Hooking up a 110 compressor.

[sdnorm]

I have a 110 compressor I want to put where the previous owner had a 220 compressor he has a box with two hots and a ground. I was going to change one to neutral but I am not sure how to tell which it is on the other end being as they are two black wires would it hurt the compressor if hot and neutral are accidentally swapped?

 

[Mustang51js]

Easiest thing to do is separate them at compressor, hook them up in panel, turn on and check to see which has power. Tape off other with white which is illegal but better than leaving black. Other option is to tape a white wire onto the black and replace wire.

 

[pattenp]

Use the ground wire to check which black is hot.

 

[AP514]

Yes,what he said..
Turn C/B off.. Diconnect one of the legs(BLK wire) off of the (20A)/30A C/B.
Turn C/B on--use your meter to check each Leg(BLK) to the ground at the compressor hook up point. The ZERO Volts is one will be your NEW Neutral....assume'n your C/B is close enough for wire'n to reach the Neutral bar...
Tape and mark wires real good..in case you move or something happens to you...
Think C/B would need to be changed(not sure on that someone wil chime in Im sure about that)

BETTER YET tell the wife you looked all around and on forums and there is no way to change it. SO, your going to buy that Bigger Compressor you have always wanted
WOOT WOOT