air compressor extension cord

[topher5150]

So I have a bit of a weird situation here. My shed is about 50' from the house, and instead of dragging the air compressor to the house every time I want to use it, and for the sake of the neighbors, I would like to keep it in the shed. It's just a small 8-gallon harbor freight compressor.
Would I be ok getting a length of heavy-duty wiring and making an extension cord?

 

[Terry D]

You can probably buy a 50' 12 gauge cord with molded ends cheaper than making one. You do plan on taking the cord in after every use and not leaving it on the ground I hope. Probably need to plan to run permanent wiring to the shed if you are going to keep it set up that way

 

[u2slow]

I have a small compressor like that. I recommend #12. Sometimes I use it with a lighter cord by accident, and then it stutters on startup.

 

[Half-fast eddie]

Buy a longer air hose. Unless you are using something that demands a lot of cfm, like a paint sprayer or impact wrench, the tools won’t notice the difference. Think about roofers … they use long hoses all the time.

 

[The Cobbler]

X2 on the store bought #12 cord.

 

[PoorUB]

Really we should ask what is the amp draw on the compressor? But in reality a 50 foot 12 gauge cord should be fine.

 

[mikedodge]

Only 8 gallon should be fine on a 12 cord.

 

[u2slow]

Tank gallons does not equate to any particular current draw. My little $100 cheapo compressor is 3 gal and 12A rated.

 

[mikedodge]

Harbor freight and 8 gallon means #12 is a pretty good guess.

 

[topher5150]

Well that disappointing. I plugged it in it gave me a couple of labours cranks and then tripped the circuit built into the air compressor.

 

[Noltz]

I rented a house once with a power at the shed, fed by yellow 12/2 and a 20A breaker. Had one of those 15 or 20A plugs in it. Ran my Canadian Tire hot-dog compressor just fine. Moved and tried to run an extension cord to the new shed (orange construction type, I think 12 but maybe 14 ga) and it wouldn't run.

Best suggestion is to try a 50' cord, but I built a little compressor box to sit outside my garage and punched a hole to run the airline inside. Inside is an loud old 12 gallon Campbell Hausfield compressor. Its controlled with a switched outdoor outlet. 2" styrofoam foil backed for sound deadening. There's audible vibrations from it running in the house (need rubber feet), but noise levels are slightly louder than an electrical transformer humming at the street.

 

[rlitman]

Well that disappointing. I plugged it in it gave me a couple of labours cranks and then tripped the circuit built into the air compressor.

You said 50', and the hive mind agreed that a 50' cord would work, yet you bought a 100' cord.
Double the cord length, and you double the resistance, which in turn doubles the voltage drop. The more voltage drop a motor sees, the higher the current it pulls, which is why you tripped the breaker.

Step down to a 50' cord, or if you really need 100', buy a 10 gauge cord.

 

[PoorUB]

Well that disappointing. I plugged it in it gave me a couple of labours cranks and then tripped the circuit built into the air compressor.

You still have not posted the electrical information from the compressor. That might have saved the expense of buying the extension cord.

And yep, the 100 foot cord was not the way to go!

 

[BukitCase]

HF's current 8 gallon is airless, runs 14 amps continuous which could be more than double at startup. Even at just 14 amps, 100' cord calls for #10 wire.

If you want to GET good info, it helps to GIVE some... Steve

 

[csp]

It's amazing that others asking questions to get the required info for an educated response is lost on some people.

 

[Terry D]

We suggested a 50 ft #12 cord. You bought a 100 ft #12 cord. You will get a big voltage drop with that cord. You might have to go to a 50 ft #10

Please post the electrical specs

 

[wyliesdiesels]

HF's current 8 gallon is airless, runs 14 amps continuous which could be more than double at startup. Even at just 14 amps, 100' cord calls for #10 wire.

If you want to GET good info, it helps to GIVE some... Steve

ummm did you mean OILESS? an airless air compressor wouldnt be very useful

 

[BukitCase]

"ummm did you mean OILESS?"

Ummm, yeah probably; at 77, I do occasionally get a brain fart once in a while. Although, it IS Harbor Freight so IME, an airless air compressor isn't COMPLETELY beyond the realm of possibility ... Steve