I have acquired a Sears electric air compressor. It's basically a plug and play.
Is it possible to wire a kill switch in on it, so it can be plugged in all the time and just flick the switch when I need to air up something or blow dust?
yes.
Assuming you have it plugged into a normal outlet, you can get a plug-in switch if the amperage is low, or change the outlet to a combination switch/outlet. To see what I mean, go to Lowes.com and search for item # 217938.
You can remove a duplex outlet and install a switch/outlet combo.
An inline switch can be spliced into the cord just before the motor.
Give a call.
Bob J.
they make heavy duty switches up to 20 amps and that is what you will need.
Are you sure your compressor doesn't have a pressure switch already? The pressure switch will turn off the compressor when the air pressure inside the tank gets to the pressure setting of the switch. The pressure can be changed to any pressure you like by adjusting the spring/nut on the inside of the cover. I wouldn't think there is any compressor out that doesn't have this switch already. They look like this, and have a switch for power built right into the switch.
pressure switch
Frank & Will:
Just checked at our local big box store, only has inline switches for small lamp wire.
Need a real hardware store for the right switch.
After the storm at this point..........
Thanks
Bob J.
The compressor does not have a reservoir for holding air.
What model did you get? I've never seen a Sears compressor that didn't have an on/off switch and tank of some type. Or are you talking about a 12v tire inflater?
That's probably what it is....my father in law had it. It's either orange or red. I don't recall. It's outside.
If it is 12 V, just unplug to not play and plug in to play, regardless of its color.
It could be anything.
It's about the size of a hand held tool box. it has a 25 foot hose on it and plugs into the wall. It's cylindrical in shape with an electric motor on it. It does not have an air reservoir, or doesn't appear to. Since, the wind is howling outside, you might have to wait a couple of days to get pics
It's probably a tire inflator, so might be otherwise worthless....but it does work unlike anything else he had in his storage building.
Sounds like the units used in T-shirt shops to run airbrushes. They tend to run for a half hour or so per shirt, and can run continuously. They have an unloader valve that releases if it's running and no air is being used. I have no idea what the max. pressure they could develop would be, but I bet it's in the realm of 25-30 lbs.