2 Safe Air Compressor Operation
12
2.6
Understanding The Built-In Protection Devices
This compressor has been equipped with both THERMAL and OVER
PRESSURE protection devices in the interests of personal safety and to protect
the unit from unnecessary internal damage.
NOTE : Never disable or modify any of the compressor’s built-in
protection devices.
2.6.1
Thermal Cutout Switch
The process of compressing air is a natural generator of heat. This heat
generation is increased accordingly by increasing the compressed air flow rate
or increasing the pressure level of the air flow.
The large DC electric motor inside the compressor is also a source of heat
which increases with the amount of work being done by it.
The compressor has been designed to naturally disperse this heat into the air
around it, however, the ambient temperature outside will have an effect on
how fast this heat can be dispersed. If excessive levels of heat are allowed to
build up inside the compressor the unit may be put at risk of internal damage.
For this reason an internal electric switch has been designed into the back of
each motor which will simply turn the compressor off if the temperature
approaches a dangerous level, and will automatically reset and turn the
compressor back on once the unit has cooled down to a safe temperature.
This off time may last anywhere from just a few minutes up to half an hour
depending on conditions around the compressor.
2.6.2
Over Pressure Safety Valve
This compressor is equipped with a pressure operated electric switch which
has been factory set to turn off the compressor at a safe level of pressure, and
then turn it back on again once the pressure has been exhausted down to a
lower level. Should this switch fail for any reason the compressor is capable of
producing pressure well beyond its safe shut off limit.
A compressor which has reached its safe pressure maximum that has been
left in direct sun or inside a hot vehicle may build up additional pressure past
the safe working level.
Connecting your compressor up to any air system which might already contain
a residual pressure that is higher than the compressor’s safe pressure limit
may raise the internal pressure of the compressor past the safe pressure limit.
This compressor is equipped with a mechanical over pressure safety valve
which has been factory set to bleed off to atmosphere any excessive pressure
build up (i.e., from any of the situations above) before it can pose any personal
danger or cause damage to compressor components.
