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Electricians, help me NOT burn my garage down!

Big Sky RedneckBig Sky Redneck Member Posts: 19,752 ✭✭✭
edited January 2013 in General Discussion
Time has come to hook up my air compressor and I'm a little nervous [8D]

Here is a shot out of the instruction manual which isnt very helpfull, all it says is 240V 15A, no diagram on how to wire it, just this!

2FA55972-F465-4E71-841C-059FEF8610B1-329-0000001C053FE45F_zps88d69e8c.jpg

Here is the parts I bought,

this is a single breaker but has two leads and throws, 15A

CC3702FB-6961-45FB-99AE-95FB29B2D5FD-329-0000001B35C99F89_zps5f692598.jpg

This is a 250V 15A outlet

872DA40E-4E52-473C-8B24-13FB61ED99DB-329-0000001B27BB01F4_zps135ede25.jpg

This is the plug I bought

B17A3714-01C2-45A6-841F-CDC4BFAAFE9C-329-0000001B2E7DA3D4_zps98aff36a.jpg

and of course, a box and cover!

F97E0956-242D-43D8-AA46-7944D9F672E6-329-0000001B3D90B2CA_zps22f124a9.jpg

Here is where it will hook up

2E3A251E-FC8B-499A-9CC6-BCA3EA49AA26-329-0000001B4374C747_zps1610d88a.jpg

The wire, I have some wire from the old floor outlets, I pulled the wire out and hope I can use it. It is a grey coated wire and from what I can read it says 12AWG 600V and I have one identical except it is 10AWG 600V. Both wires have three leads, white, black and a bare ground.

Tell me how to do this! Do I have the right parts? Iss the wire right?

HELP!!
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Comments

  • Marc1301Marc1301 Member Posts: 31,897 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    If you can't figure that out, I would suggest hiring an electrician for a few bucks.

    Even Obama might be able to handle that one.[:p]
    "Beam me up Scotty, there's no intelligent life down here." - William Shatner
  • evileye fleagalevileye fleagal Member Posts: 4,224 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    hot leads into holes that say line, ground is by the screw with small circle/squiggle thingy.

    make sure breaker is pulling from both legs in panel.
  • nutfinnnutfinn Member Posts: 12,804 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    10 is plenty for 15 amp breaker black and white both be hot, and green will be your ground. Now I am a self learned, but that's how I would do it [:I] I have done plenty of electrical work and I am still here and have not burned down anything as of yet [:o)]
  • AlpineAlpine Member Posts: 15,041 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    You have the wrong breaker. Both hot leads are going to come off the same buss bar with the breaker you show. You have to connect to both buss bars to get 220 volts, and a standard breaker (wider that the one you have, is what you need (connects to both buss bars).

    All the electrical is between the two hot leads (on the plug and receptacle it is the horizontal contacts. The Ground (or neutral) is the U shaped part of the plug.
    ?The problem with socialism is that you eventually run out of other people's money.?
    Margaret Thatcher

    "There are three kinds of lies: lies, damned lies and statistics."
    Mark Twain
  • MaxOHMSMaxOHMS Member Posts: 14,715
    edited November -1
    #12 wire is sufficient unless you are running quite a long way.

    You will need a double pole 20A breaker to protect it.
  • bamafanbamafan Member Posts: 4,011 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    Yupp,, wrong breaker ya have there. One ya have is only good for 120 volts, you're needing 240 volt. You're gonna need a two pole 15 A breaker. #12 romex plenty enough for what ya need. Black & white wire from breaker hooks to two line terminals. bare/green wire will hook to green ground screw.
  • bambambambambambam Member Posts: 4,814 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    I think the breaker you have may work. Hook it up and put a volt meter on each lead to see if you get 110 each.

    I'd buy a 220 breaker though.

    Red and black go on flat plugs, white goes on round(ground) for out let.

    For breaker, red on one breaker screw, black one breaker screw, and white on the ground bar along with the bare ground wire. (You may choose to not use the bare ground if the outlet doesn't have a green ground screw, because there wouldn't be anything to hook to).

    I need to see the back of the outlet.

    Does the compressor have a 220vt 15a cord or no cord at all?


    You can avoid using a 3wire w/ ground(red,blk,white,bare) if you have a 2 wire w/ shielded ground(black,white,green)
  • MaxOHMSMaxOHMS Member Posts: 14,715
    edited November -1
    Never ever wire a 220 circuit onto 2 single-pole breakers.

    If one trips and not the other, someone might die.
  • bambambambambambam Member Posts: 4,814 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    quote:Originally posted by MaxOHMS
    Never ever wire a 220 circuit onto 2 single-pole breakers.

    If one trips and not the other, someone might die.


    This is correct, but many people do it anyway. I don't.
  • BGHillbillyBGHillbilly Member Posts: 1,927 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    Your instruction sheet is showing both 120 and 240, which does the compressor need?
  • dcon12dcon12 Member Posts: 31,934 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    quote:Originally posted by BGHillbilly
    Your instruction sheet is showing both 120 and 240, which does the compressor need?




    Bingo. Read the motor specs. Don
  • bigoutsidebigoutside Member Posts: 19,443
    edited November -1
    I suspect your electrical skills are a little better than mine.

    I noticed that your plug has an 'angry' face.

    'Angry' will eff you up badly.

    'Surprised' will too. But they can almost always use some of your parts for organ donation.

    Hire an electrician.
  • select-fireselect-fire Member Posts: 69,453 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Your wall box is for drywall. Get one that has nails in it and put her in next to a stud. Your motor on the compressor has a rating...15 amp 20 amp.. Wire that baby just like a dryer. Two hots and one ground.
  • bpostbpost Member Posts: 32,664 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    The correct breaker will have a connector between the levers tripping both if one side faults. Go 20 AMP, 12 Ga wire. Unless you need to make it mobile return the plug and wire it direct from the breakers to the compressor.
  • 1911a1-fan1911a1-fan Member Posts: 51,193 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    Yes as stated do not use that breaker

    2 lines come in to your main, both are 110, what you don't see behind your breakers is that they feed in a zig zag patern, say on your riget side of the box, every other breaker is feed off of only one of your mains, this is why you see 2 full sized breaker to your other 220 appliances

    Save that breaker , if you only have one space open, use it to combine the breaker beneath it, and use a double full size breaker
  • TRAP55TRAP55 Member Posts: 8,270 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Make sure Ford is standing clear as he videos you hooking that up.
  • AlpineAlpine Member Posts: 15,041 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    quote:Originally posted by BGHillbilly
    Your instruction sheet is showing both 120 and 240, which does the compressor need?


    The compressor pressure switch is showing two lines switched. Only in Air Conditioners compressor contractors have I seen 220 volt with one line switched.

    As I understand the instruction sheet it is only showing the difference between a 110 volt outlet and the 220 volt outlet.
    ?The problem with socialism is that you eventually run out of other people's money.?
    Margaret Thatcher

    "There are three kinds of lies: lies, damned lies and statistics."
    Mark Twain
  • Big Sky RedneckBig Sky Redneck Member Posts: 19,752 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Ok, this thing is 240V 15A, not 20 or 30 or....., 15A.

    The only 240V breaker they had was this one, I'll try and find another, guess a trip to Bozeman is in order.

    Now here is where I'm confused, all the US 240V I have seen is three wire, two hots and a neutral plus the ground wire. This thing from what I see wires like a 120V with only two wires. I know 120V + 120V = 240 but how is this going to work with two hots only?

    I was a generator mechanic for awhile in Kuwait before moving over to MRAPS and I have wired many test banks and set gens for 120V/208V and 240V. The compressor got me stumped, it looks like it wires like a Euro 240 which is identical to our 120V wiring except they generate 240V whereas we combine two 120Vs to get 240V.

    I'm friggin confused [B)]
  • Marc1301Marc1301 Member Posts: 31,897 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Oy vey![:0]
    "Beam me up Scotty, there's no intelligent life down here." - William Shatner
  • Big Sky RedneckBig Sky Redneck Member Posts: 19,752 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Marc, be nice [8D]
  • 1911a1-fan1911a1-fan Member Posts: 51,193 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    There is no 220 here, it's 110 two phase

    As alpine stated, looking at the other pics, not positive what you have there
  • dcon12dcon12 Member Posts: 31,934 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    quote:Originally posted by 1911a1fan
    There is no 220 here, it's 110 two phase



    220 single phase and you do not need a ground to make it work. Don
  • Tailgunner1954Tailgunner1954 Member Posts: 7,734 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    quote:Originally posted by Big Sky Redneck


    Now here is where I'm confused, all the US 240V I have seen is three wire, two hots and a neutral plus the ground wire. This thing from what I see wires like a 120V with only two wires. I know 120V + 120V = 240 but how is this going to work with two hots only?
    [B)]


    120 left + 120 Right = 240 across (the 2 120 lines are 180^ out of phase to each other).
    In a 4 wire setup, the Neutral is a duplicate of the ground (once you get back to the box, you will see they both tie to box mounted term strips). In a 3 wire setup, you have 2 hots and a ground only. All the older 240 systems used 3 wires, it's only been in the last few years that they added the Neutral lead

    Edit: That is the wrong breaker, and if you doubt it, simply plug it in than probe the output screws with your meter. Screw to screw you NEED 240vac, that breaker will show you zero (both screws will still be 120 to ground however)
  • Marc1301Marc1301 Member Posts: 31,897 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    quote:Originally posted by Big Sky Redneck
    Ok, this thing is 240V 15A, not 20 or 30 or....., 15A.

    The only 240V breaker they had was this one, I'll try and find another, guess a trip to Bozeman is in order.

    Now here is where I'm confused, all the US 240V I have seen is three wire, two hots and a neutral plus the ground wire. This thing from what I see wires like a 120V with only two wires. I know 120V + 120V = 240 but how is this going to work with two hots only?

    I was a generator mechanic for awhile in Kuwait before moving over to MRAPS and I have wired many test banks and set gens for 120V/208V and 240V. The compressor got me stumped, it looks like it wires like a Euro 240 which is identical to our 120V wiring except they generate 240V whereas we combine two 120Vs to get 240V.

    I'm friggin confused [B)]

    And where have you seen that on applications like you are trying to hook up?

    3 wire is correct,.....2 hots, and a ground for 208/230V.
    There is no neutral used unless it is a special application that I won't go into, as it doesn't apply here.

    Now you see why I suggested an electrician.
    Many people here, including myself could guide you through this, but I for one, don't wish to be responsible if you screw up and burn your home down.[;)]
    "Beam me up Scotty, there's no intelligent life down here." - William Shatner
  • 1911a1-fan1911a1-fan Member Posts: 51,193 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    quote:Originally posted by dcon12
    quote:Originally posted by 1911a1fan
    There is no 220 here, it's 110 two phase



    220 single phase and you do not need a ground to make it work. Don



    Not in any residence I have ever owned or been in, I have seen 660 in commercial applications
  • select-fireselect-fire Member Posts: 69,453 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Well this is how to a panal box. You stated the wire is just two wire. That may be from the electic motor to the switch. You need 3 wire #12 from the switch to the wall plug or panal box.

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OlGIHmqacgU
  • dcon12dcon12 Member Posts: 31,934 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    quote:Originally posted by 1911a1fan
    quote:Originally posted by dcon12
    quote:Originally posted by 1911a1fan
    There is no 220 here, it's 110 two phase



    220 single phase and you do not need a ground to make it work. Don



    Not in any residence I have ever owned or been in, I have seen 660 in commercial applications



    My house is wired for 220 three phase. You don't see that much. You guys complicate things. It is 220 single phase 200 amp service in residences. Don
  • MaxOHMSMaxOHMS Member Posts: 14,715
    edited November -1
    "Ok, this thing is 240V 15A, not 20 or 30 or....., 15A."

    You choose breaker size based on the wire used.

    12 gauge wire is rated @ 20 amps.

    True you could use a 15 amp breaker, but not over a 20.

    If the circuit were ever to used for a higher amp load, it will be good to go if you use a 20.
  • RugerNinerRugerNiner Member Posts: 12,636 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    This reminds me of an albino Chinese hooker I once knew. [:)] [:D] [8D]

    872DA40E-4E52-473C-8B24-13FB61ED99DB-329-0000001B27BB01F4_zps135ede25.jpg
    spn05j5e04xq.gif


    Keep your Powder dry and your Musket well oiled.
    NRA Lifetime Benefactor Member.
  • MercuryMercury Member Posts: 7,806 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    The real question: Are you SURE that the compressor requires 220v? It isn't clear from the shot of the instruction manual.

    Some motors can be wired both ways, it appears that yours might be that way. You need to make sure before you go hooking it up and letting the smoke out!

    Merc
  • 1911a1-fan1911a1-fan Member Posts: 51,193 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    quote:Originally posted by dcon12
    quote:Originally posted by 1911a1fan
    quote:Originally posted by dcon12
    quote:Originally posted by 1911a1fan
    There is no 220 here, it's 110 two phase



    220 single phase and you do not need a ground to make it work. Don



    Not in any residence I have ever owned or been in, I have seen 660 in commercial applications



    My house is wired for 220 three phase. You don't see that much. You guys complicate things. It is 220 single phase 200 amp service in residences. Don


    I think we may just not be understanding each other or using different terms, maybe is a regional thing I dunno, but I have seen several, rewired more than one, including to the weatherhead, here we only have two 110 volt lines coming into residence period, 100/200 amps depends on the weathered and circuit box, again most residential transformers here are only 110, not 220 on one line
  • dcon12dcon12 Member Posts: 31,934 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    quote:Originally posted by 1911a1fan
    quote:Originally posted by dcon12
    quote:Originally posted by 1911a1fan
    quote:Originally posted by dcon12
    quote:Originally posted by 1911a1fan
    There is no 220 here, it's 110 two phase



    220 single phase and you do not need a ground to make it work. Don



    Not in any residence I have ever owned or been in, I have seen 660 in commercial applications



    My house is wired for 220 three phase. You don't see that much. You guys complicate things. It is 220 single phase 200 amp service in residences. Don


    I think we may just not be understanding each other or using different terms, maybe is a regional thing I dunno, but I have seen several, rewired more than one, including to the weatherhead, here we only have two 110 volt lines coming into residence period, 100/200 amps depends on the weathered and circuit box, again most residential transformers here are only 110, not 220 on one line



    Correct, two 110 lines and a ground/common coming into the weatherhead/meter base. It is called 220 single phase. There is no such thing as 110 two phase. Don
  • 1911a1-fan1911a1-fan Member Posts: 51,193 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    your just out of phase tonight don [;)]







    its all nomenclature
  • woodhogwoodhog Member Posts: 13,115 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    IMPORTANT: Ignore Don or anyone else who EVER sez you don't need a ground. Your device apparently needs two hot legs, each carrying 110 v ac and a ground (green or unsheathed) In a 3 wire circuit( Which is 4 wires, ground is usually not counted in nomenclature) you have a neutral, not the same as a ground tho people are often confused. This is so you may also have a 110 v ac circuit at the source location. for example, Ranges use 110 v ac for clocks, low temp burners, 220 v ac for higher settings. They may also have a 110v ac outlet on stove. You have no need for 110 v ac consequently 2 wires only ( two hot, 1 ground). Never run any device without a service ground.
  • dcon12dcon12 Member Posts: 31,934 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    quote:Originally posted by woodhog
    [Never run any device without a service ground.




    I did not say you don't need a ground, I said it will work without one. It may shock the crap out of you if you are standing in water but it will run without a ground. Code is for wimps! Don
  • Big Sky RedneckBig Sky Redneck Member Posts: 19,752 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    This is what I got

    49876B53-8D27-4EEB-9E3F-681314D21C85-149-0000000B8581CE46_zps223e30d4.jpg

    0F4CE117-2780-4983-A26F-B2076B6C8060-149-0000000B8BA3049C_zpsb7b8a1c3.jpg

    C0BC05E3-534C-4F04-9336-70C45BD0F2E2-149-0000000B932FBF10_zps11a694b1.jpg
  • dcon12dcon12 Member Posts: 31,934 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    quote:Originally posted by Big Sky Redneck
    C0BC05E3-534C-4F04-9336-70C45BD0F2E2-149-0000000B932FBF10_zps11a694b1.jpg



    Do you see more than two wires there? Don
  • nutfinnnutfinn Member Posts: 12,804 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Don, why do you get involved, just think you'll be doing * [:I] Or was it kicking?
  • dcon12dcon12 Member Posts: 31,934 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    quote:Originally posted by nutfinn
    Don, why do you get involved, just think you'll be doing * [:I]



    I was trying to help the handicapped. Don
  • Big Sky RedneckBig Sky Redneck Member Posts: 19,752 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    quote:Originally posted by dcon12
    quote:Originally posted by Big Sky Redneck
    C0BC05E3-534C-4F04-9336-70C45BD0F2E2-149-0000000B932FBF10_zps11a694b1.jpg



    Do you see more than two wires there? Don


    So what do I do, wire two hots directly to it from a dual breaker and just connect the bare ground wire to the screw under the tabs?
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