[TheForge] Compressor duty?

[A. Vida]

Dave Brown wrote:
> 
> When an electric motor is rated as "compressor duty" ... Just what is that
> supposed to mean?  Works well under load?  Designed for stop and go use,
> not continuous use?  I can guess, but it'd sure be useful if someone
> actually knows what it means.

	I've not heard this term before, but I'm sure it refers to
	duty cycle in some way or form, but it may be a BS term with
	no real definition behind it.  It may simply mean it is a
	continuous duty motor, meaning it can run under X% of its
	rated output (probably RMS) continually.

	These are the sorts of terms one has to be careful with.  I
	think we've covered this in years past with respect to the
	power ratings of various machine tools.  Some manufacturers
	advertise the peak outputs and others (the more honest,
	serious, and professional) give RMS values, which are the
	only ratings that count for anything in most cases.