Another 110/220 air compressor question

[rv245]

I'm heading this coming weekend (4 days really) to our cabin in northern Michigan to finish up the garage so that it's ready for the snowmobile season. I'm planning on putting in a compressor, probably in the summer or soon if a great deal pops up. I want to wire this up this weekend to a separate circuit before buttoning up the 3 remaining pieces of OSB board on the walls.

I'm going to be wiring for 220 just in case I ever decide to go bigger. Right now I'm thinking a 30 gallon compressor as I'm not there all the time and want it to fit under some shelving. If I lived there full time it would be different.

Here's my question.

I assume with 220 there would be less chance to trip a circuit compared to 110, is this right? What other advantages does 220 have over 110 far as compressors go this size?

Is it easy when I do get a compressor to switch over from one way to the other? I assume again it's just a matter of redirecting some wires.

Thank in advance for your help

 

[soapii]

You can trip a 110 or 220 breaker just as easy if you are overloading the circuit. There really isn't an advantage running one or the other it just depends on the requirements of the compressor. Typically your larger compressors run off 220 and smaller run off 110.

--Joe

 

[2ManyProjects]

I'm heading this coming weekend (4 days really) to our cabin in northern Michigan to finish up the garage so that it's ready for the snowmobile season. I'm planning on putting in a compressor, probably in the summer or soon if a great deal pops up. I want to wire this up this weekend to a separate circuit before buttoning up the 3 remaining pieces of OSB board on the walls.

I'm going to be wiring for 220 just in case I ever decide to go bigger. Right now I'm thinking a 30 gallon compressor as I'm not there all the time and want it to fit under some shelving. If I lived there full time it would be different.

The size of the tank is irrelevant. It is the motor driving the compressor which matters, from a wiring POV.

Here's my question.

I assume with 220 there would be less chance to trip a circuit compared to 110, is this right?

No.

An overload is an overload is an overload, period. If the breaker EVER trips, there is a reason for that; and that reason should be investigated & corrected. Further, if the compressor is properly installed and fed from a circuit of adequate capacity to start with, you should NOT have "nuisance trip" problems regardless of whether the unit is running off 120V or 240V.

What other advantages does 220 have over 110 far as compressors go this size?

You can get more power out of less current. The "less current" part means you can use lighter wiring.

Is it easy when I do get a compressor to switch over from one way to the other? I assume again it's just a matter of redirecting some wires.

This depends COMPLETELY on the particular compressor in question. Some are 120V only, some are 240V only, and some are "convertible" between 120V & 240V.

 

[rv245]

2Many...... Thanks

 

[sberry]

There is something to the breaker trip angle. A small comp on a 120 circuit is fully loaded, lots od them trip 20's on start especially as they age a bit. You can tailor them but it involves a couple of factors, dedicating a 120v outlet and breaker change. Put the same wire on a 20 and at 240 never have a trip. Length of run and v drop could be factors in some cases.