Air Compressor Timer

[69-er]

I forgot to turn off the circuit breaker to my air compressor last night. Well, during the night it turned on, and at some point both connecting rods broke. Since it couldn't build pressure, it ran for who knows how long until I heard it running this morning.

Is there a method or system available to prevent an air compressor running uncontrolled for long periods? I thought of using a timer that could be set to run for, say, 30 minutes every time the compressor starts and resets when the compressor turns off. I think that would be long enough since I don't believe I would ever need to operate the compressor any longer, but if it were unattended, short enough to prevent an uncontrolled run time.

I've searched online, but haven't found anything that has a delay longer than 17 minutes.

Any thoughts?

Thanks!

Larry

[Belair62]

Sounds like you are going to have to get creative.Usually they don't have a low pressure shut off...you may have to rig up a timer with a contacter ...depending on the voltage.

[Woj]

This has always been one of my fears about leaving the compressor switch on. I'm amazed at how hot the whole unit gets when I'm blasting parts and it runs almost continuously. I worry about the damage that could happen say if a hose breaks and it decides to run until something bad happens. Since my garage is detached, the only way I'd know it is running is to be near the garage.

I make a conscious effort every time I leave the garage to make sure the switch is off.

I like the timer idea.

Phil Woj.

[budnate]

been there, I finally grabbed a EL-Marko years ago when I was pizzed and wrote in large letters right on the wall at the light switch as you go out the door ..
"is the Comp Off"...works sometimes,lol.

mine would get hot and only blow one leg of the breaker for some reason and lay there single phasing the motor all night, smoked a few of them, DOH!

wouldnt take much to wire a interlock in, if the lights are off in the shop no power to the comp.

[Chevy454]

We accidently left a compressor on overnight one time...thing ran all night, and we arrived the next day to find the large (12" diameter") pulley all the way across the shop and laying at the door of our Camaro! Luckily it had fell over just before hitting the car...