What’s a Compressor Motor?

Print anything with Printful



An air compressor has three basic components: the motor, cylinder head, and buffer tank. The motor powers the compressor head, which compresses air into the tank or airline. The buffer tank stores compressed air for a continuous supply of constant pressure. Without the motor, the compressor cannot function. If the motor breaks, repairing or replacing it may be necessary.

An air compressor motor supplies power to the compressor head. In turn, the compressor head compresses and pushes quantities of air into the storage tank or directly through an airline. In essence, the compressor motor is like the heart of an air compressor. An air compressor without an engine is like a car without an engine. While there are numerous types of air compressors on the market, most compressors still have three basic components: the motor, the cylinder head, and the buffer tank.

The most obvious part of any compressor is the buffer tank. The compressed air stored in this tank provides a continuous supply of constant pressure. However, not all compressors use a buffer tank, as some smaller or portable compressors supply the compressed air directly through the airlines. With or without a tank, an air compressor still has two crucial components that are essential for it to function. These integral parts are the compressor motor and the compressor head.

Compressor heads are usually configured in different ways, but ultimately they all perform the same job. This part of the compressor has the task of taking a certain amount of air, depending on the size of the machine, and compressing it into a smaller space, which is normally the accumulation tank. A compressor head, however, cannot function without the help of the compressor motor. All air compressors have some type of motor, which converts electrical energy into kinetic energy, which means it supplies energy to the compressor head. Without some kind of motor powering the compressor head, the car could not function.

Using an air compressor can be as easy as flipping a switch. Powering an electric compressor motor starts the chain of events. Usually connected to the compressor head via belts and pulleys, an air compressor motor can provide the pressurized air needed to power air tools, inflate tires, or simply blow dust and debris off a workbench.

Being an integral part of the machine, if it breaks, the air compressor motor can cause the compressor to fail. Repairing a compressor motor can require advanced electronics skills, simply because the electric motor is quite complex. Fortunately, most air compressors come with some type of warranty. Contacting the manufacturer can help determine whether repairing or replacing the compressor motor is the best option, as there are numerous specifications to consider when looking for a replacement motor.




Protect your devices with Threat Protection by NordVPN


Skip to content