DC Thermal overload protector on the fritz.
Barry Irby
My 1 1/2 hp Delta DC has a thermal overload protector on it. It's a little black button that pops up when there is a problem. Once it cools down I can reset it by simply pushing the button back down, usually. The unit is at least 12 years old. It's located in a closet outside the shop. The doors on the closet are just lattice, so there is plenty of ventilation.
The problem is the button has started to pop at pretty much at random. sometimes when its been running a while and sometimes almost immediately. sometimes I can reset it immediately and sometimes I have to wait a while.
So the question is what to do? Can you repair them? Would blowing it out help? (There is dust around it.) Should I just replace it?
I would go tear it apart and experiment, but it is raining.