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DIY Circuit Panel Upgrade - 100A to 200A

mike93lx

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Huh?



What does the nameplate say for HP and FLA?

Also, if they get the unit tested and listed with the plug on it, the plug may be rated for the HP but the receptacle surely isn't.

My guess is their HP ratings are grossly inflated

The manual says 22a full load current with a 30a minimum circuit. No idea what is on the motor.

Website says 5hp
 
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MrSurly

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Not any home I've owned in Texas. I have to purchase the wire all the way to the transformer. The POCO hooks it up.

I'll throw in that my (Texas) experience differs. I recently upgraded from 100 to 200 Amp service, the poco (AEP) provided the new up-sized drop, as well as the meter can, no charge.
I installed it and provided everything else, weatherhead to loadcenter.
 
OP
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ProfessionalAmateur

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Yes a 5HP motor requires #10 in conduit or 8/2 NM-b. NM-b doesnt need to be ran in conduit.

But you mentioned power cords. Power cords aka cordage is not meant to be used in place of building wire.

And this compressor should be hardwired unless you can find a plug and receptacle rated for 5HP.

Grizzly's page lists this plug and will sell you this cord as well.

I'll have this on a mobile base, so I can't really hard wire it.
 

mike93lx

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Grizzly's page lists this plug and will sell you this cord as well.

I'll have this on a mobile base, so I can't really hard wire it.

They are selling it, but it isn't proper for a 5hp motor. The plug needs to be rated for the listed HP, and that one certainly isn't.

That said, it will work. The issue is if you were to ever unplug it under load. It could arc, which could be quite dangerous
 
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ProfessionalAmateur

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Sure they can sell you whatever. Doesnt mean its code compliant. Remember, they dont have to comply with code for part sales.

That's fair, though I'd think that in the U.S., knowingly selling a plug that would put a customer at risk of getting zapped would put them in go directly to court do not pass go write a liability check for $500,000.

And where would you find a 5HP rated NEMA receptacle to go with that?

Damn it took some poking around to find any HP rated stuff. That's esoteric stuff, that is. :D Never even heard of rating outlets by HP.

Linky.

No way I'm coughing up $300+ for an outlet and plug when all I need to do is know not to pull the plug while it's running.
 

mike93lx

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That's fair, though I'd think that in the U.S., knowingly selling a plug that would put a customer at risk of getting zapped would put them in go directly to court do not pass go write a liability check for $500,000.



Damn it took some poking around to find any HP rated stuff. That's esoteric stuff, that is. :D Never even heard of rating outlets by HP.

Linky.

No way I'm coughing up $300+ for an outlet and plug when all I need to do is know not to pull the plug while it's running.

There aren't any single phase 5hp connectors on that page. You can't interchange 3 phase and single phase.

Arc flash is primarily an issue at higher voltages (above 240v) but I can still happen.

Different level, but we had an arc flash at the plant I work at a couple weeks ago. The guys said it sounded like a gunshot and thankfully Noone was near the box when it happened. Granted, it was 480v, but still, it gets immediate action.
 

wyliesdiesels

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Modesto, CA
That's fair, though I'd think that in the U.S., knowingly selling a plug that would put a customer at risk of getting zapped would put them in go directly to court do not pass go write a liability check for $500,000.

nope because theyre not the ones installing it. the installer is responsible for making sure its code compliant and safe. Not the seller.

Damn it took some poking around to find any HP rated stuff. That's esoteric stuff, that is. :D Never even heard of rating outlets by HP.

Linky.

No way I'm coughing up $300+ for an outlet and plug when all I need to do is know not to pull the plug while it's running.

Yes plugs and receptacles for motor circuits are required to be HP rated.

Notice I said NEMA. Not only are those plugs in the link non NEMA but they are also not rated for 5HP @ 240v 1ø. you cannot interchange 3ø for 1ø.

There are however plugs rated for what you need. but they arent cheap. This is why people hardwire them
 
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ProfessionalAmateur

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nope because theyre not the ones installing it. the installer is responsible for making sure its code compliant and safe. Not the seller.



Yes plugs and receptacles for motor circuits are required to be HP rated.

Notice I said NEMA. Not only are those plugs in the link non NEMA but they are also not rated for 5HP @ 240v 1ø. you cannot interchange 3ø for 1ø.

There are however plugs rated for what you need. but they arent cheap. This is why people hardwire them

Can you post up a link to a code-compliant outlet and plug? Probably don't want to know how expensive they are, but there ya go.

If I didn't have to be able to roll the bandsaw around my garage, I'd hard wire it. I assume that I don't want to hard wire it with an extra, say, 15 feet of cable so I can roll it where I need it to be and then coil it when I'm done.

Really appreciate your help on this mess. :)
 

wyliesdiesels

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look up pin & sleeve plugs and receptacles. you should be able to find lots of choices for 5HP 240v 1ø. just make sure youre sitting down first and not drinking anything...:spit::spit::spit: :scared: :scared: :scared:
 

sberry

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In much of a shop a compressor is wired up in a home with its own circuit, not a community beatch shared with other stuff and the other may call for a different breaker.
 
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ProfessionalAmateur

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Sooooo I saw this article referenced in the electricians Reddit and have to share.

What could possibly go wrong? https://makezine.com/projects/build-240v-adapter/

Figure-0.jpg
 
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wyliesdiesels

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You have to wonder what that "add on" green wire is for !

its a 4-prong plug so 2 hots neutral and GROUND.

Electrically it looks reasonable. The power strips each have their own breaker and there is a 30A breaker for the L6-30R.

Figure-3.jpg

you call that reasonable? the large receptacles and the twist lock are not the same rating, there is only one breaker and it looks like its 50a....

this is a total fail...

definitely not UL listed.

throw that **** in the trash!
 

Brandon_oma#692

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Apr 20, 2011
Messages
264
Location
North West corner of Illinois
I was looking for something like that. I added a sub panel just inside my garage door. 3 6-50 and 1 14-50 are right below it. Very nice to use the plasma and a welder without unplugging and plugging back in every time you switch.
 

Brandon_oma#692

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Apr 20, 2011
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Location
North West corner of Illinois
Aww ok.

I wrongly assumed it was 240v.

Did the hoist and comp have integral overload protection?

No clue. It was used for a little while until I ran new power to the garage and abandoned the old. Everything was unplugged unless I was using it at that moment. I made the decision that it was my best choice at that time.

The existing garage wiring was a mix of 12 and 14 awg on a 20 amp breaker that I changed to 15 amp when I realized it had 14 awg for part of the run from house to garage.

If you used the hoist (factory 5-15 plug) or the air compressor (factory 5-15 plug) on the garage wiring the lights would go out then come back on.

Now I actually have two sub panels in the garage. Both Square D QO. "primary sub" has a new lighting circuit 120v 20a, a new general circuit 120v 20a, 240v 15a or 20a for compressor, 120v 15a feeding the old outside lights and breezeway, and 240v 60a for the "welder sub".

I still have a ways to go but to the best of my limited knowledge what I have done is compliant to current code in Illinois.
 
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