Extending a 220 line

[tskills10]

I need to extend my 220 dry line by about 20-30 feet. I no longer use the line for my dry and use it for my air compressor in the garage. Do I need to use special connectors, junction box? And what wire is reccommended? About half of the line will be in the floor joists in the basement but then exposed once it crosses into the garage. so I'm open to any advice.

 

[Old Engineer]

The size wire you need will depend on the amount of current that you will be using on that outlet. Is each leg 15, 20, or 25 amps? Wire size is all about the breakers that are connected to them. What wire size is connected to the breakers now?

 

[tskills10]

The size wire you need will depend on the amount of current that you will be using on that outlet. Is each leg 15, 20, or 25 amps? Wire size is all about the breakers that are connected to them. What wire size is connected to the breakers now?

I'll have to look, as of now it would be whatever the dryer would use. I haven't touched anything.

My intent is to rerun the original line from the wall to the joists to get as close to the garage as the line will reach and then junction box and run the new line from there into the garage. as of now it will be for my 60 gal air compressor.

 

[theoldwizard1]

Do I need to use special connectors, junction box?

Yes and yes.

You can use a split bolt with tape

DO NOT USE STANDARD ELECTRICAL TAPE ! Either use friction tape or linerless rubber splicing tape.

 

[Kevin C]

Assuming the wire is correctly sized for the length of the run (and the breaker) all you need to do (and want to do) is match the existing wire gauge.

Smaller, regardless of the circuit ampacity is a code violation. The wire is probably 10 gauge on a 30 amp breaker. Since your dedicating the circuit to the compressor, it's nice to size the breaker accordingly.

If you don't want to use a wire nut, a Polaris type insulated connector is also an option.

How many amps does your compressor draw?

 

[wyliesdiesels]

Is the garage detached or attached? How long is the current wire from the breaker? Voltage drop MAY come into play....What size circuit does your compressor call for? What HP is your compressor? Wire for motors is sized at 125% of FLC....

Yes and yes.

You can use a split bolt with tape

DO NOT USE STANDARD ELECTRICAL TAPE ! Either use friction tape or linerless rubber splicing tape.

Wire nuts would work fine for this application as well. And we use fiberglass tape followed by rubber splice tape AND THEN electrical tape!

 

[theoldwizard1]

Wire nuts would work fine for this application as well. And we use fiberglass tape followed by rubber splice tape AND THEN electrical tape!

Really ?

A dryer line has to be 6 maybe 4 gauge. I wouldn't trust anything except a split bolt or an inline barrel connector with set screws.

 

[sberry]

A typical dryer is 10, use wire nuts and this is likely an ideal circuit for this comp.

 

[Aceman]

Really ?

A dryer line has to be 6 maybe 4 gauge. I wouldn't trust anything except a split bolt or an inline barrel connector with set screws.

Depends on if it's an older SE cable or not. Obviously, it's 10-3 Romex nowadays which isn't a problem to splice with regular wire nuts.

 

[wyliesdiesels]

Really ?

A dryer line has to be 6 maybe 4 gauge. I wouldn't trust anything except a split bolt or an inline barrel connector with set screws.

Very very rare that a dryer circuit would use #6 or much less #4, which is WAY overkill because dryers typically need a 30a circuit and are listed as such! It would have to be old wire. Every dryer circuit I've seen has been #10 wire. The only reason I can see using larger wire would be if the laundry hookups were far away from the panel. And then I'm sure #8 would suffice! Where are u coming up with #6 or #4 wire as being the norm for a dryer circuit? And by the way, there are wire nuts that can handle #6 wire (blue nut at the bottom of page!):

http://www.idealindustries.com/products/wire_termination/twist-on/wing-nut.jsp

 

[theoldwizard1]

Sberry and Wylie and Aceman are right on !

I was thinking electric stove, which is typically a 50A circuit.

 

[tskills10]

Is the garage detached or attached? How long is the current wire from the breaker? Voltage drop MAY come into play....What size circuit does your compressor call for? What HP is your compressor? Wire for motors is sized at 125% of FLC....




Wire nuts would work fine for this application as well. And we use fiberglass tape followed by rubber splice tape AND THEN electrical tape!

The garage is attached. I think that once I undo the dryer line from the wall and run it straight towards the garage, I shouldn't need to extend it more than about 20 feet. Current line is approx. 40 feet from the breaker. I have some work to do in the basement tonight so I'll take some measurements and get the size of the current wire.

thanks for the help guys. My electrician buddy is having some health issues so he is out of service for the time being. So I need to use plan "B" and come here for help.

 

[Highbeam]

Electric range circuits are 40 amps and use 8 gauge romex. If you get into dual ovens or some sort of special appliance then you might need a special circuit.

As much as I like a continuous wire in these high load circuits, 10 gauge wire is solid and easy to splice with regular wire nuts. Do it in a box and be sure to leave enough slack to properly staple the wire near the box to prevent tugging on the splice.

 

[wyliesdiesels]

Electric range circuits are 40 amps and use 8 gauge romex. If you get into dual ovens or some sort of special appliance then you might need a special circuit.

As much as I like a continuous wire in these high load circuits, 10 gauge wire is solid and easy to splice with regular wire nuts. Do it in a box and be sure to leave enough slack to properly staple the wire near the box to prevent tugging on the splice.

Ive seen both- 50a and 40a versions. My range is on a 50a circuit!

 

[sands35]

40 amps is common for doubles (I work for one of the big appliance manufacturers)

 

[hoffman912]

I had a friend once make an extension cord to do this with his.

.. keep the female end on the end of the dryer line/plug, and then go to home depot, buy the correct wire of length you need, and put a male 220 plug on one end, and a female dryer/range plug on the other so its long enough to act as an extension cord for your air compressor.

not sure of any dangers or of any issues with amperage etc, but just throwing that out on the off chance it could work for you. it was something he did short term (like a month or two) until his electrician friend could properly run the line he needed.

 

[tskills10]

I had a friend once make an extension cord to do this with his.

.. keep the female end on the end of the dryer line/plug, and then go to home depot, buy the correct wire of length you need, and put a male 220 plug on one end, and a female dryer/range plug on the other so its long enough to act as an extension cord for your air compressor.

not sure of any dangers or of any issues with amperage etc, but just throwing that out on the off chance it could work for you. it was something he did short term (like a month or two) until his electrician friend could properly run the line he needed.

I made an extendtion cord for my old compressor years ago and have used it off and on over theyears. But I'm not planning on moving anytime in the near future so it is time to hard wire the compressor. Plus the cord isn't run in the best way, kind of creates a hazard.