Indicator light for compressor

[Possum]

I found in my box of salvaged junk an indicator light that looks to mount in place of a standard switch. It is marked 220-270V and has two wire connections on it. If I jump the two connections to 240V power it lights up, it also lights up if I put one connection on 120V and one to neutral. I would like to install this next to the exit door of my shop so I will have a visual clue that I have left my compressor on. The compressor is in another part of the shop and wired through a wall mount fused disconnect. My thoughts are to run a single wire (of the same gauge?) off one leg of the 240V after the fuse to the light, and connect the other side of the light to a neutral leg located near where the light would be. Is this a no-no? Would it be better to run two wires? Do they have to be the same gauge as the equipment on the circuit? - The circuit is as follows: 30 amp two pole breaker --> 10 gauge wire --> fused knife switch/disconnect ---> 15 amp fuses ---> 12 gauge wire ---> 2 hp motor. If I wire the lights in after the fuses as it is now I should be fine with a lighter gauge wire - but... should I ever upgrade the compressor and use larger fuses in the disconnect will I need larger wire for the light?

Long winded I know. Thanks in advance.

 

[mrb]

first, you cannot take a hot off the disco and the neutral from somewhere else. All conductors of the circuit must be in the same cable or conduit.

The wire running to the light must be protected at its rated ampacity. This is easily solved by fusing down to 15 amps and running #14 over to the light.

That said, what I would do is get ahold of a small 240vac to 24vac control transformer (cheap on ebay) and then run a piece of doorbell wire from that to a 24v indicator light. Heres a picture of some I have, these are 22mm control panel indicator lights, they have LEDs inside behind the lens.

 

[1Garageman]

That sounds like a great id "MRB"! I might try to find one of those to put on my 120v 20amp compressor.

 

[mrb]

how far away from compressor are you putting that light? you might just want to use a 120v light. (same light I posted comes in 120v also)

 

[1Garageman]

I was just thinking of putting it within 5 ft or so of it. I am going to box in the compress eventually to cut down on the damn noise it makes and that would be nice. Out side switch for on and off and a light with it.

 

[Possum]

Thanks for the response mrb. I would like to just utilize the switch I already have since fits in a standard electrical box and the light fits through a cover plate made for the switch. The wire run from the compressor would be about 40' one way. I will just run two wires to it, probably 10 gauge in case I upgrade the compressor - like the Saylor Beall 705 I found today - and need to use larger fuses requiring larger wires to the light correct?

 

[mrb]

Thanks for the response mrb. I would like to just utilize the switch I already have since fits in a standard electrical box and the light fits through a cover plate made for the switch. The wire run from the compressor would be about 40' one way. I will just run two wires to it, probably 10 gauge in case I upgrade the compressor - like the Saylor Beall 705 I found today - and need to use larger fuses requiring larger wires to the light correct?

ok. seemed like it would be better to use a $8 transformer and a $3 light plus some cat5, phone wire, doorbell wire, or whatever than to install a 40ft run of #10 to use a light you already have....

 

[Possum]

That is cheap. What would I need to operate the compressor at the door location with a setup like that?

 

[mrb]

operate the compressor? as in turn it on an off?

 

[scuba0459]

You would need a starter contactor. I have my compressor hooked up to such a circuit. Mine has a 24V remote switch and if I ran a third wire I would also have a light. My compressor is in my other garage and I can remotely turn it on from my workshop.

 

[Underdog]

I tried to wire in a indicator light (115V) on my compressor (230V single phase w/starter, 230V coil. Wired as I thought it should work but it made the coil buzz from back feed thru the light bulb.???

 

[gmhill33]

I hooked up a regular light to a double pole 230v switch so that I would know that I left the air compressor turned on.

Gary

 

[IONH]

I hooked up a regular light to a double pole 230v switch so that I would know that I left the air compressor turned on.

How did you do that? I'd love to hook up a 120VAC CFL to my 230v 60 gallon comrpessor.

 

[2LTim]

You could do as I have done in my shop, control a contactor with the lighting circuit switch. If you can remember to turn off the lights, you never have to wonder if you left the air on.

 

[RAYJAY]

GUY DON'T OVER THINK IT HOOK IT UP ON THE DISCONNECT SWITCH...USED ON LEG OFF THE 220 ......

 

[Underdog]

GUY DON'T OVER THINK IT HOOK IT UP ON THE DISCONNECT SWITCH...USED ON LEG OFF THE 220 ......

I control my compressor by the contacter by using a SP ordinary light switch. Turning on and off by the breaker or disconnect switch is to cumbersum every day.