Need assistance setting up 220v for compressor

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Hey Michael,
First advice is get a licensed electrician to do the work so as not to violate the wiring codes for your area. Not to mention safety.

In a nut shell when you look at the panel and you see the Range, Dryer, and Heater (water I assume) you are looking at 220v breakers for those devices. Your house panel will have two legs of 120v (2 of three phases typically distributed in every neighborhood) that are brought in from the service provider distribution point. These 2 legs of 110 or 120 are what you will power your 220v requirements. The breakers (220V) you see that I mentioned are covering two interlaced metal tabs behind the panel that you can't see with the cover in place. The breakers on the other side of the panel are only on one of the metal tabs and therefore are utilizing only one of the 120v phases. Interestingly though is that each of the single phase breakers are on alternate 110V phases. It is not pertinent but it means as long as you have two breaker slots (two singles) side by side you have access to two phases of 110, thus a slot for a 220 breaker if you wish. Which you do in the bottom left corner and at the top on both sides, if I am seeing the pic correctly. 

Here are your options, go to the Range and plug in there with your compressor, or go to the Dryer, Most of these appliances have 220 plugs. Your electric water heater will be directly wired, usually. But that could be good too as your electrician could put a break-out box near the water heater and wire you a 220V receptacle and then wire back to the water heater. (assuming your local code allows) The other option is to add a 30amp 220 breaker just like the three already mentioned and wire to your own dedicated 220v receptacle beside the Circuit breaker panel. When you /your electrican takes off the cover that the breakers are covered by you will see the interlaced tabs I mentioned and you will get a better understanding that each tab beside each other is actually alternating Phase 1 and Phase 2 voltage busses. Hope this helps. Call your favorite electrician to do the work.
Enjoy the compressor.

Edited: Third option is to buy/make a extension cord that will plug into the dryer plug and run out to a plug box that you can plug your compressor into. Would keep the cost down and wouldn't require any change to house wiring. Wife might not like you unplugging her dryer though....personal experience :)
 
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Thanks guys. I was just trying to do some preliminary work, the compressor won’t arrive for a few days. It looks like our dryer was once all electric and required 220. Now it is gas and only requires 110. I’m hoping to reuse the 220 breakers labeled ”drier disconnected”. Does this make sense: pull off the panel and see (with a volt meter) if the breakers labeled ”drier disconnected” are still putting out 220v. And if they are then just connect a wire (Romex) to the leads and extend it to a new receptacle near my compressor.
 
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Make sure you use the proper size wire. Breakers are sized to protect the wire. The wire must be able to carry the current required for the load and of sufficient carrying capacity to allow for the voltage drop due to length of run and such carrying capacity it will blow the breaker in a short circuit failure rather than burning the wire. 

If you have only a short run of wire the voltage drop due to resistance in the wire is negligible, I have included a link that demonstrates the concept of length and voltage drop consideration. So if the advertisement of the current draw for the 230V/14A is correct, the 30Amp breaker will work fine for your compressor. Just pick the wire gauge that meets the voltage drop requirement due to length and it will carry the full 30Amps in a short circuit failure, so that it blows the breaker and not melts the wire, and burns down the house....wives hate that when that happens....personal experience, again.
simple-smile.png
J.
http://www.cerrowire.com/files/file/voltagedrop.pdf
 
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Not sure which compressor you are getting but that will determine what minimum wire size and breaker size you will need. Example, my Daystate 4500 is spec'ed at 14 A @ 240 volts. I used a 20 A double breaker and #12 wire for 60 ft run since this is safe, and I had the breaker and wire already. Seems you are on the right track, especially with all the advice given above. Good luck with your project/compressor.
 
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Michael,

FunGun is spot on. His recommendation to hire an electrician is mine as well. There is simply to much at stake to risk having something to go wrong by trying to do this yourself unless you have had proper training and experience working with high voltage electricity.. I'm sure you wouldn't want to cause any damage your new compressor let alone risk causing injury to you, your house, or god forbid, anyone else,

Scott
 
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My background is being an Electric Lineman and trouble shooter I echo the suggestion to hire an electrician if you plan to modify or add a circuit to your panel. I no longer work as a lineman but I do control a portion of the power grid. I have seen just about everything when it comes to improperly wired panels. I will not give advice on the net because I do not know your level of electrical competency. Screwing up you electric system can result in loss of life. Many house fires are caused by faulty wiring. I used to be the guy called out in the middle of the night to cut power to burning houses. It is not rocket science but it does take a level of electrical knowledge the average person does not have.

Mike

 
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Michael,
I know when you get that new compressor you are going to be excited to try it out. Here is my simple temporary solution and maybe a long term as well depending on how much room you have and how amicable your wife might be......

You have your 220V dryer circuit breaker that is marked as "disconnected". Now, depending on how disconnected it really is, it could mean that the circuit is still hooked up and that there is no dryer connected. So first off, if you are so inclined and feel comfortable you (your electrician) can check the outlet where the dryer was plugged in before and see if you have 120 on each leg to ground. If you are not qualified to do this have an electrician perform the testing. Seriously if you are not comfortable using a volt meter then don't try it! No disrespect intended, just don't want to see anyone get hurt.
If there is power at the old dryer outlet you are in like flint. You might need to change out the plug on your compressor or the old dryer receptacle or simply have a adapter cable made that will go between the dryer outlet and your compressor. There are many 220V outlet types available and since these compressors are from overseas, I'm not sure which 220V plug they have.

Now if there is no power available then you (your electrician) can see where it is disconnected and reconnect and your back to being in like flint again. This would save you some bucks since you won't need to run new wire and add a new receptacle. Obviously if this plug is not in an acceptable area to run the compressor then just toss this idea aside. Have fun and good luck with it.
 
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I took did something similar to fungun's suggestion when I had to switch my compressor from 110v to 220v.
My solution was to buy a 4' dryer replacement cable. I then put on a 220 recepticle to match my 220v compressor
plug. So I just basically have a short extension cable. I only use it a couple times a month so as long as I get
the wifes dryer plugged back in when I'm finished I'm good to go.

In your case it sounds like you could leave it connected all the time.
 
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"Ronin001"How is the compressor working out?
Click to expand...
It is nothing short of awesome. After talking to a retired electrician (who just happens to own a Daystate 4500 compressor also) it was easy hook up.

I hacked off the UK plug and wired it to a standard L6 20p plug as follows:
Daystate Blue > US 110v
Daystate Brown > US 110v
Daystate Green/Yellow > US Ground
There is no common (normally White)

Then I ran a cable (Romex) from my spare 220v circuit breaker to my compressor. Connected a female L6 20r and voila... I'm in business. I'm working on a video that will show the setup, the features, and making some air!
 
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"Ronin001"Daystate 4500 (coltri compressor)

Data Plate
220 v
2.2 kW
16.5 A
------------

20 amp circuit breaker (CB) at 80% every day use is 16 amps. Beyond that for any extended time may cause your CB to possibly trip.

25 amp circuit breaker seems to be the good minimum you would want and of course the 30amp. 
Click to expand...
The motor data plate on my Daystate 4500 Compressor specifies 14 amps of current. The control box placard on my Daystate 4500 Compressor specifies 14 amps. My Owners Manual specifies 14 amps. Where did you find 16.5 amps?

 
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