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hj3 · Sep 5, 2007, 01:15 PM

Hello All:

Right before I fixed the motor on my compressor I plugged it into an outlet in my apartment, more specifically, one of the outlets in the kitchen. As soon as I turned on the compressor, it caused the circuit to trip. I flipped the circuit back on but everything on that line doesn't work. That line, I'm guessing, was attached to the a/c outlet in my bedroom, the kitchen exhaust fan, an outlet in the kitchen and the kitchen light. Ironically, I got my compressor to work. Now I don't know what could be wrong. I'm guessing that I blew the circuit but am unsure. What could I do to find the problem and how do I go about fixing it? Thank you & have a good day.

ballengerb1 · Sep 5, 2007, 02:24 PM

Lets start at a very basic level. You can't just flip a tripped breaker back to the on position. It must first go to the totally off position and then on. If you have already done that the breaker itself may have failed or the short caused a wire to come loose. If you are up to it remove the panel on your box and test the line in and out of the breaker with a multimeter.

inla_bomber · Sep 5, 2007, 02:26 PM

[F]
You've probably got a burned up conductor in between the kitchen receptacle where you plugged in your compressor motor and the circuit breaker.

tkrussell · Sep 5, 2007, 02:42 PM

Check the last working outlet on the circuit for a loose connection. If the connections at the outlets are the push in the back style, these are popular for causing loose connections.

See if any wire will pull out easy, and you have found the culprit. Change any of these types of connections to wrap around the screw connection.

shader · Sep 5, 2007, 08:47 PM

Wow, that air compressor just won't stop giving you a hard time, maybe it's all that horsepower. :D Previous posts had good suggestions. Since your compressor is a 15amp home use unit I doubt you burned up the circuit, since you were using the compressor before. This wasn't a kitchen GFI outlet that you used, was it? If tripped/not resettable/broken, the outlet and everything on the load side will not work. Most likely the breaker is shot and won't reset-try measuring voltage on the load side as suggested. Also, tkrussell stated in other posts that renters cannot do electrical work on property they don't own, that is, property they rent. Makes sense, especially in multi-family. Just an FYI if you're tempted to start tearing things apart.

hj3 · Sep 13, 2007, 11:28 AM

Originally Posted by ballengerb1

Lets start at a very basic level. You can't just flip a tripped breaker back to the on position. It must first go to the totally off position and then on. If you have already done that the breaker itself may have failed or the short caused a wire to come loose. If you are up to it remove the panel on your box and test the line in and out of the breaker with a multimeter.

Hello:

Thank you for the response and sorry for my delayed response. Yes, I flipped it totally off and back on. It wasn't working. I ordered a multimeter online and as soon as it arrives I will test it out. I will keep you informed. Thank you very much and have a good day:)

hj3 · Sep 13, 2007, 11:31 AM

Originally Posted by inla_bomber

[F]
You've probably got a burned up conductor in between the kitchen receptacle where you plugged in your compressor motor and the circuit breaker.

Hello:

Thank you for the response and sorry for my delayed response. I had ordered a multimeter and I'm going to try to test it the easy way first before "digging in" - although I would have to be a bit careful with that since I live in an apartment hehehe. I will keep you informed of my progress as soon as I receive the multimeter. Thank you very much for the advice and have a good day:)

hj3 · Sep 13, 2007, 11:34 AM

Originally Posted by tkrussell

Check the last working outlet on the circuit for a loose connection. If the connections at the outlets are the push in the back style, these are popular for causing loose connections.

See if any wire will pull out easy, and you have found the culprit. Change any of these types of connections to wrap around the screw connection.

Hello:

Thank you for the response and sorry for my delayed response. I ordered a multimeter to test the circuits et al. before I do anymore checks - however, this one seems a bit easy so while I'm waiting on the multimeter, I'm going to give this a shot and see what transpires - safely of course hehehe. I'll keep you informed. Thank you & have a good day. :)

hj3 · Sep 13, 2007, 11:39 AM

Originally Posted by shader

Wow, that air compressor just won’t stop giving you a hard time, maybe it’s all that horsepower. :D Previous posts had good suggestions. Since your compressor is a 15amp home use unit I doubt you burned up the circuit, since you were using the compressor before. This wasn’t a kitchen GFI outlet that you used, was it? If tripped/not resettable/broken, the outlet and everything on the load side will not work. Most likely the breaker is shot and won’t reset-try measuring voltage on the load side as suggested. Also, tkrussell stated in other posts that renters cannot do electrical work on property they don’t own, that is, property they rent. Makes sense, especially in multi-family. Just an FYI if you’re tempted to start tearing things apart.

Hello:

Thank you for the response and sorry for my delayed response. It's true and like I said - the irony of it is that I got the compressor working again - and then this happens. It's fine though. I ordered a multimeter to test the circuit. If the work requires digging into the walls and messing around with wiring - because it is an apartment and not a house that I own (dang-it!), I would call the maintenace man out for that. But if it requires simple wiring behind the outlet, then I may consider doing that. I don't want to do anything major. But that's about it. I'm just waiting on the multimeter now. I'll keep you informed. Thank you & have a good day:)