Recommend me an airbrush compressor

[MBBlat]

My current, cheap from Amazon, compressor has started tripping the fuse box, so probably needs replacement. Typically this happened right in the middle of as painting session.

Any recommendations for a replacement? Occasional hobby user, so apart from having a tank no special requirements.

[Red Firecracker]

I've been using (and absolutely abusing) a generic AS-186 compressor for years, the only thing I've had to replace was a pressure switch (which was surprising as I was never letting it get close to having to kick in...)

[Eric Mc]

I bought myself a Sparmax TC-610H at Scalemodelworld over the weekend. I haven't started using it yet but I have set it up to make sure it is working.

Up to now I had been using some very old, diaphragm type compressors which run continuosly and the pressure cannot be adjusted. So, after 30 odd years I thought it was time to get sometyhiong more modern and controllable.

I'll report back once I start using it, which may be this weekend.

[MBBlat]

The current compressor seems to be tripping the circuit breaker after running for a while, so presumably when the pressure sensor triggers. Can anyone suggest a possible cause/quick fix?
Otherwise it’s reverting back to spray cans until I can get a replacement.

[clockworks]

"Big" compressors tend to do this when the start capacitor fails - massive current spike when the motor starts, breaker trips out.
Should be a cheap and easy DIY fix.

Something that worked for my brother's compressor was dropping the tank pressure. Makes it easier for the motor to turn the pump at startup.

[russy01]

The royalmax ones sell like hotcakes…

https://www.jadlamracingmodels.com/collections/air...

[MBBlat]

clockworks said:

"Big" compressors tend to do this when the start capacitor fails - massive current spike when the motor starts, breaker trips out.
Should be a cheap and easy DIY fix.

Something that worked for my brother's compressor was dropping the tank pressure. Makes it easier for the motor to turn the pump at startup.

Except mine starts up fine, it’s after it’s been running a bit it’s trips the breaker.

[clockworks]

MBBlat said:

Except mine starts up fine, it s after it s been running a bit it s trips the breaker.

To clarify:

The starter cap tripping problem shows up when the compressor tries to restart to top up the tank pressure during use.

When the compressor is first started with an "empty" tank, the load isn't that high, and chances are it'll start without tripping. When it kicks in to top up the pressure, the load on the motor is a lot higher, breaker trips.

[MBBlat]

clockworks said:

To clarify:

The starter cap tripping problem shows up when the compressor tries to restart to top up the tank pressure during use.

When the compressor is first started with an "empty" tank, the load isn't that high, and chances are it'll start without tripping. When it kicks in to top up the pressure, the load on the motor is a lot higher, breaker trips.

So it’s not the starter cap issue, the pump kicks in fine, the tripping happens after the pump has been running a while. It first happened during a painting session after the pump kicked in, I’ve subsequently tried after emptying the tank, pump ran for about the time I would expect to fill the tank, then tripped.

[dr_gn]

Some compressors have a non-return valve on the tank infeed, and a solenoid valve that empties the residual air pressure in the pipework between the pump and tank once tank pressure is achieved. This is so that the pump/motor doesn t have to overcome tank pressure upon re-starting to top-up.

Sounds to me like your pipework drain valve isn t working, so the pump motor is trying to start with a load of back-pressure on the pump.

I built my own compressor a while back (for garage use), and it had this system.