on and let it run up for a while expecting it to shut off around 80psi?? (no instructions sadly) but it didn't it carried on up to 120psi and the blew the safety valve
Being new to compressors I am thinking the worst and think I have a broken one?? But could any one confirm this or point out where I am going wrong.

Ta

Did it carry on pumping even after the safety valve had opened? When the pressure switch shuts off you do get a short burst of escaping air as it de-pressurises the pipework on the outlet of the compressor so that the starting torque requirements are greatly lowered.

[Amused2death]

Paulbav said:

Hi

I managed to get one of the bargain £50,00, SIP 50ltr 2.5hp compressors from halfrauds a few weeks back and have just got round to trying to use it and I have issues already...

I turned it on and let it run up for a while expecting it to shut off around 80psi?? (no instructions sadly) but it didn't it carried on up to 120psi and the blew the safety valve
Being new to compressors I am thinking the worst and think I have a broken one?? But could any one confirm this or point out where I am going wrong.

Ta

Did you blow the safety valve?? Or did it just operate normally and stop with a bit of a hiss? If it stops totally, just use up the air, and it should kick back in again as the pressure drops.

You seem to be describing a normal auto-stop valve. The safety valve on my compressor, which sounds very similar to yours, is a small red cap with a little ring attached. The auto shutoff bit operates all the time in normal use so will cut in and out as needed. You then use a regulator somewhere else in the airline if you need to reduce pressure.

[Paulbav]

Sorry I forgot about this post, so thanks for your replys. The good news is the compressor is fixed, the bad news is, it was entirely my fault..... It turns out I had not bothered looking to carefully at the regulator and assumed it worked by turning the knob clock wise to close the valve when in fact it is the other way round! as soon as I closed the regulator down from fully opened it started to work just fine, switching off and then cutting back in when required and the safety valve has remained firmly shut since

[Mr2Mike]

That's very odd in itself - the regulator should have no impact on the operation of the compressor.

[Paulbav]

Mr2Mike said:

That's very odd in itself - the regulator should have no impact on the operation of the compressor.

Hmmmm my thoughts as well, but I have spoken to SIP and the chap there also said to check I was not trying to deliver to much air

Thinking about it though I did reseal the PCL push connector I had fitted too as it was leaking air so maybe that had something to do with it?? but at least it seems to be working fine now so all good..

[GC8]

Paulbav said:

Hi

I managed to get one of the bargain £50,00, SIP 50ltr 2.5hp compressors from halfrauds a few weeks back and have just got round to trying to use it and I have issues already...

I turned it on and let it run up for a while expecting it to shut off around 80psi?? (no instructions sadly) but it didn't it carried on up to 120psi and the blew the safety valve
Being new to compressors I am thinking the worst and think I have a broken one?? But could any one confirm this or point out where I am going wrong.

Ta

Me too. I bought the boxed one of two that they had at the store and I was assured that it was as-new. It was missing the wheels, foot, the red on off button on the pressure switch, the glass from the gauges, the regulator knob and the 1/4 BSP outlet. I tried to deal with the shop and they ignored me, so Im now taking Halfords to court. Im suing them for the full cost of all repairs needed to make it fit, carried out at the nearest service centre to me, in Manchester and Im having them for all other costs too.

[Mr2Mike]

GC8 said:

I tried to deal with the shop and they ignored me, so Im now taking Halfords to court..

Literally ignored you, or simply gave you an answer you didn't want to hear?

[GC8]

Literally ignored. Couldnt get through to the store manager on the telephone and they (the store) didnt reply to a letter. I realise that its difficult to deal with, but thats no excuse.

An answer that I didnt like? It has nothing to do with liking - they have failed to supply goods conforming to our contract.

[G600]

GC8 said:

Literally ignored. Couldnt get through to the store manager on the telephone and they (the store) didnt reply to a letter. I realise that its difficult to deal with, but thats no excuse.

An answer that I didnt like? It has nothing to do with liking - they have failed to supply goods conforming to our contract.

Try going into the store?

[GC8]

Ordinarily you would, but Id crossed three counties to get the kit, so it wasnt practical. Anyway, its a head office problem, due to the cost involved.