Burned Up

Just purchased a Cavalier USS-96. Compressor hummed along fine, until I get it home (of course). Plugged in and heard a fan running (fine), kicked the thermostat on and it blows the GFI. Noticed the relay cover had been knocked off during transport and a small round electrical part hanging loose & burnt. What part is this and could this be the ONLY thing wrong? See pictures.

[collecture]

I would rewire the machine - it sounds like you have a short in the wiring somewhere. The part hanging is your overload protector. The metal piece just clips into the notches on the back left of the terminal housing.

I would expect a short, especially when it burns the plug tip alittle!!! I assume the overload protector is like a fuse then? I'll start the wiring search and hope it's simple.

Update: Pro Guy says compressor is shot. I checked the relay and found it bad, the overload protector is burnt up and lastly checked the continuity of the compressor motor, which showed OK. Was feeling pretty good until lastly checking the ground to each of the three terminals on the compressor. Each showed open, but why does the motor show good then?  '>

[cvb141]

If you ohm between start to common, then common to run and added these two figures together. It should equal the ohms between start to run. you should not get a reading between any of the three to ground, because it would be a short. Maybe it is locked up!? If the pro guy says it is shot, then do you think he is maybe lying? Did he put an analyzer on it or anything? Maybe there is a chance you only need new start components.  Hope you get it going.
Jerry

[Skeleton Man]

See the following thread compressor not running, I posted a diagram for a test cord so you can bypass the overload and start relay temporarily to test the compressor..

Before I try that, if there's a short in the compressor will the jumper still blow the breaker?

[Skeleton Man]

Yes if the short is in the compressor itself..  but if it checks out ok with a meter then it's worth trying..  (the short could be somewhere else in the wiring)

[sodaworks]

If the wiring checks out try installing a 3in1 starter.

Thanks to all for the help. I'm now in the market for a good used compressor that doesn't cost twice what I paid for the machine.  '>