A duplicate compressor can look identical on the outside and still run hotter, draw more current, and fail in under a year. Here’s what to actually check before you buy.
Start with the current rating on the nameplate — a genuine unit’s rated load amps will match the manufacturer spec sheet, while duplicates often overstate capacity. Next, check the terminal block and overload protector; genuine units use branded protectors that trip predictably.
The price gap usually tells the real story. If a compressor is priced at half the market rate, assume the savings came out of the winding copper or the protector quality — the two things that keep it alive.
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