220v Extension Cord For Air Compressor, or ??

[chinaclipper]

So I asked the electrician, since they were rewiring my kitchen, could you put a 20 amp circuit in my garage for my air compressor. He says sure.
I get this:

Now I'm pretty sure he puts in a 20 amp, 220v circuit. Not all bad, but now I need to convert my air compressor, and get an extension cord, or get a longer air hose and just replace the plug on my air compressor to match my new outlet. Either way I have to replace my plug for the compressor. I know I need to make the conversion from 110 to 220v, I have looked at the plate on the motor and I can do that.

I guess I am wondering what advantage would it be to have the extension cord versus just buy a longer air hose. Which would be the biggest advantage as far as minimizing hassles and pricier? Are there 220v extensions cords available or do you make your own?

 

[JJThrasher]

The electrician put a 220v circuit in for a 110v compressor? I'd be finding a new sparky.

 

[sberry]

Get a hose and park the comp.

 

[theoldwizard1]

Get a hose and park the comp.

Better off in the long run !


If you do decide to buy/make an extension cord the wire that is used inside walls do NOT count the ground wire. That is why your picture shows (NM-B) 12/2 wire.

Wire used for extension cords, DOES count the ground so you need SOOW/SJOOW 12/3 !

 

[The Cobbler]

It's always better to have more hose than wire . ( IMO)

 

[wyliesdiesels]

Whats the HP rating?

 

[sberry]

I considered the hp rating but figured if it could be wired dual V it probably wasn't a big deal.

 

[exranger06]

I don't understand why you need an extension cord or a longer hose. If he was installing a new outlet, why didn't he put the outlet where the compressor is already located/where you want it?

 

[Richard Cranium]

That was kind of my question also about why the plug wasn't put where you needed.

 

[chinaclipper]

You guys ....I use the Kobalt 30 1.6HP portable compressor for blowing out the sprinklers, and for auto stuff, primarily. The plug is in the garage. Occasionally, I need to be out in front or elsewhere in the garage with the compressor. A good, (GOOD, not HF) longer air line (100 feet) probably $70. 50 ft 12/2 Extension cord, $80. Gotta put a plug on the compressor, so that's another $12 whether I get a hose or cord..... It's a toss up.

 

[bczygan]

I have a portable Craftsman 220V compressor. A circuit run to the best location is a start. I'm putting one at the front of the garage. I could also put one in or on the outside of the automotive shed to serve cars on the side street and the back yard.

A long (Within reason) cord allows the compressor to be closer to the job, which allows the hose to be shorter, allowing better air delivery. You can still have longer and also fatter hoses to further increase total range.

So for me, the answer is both. A 25' cord plugged into an outlet at the garage door, allows the compressor to be located at the end of my driveway so a 25' hose reaches around my car so I can work in the street.

Bill

 

[Git]

You guys ....I use the Kobalt 30 1.6HP portable compressor for blowing out the sprinklers, and for auto stuff, primarily. The plug is in the garage. Occasionally, I need to be out in front or elsewhere in the garage with the compressor. A good, (GOOD, not HF) longer air line (100 feet) probably $70. 50 ft 12/2 Extension cord, $80. Gotta put a plug on the compressor, so that's another $12 whether I get a hose or cord..... It's a toss up.

I had to buy a new 100' air hose this summer to reach a spot in my backyard

$32 and I was very pleased with it. Amflo 3/8"

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000UBNFMY/?tag=atomicindus08-20

 

[md21722]

What were the respective pressure losses across the air line & voltage drop with the extension cord?

 

[sberry]

Depends on the amount of air used. If running a 1/2 air gun on a low power low vol comp its better to give up a few volts than pounds. If you can do the work the hose is more convenient.
With nominal voltage of 121 or more and a load of 13 to 15 amps a small comp can run well to 100 ft, maybe 150 ft, could have quite a loss before it would really cause any performance problems.

 

[James-W]

Personally, I would go with a longer air hose.

 

[md21722]

Depends on the amount of air used. If running a 1/2 air gun on a low power low vol comp its better to give up a few volts than pounds. If you can do the work the hose is more convenient.
With nominal voltage of 121 or more and a load of 13 to 15 amps a small comp can run well to 100 ft, maybe 150 ft, could have quite a loss before it would really cause any performance problems.

I agree. I've done it both ways.

 

[nadogail]

I like extension cords, because they are multi-purpose. That is they can take power to a lot of different things, but compressed air in a small shop is limited in usefulness because most of us don't have a large collection of pneumatic tools.

In my shop the same extension cord is used to power my arc welder and table saw, depending on which is being used.

 

[James-W]

I like extension cords, because they are multi-purpose. That is they can take power to a lot of different things, but compressed air in a small shop is limited in usefulness because most of us don't have a large collection of pneumatic tools.

In my shop the same extension cord is used to power my arc welder and table saw, depending on which is being used.

I get what you are saying and I agree with you, but not everyone has the same plugs on their equipment. For example, my table saw is 220 volt but the plug is different than it is on my 220 volt arc welder. If I had an extension cord for either one it would not work on both. Fortunately I have different receptacles for both and I tend to do welding outside the shop anyway so in my particular case it is a moot point. I have a receptacle for the welder right by the overhead door so I can sit the welder outside the garage. I don't do all that much welding anyway, and when I do it is usually in the Summer months. In any case, I do mostly woodworking so doing a little welding outside on rare occasion is not a big deal.

 

[machine_punk]

For not much more (around $200), you could get on of the aluminum tubing kits for the compressor and have an outlet near the garage door and the back door...then use a shorter hose wherever you are.

KDub

 

[gungatim]

or just buy a portable air tank and use that for the few times you need to blow out the sprinkler and what not.

 

[sberry]

The air tools have got better, now the 3/8 guns have a lot of poop and can be used on wheels. It would make it work better with long hoses.
This is probably maintenance and hobby, if he had a gang of Ironworkers or a body shop to run away from it then we are starting on the wrong foot anyway. A 100 ft hose will drain it plenty fast and only loss that could matter would be hardest hit on a large air gun

 

[nh_yota]

Keep the compressor wired for 120V, swap the outlet to a 120V outlet and get a longer air hose.

The only advantage to switching the compressor wiring from 120V to 240V is to reduce current which reduces the required wire size for the circuit. Since it's a small HP compressor the cons outweigh the pros for switching it to 240V because you would no longer be able to plug it into a standard 120V outlet.

Swapping the outlet should not take him more than 10 minutes. Since he ran 12-2 all he needs to do is swap the outlet and switch the white leg from one of the two breakers to the neutral bus in the panel. Having a dedicated 120V circuit also means you can plug in other power tools like a table saw when you're not using the compressor.

 

[nadogail]

I get what you are saying and I agree with you, but not everyone has the same plugs on their equipment. For example, my table saw is 220 volt but the plug is different than it is on my 220 volt arc welder. If I had an extension cord for either one it would not work on both......

I have changed the plugs on my 220 volt equipment so that all them can use the same receptacles and extension cords. I did check with Hobart and was told that changing the plug on my StickMate welder would not violate the warranty.

 

[lakeroadster]

Personally, I would go with a longer ....hose.

That's what she said...

 

[James-W]

That's what she said...

Cute.