Santa brought me a new compressor!

[Speakrdude]

Yes, Santa brought me a new twin cylinder, 240 volt compressor.
However, my shop only has a single 20 amp circuit and this comp needs 240.
I have 240 available in my breaker panel in my house garage but, my Shop is about 75 feet from my garage.
My question is, (and I think I already know the answer) What gauge extension cable 240v would I have to have to properly run the comp. or should I just leave the comp in the garge and use a 100' air hose? To bring 240 to my shop, I would need to trench up the yard, which may be the ultimate answer.


http://www.lowes.com/pd_221565-1498...0||p_product_quantity_sold|1&facetInfo=Kobalt

Merry Holidays everyone!

 

[rbh]

Re: Santa brought me a new compressor!

Double check the feed to your shop and make sure that you just don't have a wire diconected to give you 240" VOLTS" (3 wire cable) instead of the 110VAC I think your describing???
You will need to see what the electrical code calls for, but I can tell you you can go farther with solid copper than the same GA stranded aluminum.
And make sure you add the amps up, say your welding and the compresser decides to kick on "POP" add the lights heater ETC.
I get away with a 60 amp service but I need to pay attention whats on, I really would like a 100 amp service to the shop.

 

[Bamaman1]

Re: Santa brought me a new compressor!

It would be great to have 100 amp service to the shop, big wire is pretty expensive to purchase and a hassle to install. You'd have to have a second circuit breaker box out in the shop.

Your 60 gallon 3.5 horse compressor uses 15 amps, so it's not as tough on electrics (starting) as larger twin cylinder compressors.

Do you already have electrical service in the shop, and is the new wire just for the new compressor? If so, just run 10 gauge wire to the shop protected by two 20 amp circuit breakers.

Don't worry about digging a ditch to run an electrical line. For home use, dig a 4" deep trench with a hatchet, press the wire into the trench and replace the dirt. Outdoor use wire is terribly tough stuff, as conduit is not required for home use.

Most home shops are really not that demanding on electrical systems, as numerous power tools are seldom used at a time. I've found that my 2 1/2 hp compressor and a table saw will often pop off the 15 amp circuit in my garage, and a larger circuit is needed on such tools--preferably 10 gauge/30 amp.

Your new Kobalt compressor should do a very good job for you for just about anything. My old Ingersol-Rand compressor died a month ago, and I'm absolutely lost without it.

 

[Speakrdude]

Re: Santa brought me a new compressor!

Thanks all. Turns out, there is a PVC conduit run out to shop already (12/3 romex). I will probably use it as a pull wire and pull in some new 10 gauge. I dont think there's a box out there, just some lights and outlets. may install a new one. (I'm at stuff like this)
I hope to use this Compressor to sand blast. My small little 120v just wont keep up. The new one is a twin cylinder so it outter getter done.

 

[mla2ofus]

Re: Santa brought me a new compressor!

[

Don't worry about digging a ditch to run an electrical line. For home use, dig a 4" deep trench with a hatchet, press the wire into the trench and replace the dirt. Outdoor use wire is terribly tough stuff, as conduit is not required for home use.
[/QUOTE]

That's fine but what about the poor innocent who comes along yrs later to plant a bush/ flowers or whatever and hits that wire with a shovel??
Mike

 

[rivermouse]

Re: Santa brought me a new compressor!

You only need a small sign on the breaker box that says "Caution see map on inside for buried electric cable location" On the inside have a little hand drawn map......Problem solved in 3 minutes

 

[Fishing Dude too]

Re: Santa brought me a new compressor!

If I were you I would do it right. Run wire in conduint to shop for 100 amp service. You can buy a breaker box for reasonable cost at one of the box stores. In the future you may want a welder, or other tools. Nice thing is you can reset a tripped breaker without going to the house.

 

[hrdwrkingacguy]

Re: Santa brought me a new compressor!

Its not as easy as just running a 100amp wire out the garage and installing a subpanel...The panel in the house has to be big enough to carry a extra 100 amps...12/3 is big enough for 15a, I think you need to run a 10/2 or even better an 8/2 out to a smaller sub panel with like 4 or 6 spots...I don't know what 8 ga at 100' is(probably good for 40 or 50amps)...You can definitely run a 10/2 or 8/2 and put a disconnect box with fuses or a breaker at the compressor...That will keep you from having to reset a breaker all the way at the house...

 

[NYBo]

Re: Santa brought me a new compressor!

Thanks all. Turns out, there is a PVC conduit run out to shop already (12/3 romex).

If it's really 12/3 copper, that is sufficient for 240V, 20A. Use that for your compressor and snake a new 12/2 for your 120V outlets.

 

[Fishing Dude too]

Re: Santa brought me a new compressor!

Its not as easy as just running a 100amp wire out the garage and installing a subpanel...The panel in the house has to be big enough to carry a extra 100 amps...12/3 is big enough for 15a, I think you need to run a 10/2 or even better an 8/2 out to a smaller sub panel with like 4 or 6 spots...I don't know what 8 ga at 100' is(probably good for 40 or 50amps)...You can definitely run a 10/2 or 8/2 and put a disconnect box with fuses or a breaker at the compressor...That will keep you from having to reset a breaker all the way at the house...

I guess my problem is I have a 40 space breaker box, have this hookup in it, I have put secondary indoor boxes to expand electric boxes, This is eay for me not so much for others.

 

[Speakrdude]

Re: Santa brought me a new compressor!

The shop currently has several outlets/ lights already. Maxed out the 20 amp circuit breaker at the house. (Trip it all the time)
I DO own a small Miller welder I have never been able to use so, yes I would like to install an outlet for that as well.
My plans are, thus far, Pull out the existing 12/2 romex from the 3/4" conduit that is buried from the house gargage to the shop. (only about 75' away.) Pull in new 10/3 or 8/3. I have to do some investigating to see if there is any conduit run up/inside the wall of the shop or if the PO simply stapled romex to the studs. (Hope not, but probably so)
From there I would like to install a small, sub panel with 4 or 6 breaker slots and install outlets for the welder, compressor, existing outlets, and lights.
The Master panel in the House garage is a Master Panel 150 amp panel loaded with typical stuff for a 2000sq ft house. Our heat, water heater, and cook stove is gas. Our Dryer is AC. All the rest typical stuff.

 

[hrdwrkingacguy]

Re: Santa brought me a new compressor!

Unless i'm missing something, if you have a 150a service in the main house, you can't run a 40a sub panel to the garage unless all the loads running now add up to 110a or less...The incoming service needs to be big enough to carry all the loads...You can get your service increased to 200a and then put a 50ish amp panel in the garage and then your good to go...

 

[Bamaman1]

Re: Santa brought me a new compressor!

You motivated me to go ahead and pull a 10-2 wire to my future basement workshop today. I mounted a small 40 amp sub panel leftover from my old workshop. I'll eventually be running another 10 gauge wire (30 amp breaker) to my power tools--one tool used at a time. I wired in a small circuit going to a tv and a gas fireplace fan.

I've been meaning to do this job for 3 years.

My main electrical box is a 200 amp service, but the electrician decided to just leave me 3 places for future circuit breakers. That's why I used the satellite box. Any more circuits are needed upstairs, and I'll have to piggyback wires on breakers.

Good luck to you on your project.

 

[NYBo]

Re: Santa brought me a new compressor!

Any more circuits are needed upstairs, and I'll have to piggyback wires on breakers.

NO!!! Install tandem breakers instead. You get two circuits in the space of one regular breaker.

 

[bruceb58]

Re: Santa brought me a new compressor!

Any more circuits are needed upstairs, and I'll have to piggyback wires on breakers.

Electrical code does not allow this.

 

[bigdee]

Re: Santa brought me a new compressor!

Electrical code does not allow this.

Not true. While some jurisdictions might not allow this and I would not do it either because it shows sloppy workmanship the NEC allows it as long as both wires are the same size and type AND the combined loads are within limits of the breaker.

 

[bruceb58]

Re: Santa brought me a new compressor!

You may be right but none of the places where I have had to do any electrical work have ever allowed it. Did some reading today and only certain types of breakers even allow it.