Help with Husky 60 Gallon Compressor

[Macgyver_ga]

Ok guys, I need some help...
A few weeks ago, I bought a Husky 60 Gallon compressor from HD to put in my basement workshop , got it down to the basement and put it under the stairs. Last weekend I did all the wiring and went to turn it on and got nothing... No hum, nothing...

http://www.homedepot.com/p/Husky-60-Gal-Stationary-Electric-Air-Compressor-C602H/205389936

I have done my a fair share of electrical wiring in the past so I'm comfortable with it and it isn't new to me. When I setup my basement shop I ran 5 new breakers/circuits. 1-30A 230V for my table saw and welder, 2-20A circuits for receptacles to power tools, 2-15A circuits one for lights and the other for receptacles.

Wiring details:
Ran a dedicated 230V line & breaker (12/2 on a 20A two pole GE slim/wafer breaker, 2 hots & a ground) The manual recommends a minimum 20A breaker and say it pulls around 16amps). It's about 20-25' from the panel. I ran the 12/2 romex to a box on the wall right by the compressor with 2.5' long 12g stranded pigtail from the pressure switch on the compressor into the box.

When the compressor wouldn't run, I tested the voltage at various points along the run. With the breaker on, I get approximately 130V on each leg at the box on the wall. I get the same voltage on each leg at the pressure switch. testing at the terminals going into the motor, With the pressure switch in the on/auto position, I get the same voltage. With the pressure switch off, I get 0 volts on each leg. Seems like I'm getting voltage all the way to the motor.

Upon this, I called "Husky" (Mat Industries), spoke with their "electrical guy" told him the testing I did and he says I probably have a bad motor. He did say that they recommend a 10/2 and a 30A breaker due to nuisance tripping when the motor turns on under load but he said the 20A should "work". I responded and said their manual mentions nothing of that and recommends a 20A breaker. I'm not arguing the point and I don't mind switching to a 30a breaker if need be, just stating they should probably put that in the manual.

You would think that if 20 was too small for the amperage when the motor kicks on, it would just trip the breaker. I'm getting nothing...

After speaking with Mat industries, The HD store manager agreed to send a couple guys to bring me a new compressor and take the "bad" one away since I don't live far from the store. Last night they swapped them out. I wired up the new one and still get nothing... Could I have another bad compressor motor? Or am I doing something wrong? or a bad breaker? I'm stumped...

Should I move up to a 30A breaker? I thought about taking the lead/plug off my welder and wiring it up to plug the compressor into that 30A Circuit since it's on that same wall and I know it works.

 

[teamo]

If the breaker is not tripping and you are getting the correct 230 volts at the motor leads then it is either a bad motor or it is wired incorrectly. You say that you got approx. 130 volts on each leg but did you test for the 230 volts on both leads? Did you use the correct 2 pole breaker? You could have the correct voltage on each lead to ground and still be on the same leg of the circuit phase which would not give you 230 volts for the circuit.

 

[pattenp]

Don't check the power on each line to ground. Check across the two line to make sure you have 240V. If you get zero then the breaker needs to be moved to a different space.

Edit: Didn't mean to sound like a parrot. I was typing slower than teamo.

 

[Macgyver_ga]

If the breaker is not tripping and you are getting the correct 230 volts at the motor leads then it is either a bad motor or it is wired incorrectly. You say that you got approx. 130 volts on each leg but did you test for the 230 volts on both leads? Did you use the correct 2 pole breaker? You could have the correct voltage on each lead to ground and still be on the same leg of the circuit phase which would not give you 230 volts for the circuit.

Interesting... How would I test both legs at the same time with my multimeter?

I grabbed what I thought was the only 20A 2 pole thin series breaker they had at HD.

I don't have the exact model number I bought off hand right now, I'd have to dig up the receipt but I'm pretty sure this is the one...

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B000BPE71W/?tag=atomicindus08-20

 

[pattenp]

Set the multimeter to ac voltage and touch one lead to one hot and the other lead to the other hot wire at same time. You are testing across each line the same as you do when testing across one line and the ground.


The breaker is fine. You probably have it installed with both poles on the same phase.



*

 

[Macgyver_ga]

So maybe the slot I put the breaker in is basically on the same leg of the panel?

I put it towards the bottom of the panel on the left side. There are two 15A slim breakers underneath it in the last two slots. So basically counting from the bottom-up the breaker is in slots 3-4 of the tandem/slim slots at the bottom of the panel.

 

[Macgyver_ga]

Set the multimeter to ac current and touch each lead to each hot wire at same time.

Awesome, thanks. I thought you always had to tie back to ground.

 

[pattenp]

You just need to make sure the two stabs that the breaker is on are opposite phases.

 

[sld961]

So maybe the slot I put the breaker in is basically on the same leg of the panel?

I put it towards the bottom of the panel on the left side. There are two 15A slim breakers underneath it in the last two slots. So basically counting from the bottom-up the breaker is in slots 3-4 of the tandem/slim slots at the bottom of the panel.

Yes, if there are two thin breakers below it, they are likely both on the same leg of the power, meaning that your double pole has both poles on the same leg. You'll have to move one of the slim breakers up so the double pole is in the middle and hits both legs.

 

[Tim65GT]

A thin CB only taps off one pole, no?

 

[Macgyver_ga]

Yes, if there are two thin breakers below it, they are likely both on the same leg of the power, meaning that your double pole has both poles on the same leg. You'll have to move one of the slim breakers up so the double pole is in the middle and hits both legs.

Awesome, Makes perfect sense! Thanks for the help guys! I'll swap them around when I get home from work.

 

[pattenp]

A thin CB only taps off one pole, no?

The double pole thin uses two poles, hence the name double pole.

 

[pattenp]

So if it ends up being you have the breaker installed wrong are you going to call the HD people and tell them the compressor they hauled back to the store is not bad?

 

[gungatim]

"12/2 on a 20A two pole GE slim/wafer breaker, 2 hots & a ground"

I don't think that's a 220v breaker, it's 2 - 120 on same leg, basically what others said but to clarify, you bought the wrong type breaker...

 

[Macgyver_ga]

So if it ends up being you have the breaker installed wrong are you going to call the HD people and tell them the compressor they hauled back to the store is not bad?

Lol yeah, and probably buy the two guys who came to swap them out last night a beer.

 

[Macgyver_ga]

Looking at a diagram of the GE panel online, I definitely think I have both on the same leg.

The "Normal" slots alternate so it's basically impossible to have a two pole "normal" breaker on the same leg. however the tandem/thin slots are grouped in twos. I'm pretty sure I'm running both on the same leg.

 

[dw1]

Just to clear up a little confusion, if you pull your breaker and look at the part that fits down onto the bus in the panel, is there one or two stabs there, sounds like you have a twin breaker installed, giving you 120 volts to ground (On both screws) but not 240v. You need a double pole breaker, what brand of panel do you have? can you take a pic of your panel and your breaker, that way it can be easy diagnosed.

 

[dw1]

Yes, if there are two thin breakers below it, they are likely both on the same leg of the power, meaning that your double pole has both poles on the same leg. You'll have to move one of the slim breakers up so the double pole is in the middle and hits both legs.

Missed this one, if above applies, can you adjust breakers where you can fit a double pole in there, two different breakers feeding a machine is not allowed or a good idea safety wise, these breakers need a handle tie when it is turned off, both sides open.

 

[pattenp]

"12/2 on a 20A two pole GE slim/wafer breaker, 2 hots & a ground"

I don't think that's a 220v breaker, it's 2 - 120 on same leg, basically what others said but to clarify, you bought the wrong type breaker...

If he bought the two pole he linked to, he got the correct breaker.

 

[md21722]

Sounds like you need a "two pole" breaker. This will take up 2 slots in your panel. If using the "slim line" / tandem breakers where you have two circuits in one slot, or four circuits in two slots, then you don't have the right breaker. The motor isn't starting at all because between the two hots on the same split phase there is no voltage differential, therefore 0V. Between one hot and ground you would get 120V and between two hots you would get 240V.

 

[Macgyver_ga]

Missed this one, if above applies, can you adjust breakers where you can fit a double pole in there, two different breakers feeding a machine is not allowed or a good idea safety wise, these breakers need a handle tie when it is turned off, both sides open.

yep. It's definitely a two pole breaker. The two "switches" are tied together with a bar.

GE makes slim line two pole breakers. They're just like a standard two pole breaker, they just take up the same space as a single standard breaker. There are specific slots at the bottom of the panel for the slim line breakers.

My panel is a newer GE panel. The house is a little over a year old. Construction was completed in Dec 2014.

 

[wyliesdiesels]

What is the HP rating of the compressor?

 

[gungatim]

If he bought the two pole he linked to, he got the correct breaker.

Assuming he has the correct box that is...a slim line is 1/2 the size, are all the other breakers 1/2"? if so it would be right, unless the box Is goofed up...all the OP has to do is pull the breaker and make sure the 2 stabs hit 2 separate blades not one long one, each blade from the respective feeder...

 

[justsam]

Set the multimeter to ac current and touch one lead to one hot and the other lead to the other hot wire at same time. You are testing across each line the same as you do when testing across one line and the ground.


The breaker is fine. You probably have it installed with both poles on the same phase.



*

I suspect the outcome of measuring AC CURRENT, with the probes as suggested would be interesting.

I know you meant AC VOLTAGE!

 

[nadogail]

I realize that I am "piling on", but you need to measure "Line to Line" not line to ground or line to neutral.

 

[pattenp]

I suspect the outcome of measuring AC CURRENT, with the probes as suggested would be interesting.

I know you meant AC VOLTAGE!

Yes I did mean voltage.

 

[Macgyver_ga]

Alright gents, looks like the assumptions were correct. I just switched the breakers around by moving the dual pole down a slot and we have power!

 

[wyliesdiesels]

Whoops! Are u gonna call the store?

What is the compressors HP rating?

 

[pattenp]

Someone needs to go to that HD and see if they have it on discount for having a bad motor.

 

[Macgyver_ga]

Whoops! Are u gonna call the store?



What is the compressors HP rating?

Yeah I'll give them a call tomorrow or go by the store. Probably buy the guys a beer or something.

They rate it at 3.7 HP.

 

[Macgyver_ga]

Someone needs to go to that HD and see if they have it on discount for having a bad motor.

I bet the compressors are on vendor consignment (hd doesn't technically own them) since they carry very few of them. I'll ask my father in law. He works on the MET team in a store. He got bored about 6 months into retirement and decided to get a part time gig at a HD store.

 

[mikhett]

I have the same compressior and put it on a 30 amp 2 pole breaker.

 

[wyliesdiesels]

Yeah I'll give them a call tomorrow or go by the store. Probably buy the guys a beer or something.

They rate it at 3.7 HP.

Whats the FLA rating on the nameplate?

 

[Macgyver_ga]

Whats the FLA rating on the nameplate?

FLA says 17.2

So it looks like I need to upgrade to a 30amp breaker and 10g wire. No big deal. Husky should really change their owners manual then because it's misleading...

 

[wyliesdiesels]

The 20a breaker might hold.

However, the wire needs to be either #10 THHN or #8/2 NM-b.

EDIT: Mixed this up with another thread. Was thinking this was a 5HP. So u need #12 THHN or #10/2 NM-b.

If farther than 50' and not within sight of the breaker panel then u need a disconnect next to compressor. If the comp has a cord and plug then that counts as a disconnect.

 

[pattenp]

The 20a breaker might hold.

However, the wire needs to be either #10 THHN or #8/2 NM-b.

If farther than 50' and not within sight of the breaker panel then u need a disconnect next to compressor. If the comp has a cord and plug then that counts as a disconnect.

Why does the wire need to be that high of an amp rating?

 

[wyliesdiesels]

Why does the wire need to be that high of an amp rating?

Whoops!

I just commented on a thread about a 5HP compressor and mixed it up with this thread!

Damnit! Hate it when that happens.

I will edit my post.

 

[Macgyver_ga]

The 20a breaker might hold.

However, the wire needs to be either #10 THHN or #8/2 NM-b.

EDIT: Mixed this up with another thread. Was thinking this was a 5HP. So u need #12 THHN or #10/2 NM-b.

If farther than 50' and not within sight of the breaker panel then u need a disconnect next to compressor. If the comp has a cord and plug then that counts as a disconnect.

The 20amp breaker has held so far. Haven't tripped it. Because I was using a 20a breaker, I ran 12/2 nmb wire. It's only about 25' of wire (10-12' away from the panel) and I haven't drywalled the workshop yet so it's still open studs. Re-wiring is no big deal.

 

[Macgyver_ga]

Here she is in her home.



I only had one leak in my air lines when I tested the system and it was at the manifold. I have three different lines running. one that runs to a quick disconnect near my workbench with a tee running to a 25' retractable reel above my tablesaw outfeed/assembly table. This will be line that's used the most often. The other line runs to the opposite corner of the shop and has a ball valve at the manifold so I can shut it off when it's not used. The 3rd line runs upstairs to the garage to a 50' retractable reel. It has a ball valve at the manifold too so I shut it off when not needed.

 

[wyliesdiesels]

The 20amp breaker has held so far. Haven't tripped it. Because I was using a 20a breaker, I ran 12/2 nmb wire. It's only about 25' of wire (10-12' away from the panel) and I haven't drywalled the workshop yet so it's still open studs. Re-wiring is no big deal.

Technically because its 3HP and because #12 NM-b is limited to 20a, it needs to be wired with #10 NM-b or #12 THHN in conduit