220 in my garage

[jeffgrice]

Hi Gang,

Bought a new compressor 110/220 option and unfortunately when it cycles to fill it blows my 15 amp 110 circuits.

I do no have 20 amp near the garage.

And pulling wire will be next to impossible since the panel is 75 or more feet away and no through the house access.

HOWEVER, I do have one of my AC units at the side of the garage and it has 220.

I know I cannot run the AC and the COmpressor at the same time as I would have the same problem as one or the other cycles it would blow the breaker.

BUT since I rarely use the compressor on continuous duty, what would be the harm of taping into the break box at the AC unit, popping lines via conduit into the garage to a 220 plug as long as I don't plan to use at the same time?

THanks

Jeff

 

[pattenp]

If you tap the circuit to the A/C unit be sure to use the same size amp rated wire. If you use an outlet and plug for the compressor it needs to be rated at the same amps. So if it's a 30A circuit you need to use #10 wire and a 30A rated outlet. Because of adding the compressor this circuit will most likely be undersized by NEC.

 

[jeffgrice]

Thanks for the advice!

 

[G'ord]

Correct me If I'm wrong, and history shows I'm probably wrong. But If the pulling from the panel would be approximately 75' by pulling from the AC the total 100 may then be over 100 feet. I seem to remember seeing someone say something about runs of that length. And again i might be confusing the issue.

 

[wyliesdiesels]

Correct me If I'm wrong, and history shows I'm probably wrong. But If the pulling from the panel would be approximately 75' by pulling from the AC the total 100 may then be over 100 feet. I seem to remember seeing someone say something about runs of that length. And again i might be confusing the issue.

I presume your thinking of voltage drop. But if his A/C feeder is a 30a circuit with #10 wire then voltage drop WONT be an issue because his compressor draws WAY less than the A/C condensor/compressor!

 

[G'ord]

thank you for the correction.

 

[matt151617]

Hi Gang,

Bought a new compressor 110/220 option and unfortunately when it cycles to fill it blows my 15 amp 110 circuits.

I do no have 20 amp near the garage.

And pulling wire will be next to impossible since the panel is 75 or more feet away and no through the house access.

HOWEVER, I do have one of my AC units at the side of the garage and it has 220.

I know I cannot run the AC and the COmpressor at the same time as I would have the same problem as one or the other cycles it would blow the breaker.

BUT since I rarely use the compressor on continuous duty, what would be the harm of taping into the break box at the AC unit, popping lines via conduit into the garage to a 220 plug as long as I don't plan to use at the same time?

THanks

Jeff

Sounds like the power to your garage is pretty limited. An upgrade will probably be in your near future or you'll be blowing breakers constantly.