OK I have had this new air compressor sitting here a while and I need to hook it up. I have the fun task of pulling the trans out of my Superduty I figure this might come in handy. It's a 220 single phase. The hookup on the compressor has screw terminals like a dryer in the house. So do I need to install a 30 amp plug on the wall and then ger a 10ga appliance cord to hook it up?
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I need an electricians advice.
- Thread starter 68_F100
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hornadylnl
Shooter
- Nov 19, 2008
- 21,505
- 63
Cord size is going to depend on the amp draw of the motor. There should be a data tag on the motor that tells you how many amps it draws. 10 gauge should be good for 30 amps.
hornadylnl
Shooter
- Nov 19, 2008
- 21,505
- 63
Then I'd run a 30 amp breaker with 10 gauge wire. How many feet of wire will it take to get from your panel to the plug? How many feet of wire will you need to get from the motor to the plug in?
You could try to squeek by with a 20 amp circuit but if this compressor is subjected to cold temps at all, you will constantly trip the breaker. At work, we have some compressors in the 20 amp range that will momentarily spike to 70 amps in cold temperatures. They were originally fused at 20 amps and we had to take them up to 30's to keep them from blowing. They'll still blow occasionally.
Have you thought about putting these on programmable circuit breakers?
hornadylnl
Shooter
- Nov 19, 2008
- 21,505
- 63
These cabinets were built by one department and maintained by another. They just keep doing the same things over and over again expecting different results.
Yep. Check your owner's manual and run the size circuit they recommend. Otherwise, I'd run a circuit at least 1.25% of the motor current. As hornady implies, a larger circuit will allow more reliable starting. Just make sure to size your appliance cord and connectors to match your circuit breaker size.
hornadylnl
Shooter
- Nov 19, 2008
- 21,505
- 63
Yes. Depending on H.P. of the motor, Amp draw etc. All of that should be in the manual. My 6 horse runs on a 30 Amp breaker with #10 wire.
Wire size, breaker or fuse size correspond.
hornadylnl
Shooter
- Nov 19, 2008
- 21,505
- 63
Yes, unless you want to pay $2 a foot for 6/3 wire.
Wire size and breakers are sized to each other. At the rating you gave (Amp draw) you need a 30 amp breaker and #10 wire (stranded if you can) to remain in code.
snapping turtle
Grandmaster
For a more secure connection might I make a recommendation of a twist lock type plug and receptical. Even if it requires a replacement of the compressor cord. Nothing like them coming unplugged when you don't want them to and only add's a few dollars to the project.
If you've decided you need a 30a circuit, then you can run #10 wire. If you leave that 60a breaker feeding that 30a, #10 circuit, then it's possible to overload the wire and not trip the breaker. It could lead to a fire, that would be bad
As a general rule, the wire (ampacity-wise) can be bigger than the breaker, but the breaker should never be bigger than the wire.
Voltage drop can be a problem if the total run from the circuit breaker to the receptacle is long enough. Typically, you don't run into voltage drop problems in a home garage. If I had my stuff at home I could give you an idea of the length beyond which, I would be worried.
