Air compressor wiring in garage


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Old 05-01-06, 09:40 AM
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Air compressor wiring in garage

Forgive me, newbie to this site and electrical work.

I want to wire up a Sears 240v air compressor in the garage. I have in my basement a 100AMP main breaker but the panel is completely full.

Can I install a subpanel with a 60amp breaker for the air compressor in my main box?

I might have to take out a few exisiting smaller breakers and reconnect them in the subpanel.

I think the air compressors needs a minimum 30AMP 240v, but might require higher for initial surge. I will try to get the electrical specs. Utilization in the house is pretty low, at any given time I do not even use half the circuits as I'm poor since gas prices and utilities have gone up like crazy.

Any help is much appreciated.

Thanks
 
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Old 05-01-06, 09:45 AM
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[/I think the air compressors needs a minimum 30AMP 240v, but might require higher for initial surge.
You need to look at the name tag and get the full load amps
and then decide what wire and breaker you need. From your information, your question can not be answered.
 
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Old 05-01-06, 10:04 AM
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The paperwork for the compressor should tell you exactly what breaker to use. Usually, the breakers themselves are designed to allow starting surges without tripping.

You may be able to use tandem breakers without having to install any subpanels. What are the breaker types in the panels now?
 
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Old 05-01-06, 12:25 PM
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> Can I install a subpanel with a 60amp breaker in my main box?

Yes.

> I might have to take out a few existing smaller breakers and
> reconnect them in the subpanel.
Might? If the panel is full, yes, you must.


> I think the air compressors needs a minimum 30A@240V,
Sounds like the maximum. If it isn't, you won't be able to afford to run it.
 
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Old 05-01-06, 08:32 PM
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Originally Posted by wareagle
You need to look at the name tag and get the full load amps
and then decide what wire and breaker you need. From your information, your question can not be answered.
Ok, on the label of the compressor it says

240V/15A/60HZ/1PH

What gauge wiring would suffice for this? 8Gauge? or would even 10gauge do?
 

Last edited by [s3]; 05-02-06 at 07:35 AM.
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Old 05-02-06, 09:53 AM
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You could get away with #14, but I think upsizing to #12 is the way to go. What is the distance from the breaker panel to the compressor?

I would use 12/2 NM-B cable and a 20A double-pole breaker for that compressor. Color the last couple inches of the white wire red on both ends of the cable to indicate its use in a 240V circuit.
 
 

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