Valid compressor

[Keith Moffett]

The compressor on our Valid system has seized up again.  This one is the HWH replacement for Valid made by Thomas.  I checked what I think was the power wire and there is power to the compressor so it seems it is shot. 
I still have the original from Valid so I took it apart.  The reason it seized up is clear.  There is rust through the piston and into the armature and all into the brushes and bell.  The main bearing is frozen. 
My reason for this post is to call attention to this.  It is silly to put a compressor out in the rain or water from the road but to do it to an unsealed motor?
I would post pics if I could get them small enough.  Can't yet.

[Joel Ashley]

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Joel

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[Steve Huber Co-Admin]

Keith,
Access photos with Paint and resize by 50% a couple of times.
Steve

[Gerald Farris]

Keith,
The issue of mounting the OEM open frame air leveling compressor (either Valid or HWH) in a hostile environment without any shielding for dirt or water has been discussed here many times. The consensus here is that it was a stupid design decision. You can either build a weather proof housing or replace the compressor with a different design compressor.

To me the best solution to this problem is to replace the OEM compressor with a sealed Viair compressor like the 380 or 444 model. The Viair compressor is very tolerant of a dirty environment if you can get it a clean air intake source. However, since it pumps about twice as much air as the OEM compressor, it uses more amps, so you may need to do a little rewiring an install a high amp load relay controlled circuit to power the compressor.

Gerald       

[Keith Moffett]

Thanks for the suggestions everyone.  Dang if we havent had our share of fixes this year. 
Gerald, I appreciate the reccomendation.  I was just looking at a Viaair today but hadent considered the draw.  One of the items I havent found in my wiring diagrams is the aux. air compressor and its relay.  The fuse is #30 in the bay but where might the relay be among all these circut boards?

Before the last replacement the OEM was blowing fuses at 30 amp.  Should be a 15 amp.  Any ideas why that happened again with the new compressor?

[Jerry Emert]

Keith, mine also has a fusible link near the compressor that has blown a couple times in the last 5 years.