Another air compressor install

[goingtoarizona]

After much too long I'm wiring up my 5HP 20amp 60 Gallon Craftsman two stage compressor. It's about 75 feet from my breaker box. I'm thinking I should just man up and use 10/2, a 30 amp breaker and a cut off box at the compressor. Can I get away with 12 gauge wire?

 

[Redwolf947]

You should post this in the Lighting & Electrical section. They will guide you thru it best.. I'd go with the 10/2 myself. (future upgrades?)

 

[redmondjp]

At 75 feet, I'd go for the 10/2 with ground, due to voltage drop. Motor starting current is several times running current and this is why having a low-resistance path is important.

 

[Pwrgeek]

I'm sure this will get moved to lighting and electrical soon but if the motor nameplate says 5HP then you need #10 for the wire and probably a 30A breaker (Though you can try a 20 and see) the wire is not negotiable in the code though. NEC table 430.248 has everything you need to know about sizing the circuit.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[JohnnyK8]

After much too long I'm wiring up my 5HP 20amp 60 Gallon Craftsman two stage compressor. It's about 75 feet from my breaker box. I'm thinking I should just man up and use 10/2, a 30 amp breaker and a cut off box at the compressor. Can I get away with 12 gauge wire?

I just did the same thing. Use 10/2 for your motor.

Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk

 

[Norcal]

If it's a true 5 HP motor the NEC full load current rating of 28 amperes from table 430.248 is required to be used, not the nameplate amperes, 10/2 is not sufficient, either 8/2 NM cable or 10 AWG THHN/THWN in conduit is required, for a motor application meeting conditions in NEC article 430 means 10 AWG is rated for 35 amperes, but NM sheathed cable is required to be used at the sixty degree Celsius rating so 10 AWG is limited to 30 amperes.

 

[mmb617]

I can't see the downside of using the 10/2 over the 12/2 since you are running new wire anyways. The extra expense will be offset by knowing you're good to go instead of taking the chance you'll have to do the wiring job again, which would cost even more.

My compressor says 15 amp, yet it would occasionally pop the 20 amp breaker even though it's on a dedicated circuit. I rewired it with 10/2 and a 30 amp breaker which corrected the problem.

 

[bob15]

Read this post....it will help you with what you need and what is good & bad: http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=327635