MaxJax Electrical Connection

[amishman]

I have a MaxJax on the way and wanted to make sure my electrical is ready for it. I understand it works on 110v and the circuit needs to be at least 30 amp.

My shop does not have any power so plan is to use a long electrical cord when I need to use the lift. My attached garage has the outlets and I wanted to make sure I have a proper 30 amp outlet.

My breaker box shows one 30amp running to my dryer. I take it dryers for clothes are 110v but do use that larger rounder plug versus the normal small 3 prong outlet found in the home. Or are common home dryers 220v? Just want to make sure that outlet is indeed 110v.

Anyway, the dryer plug outlet would be about 50 feet from my shop garage door. Another 20 feet puts the plug all the way to the end wall. I was thinking it may be better to have the hydraulic motor at the rear of the lift so a 50 foot cord would suffice.

Anyway, what plug comes on the MaxJax motor? Is it a round plug found like on a dryer plug outlet or a normal home 3 prong plug?

Is using 50 foot cord going to be OK for the couple minutes I need the power to use the lift. It is not like I am running it all day long.

tj

 

[Markgyver]

Common home dryers are 220v.
How far is your breaker box from your garage?

 

[amishman]

Common home dryers are 220v.
How far is your breaker box from your garage?

30 feet or so.

Glad I asked. I thought the dryer was 110v. <grin>

I guess I need to add a 30 amp breaker then. I am not a super electrician mind but have replaced a 15 amp breaker before.

So, if I want to make my outlets in the garage 30 amp, do I just unplug a 15 amp breaker and in its place put a 30amp breaker?

Are they wired different?

I have no plans on running power full time to the shop at this point. I am fully manual over there and no power tools other than if I need some power, plan was to use a long outdoor cord.

I hope this is not an issue.

tj

 

[JB740i]

tj

You guys can use computers and lifts? Is it for your buggy or what?

 

[amishman]

Doing a little looking around on the net I can't just replace a 15amp or 20amp breaker with a 30amp because wiring on other outlets that this old breaker was on may not be sufficient to handle 30amp. I have some open slots in the breaker box. I wonder if I just add a 30amp breaker and wire it direct to a new outlet at the very end of the attached garage so I can then run a long extension cord over to the other shop for temp use.

I do have some 20amp breakers and there is a 30amp and even a 50 amp but maybe those are running off to the spa and outside heater where I do not have any plugs.

tj

 

[jrj3rd]

Amishman

Pump comes with a normal 110V 15 amp plug on the end of it. I have mine plugged into a normal 15 amp circut and have had no issues lifting Porsches and BMWs. If I remember you are a bug guy so you should not be stressing the pump lifting those.

John

 

[amishman]

Amishman

Pump comes with a normal 110V 15 amp plug on the end of it. I have mine plugged into a normal 15 amp circut and have had no issues lifting Porsches and BMWs. If I remember you are a bug guy so you should not be stressing the pump lifting those.

John

Their web site shows the pump on the lift needs 22amps. That is what had me worried.

And yes, all vehicles will be old VWs, well under 3000 pounds. Old buses and Thing.

So, you are plugged into a normal 15amp circuit and have no issues you say? Maybe the heavier the vehicle the more amps the motor uses or something?

I just want to make sure when the installer comes out they can at least test the lift after install. All my circuits in the garage are 15amp. The closest plug in my attached garage is 45 feet from the garage door on my shop. So, a 50 foot extension cord will get me to the garage door and figured I would have the pump unit at the garage door.

Ultimately, I have one free slot in my breaker box and I could install a single outlet near the garage door and do a 30 amp breaker to it but was hoping for the limited use I am doing, a 15amp would get me by for now.

tj

 

[amishman]

You guys can use computers and lifts? Is it for your buggy or what?

Yes, rebel Amish do.

tj

 

[KenS]

Yes, rebel Amish do.

tj

Beware the ordnung!

 

[nmk_61802]

So, if I want to make my outlets in the garage 30 amp, do I just unplug a 15 amp breaker and in its place put a 30amp breaker?

tj

In theory yes, removing the 15 amp breaker and replacing it with a 30 amp would provide 30 amps to the outlets.

However you want the breaker to be the weakest link in the system, right now your wiring is sized for 15 amps 12/2 or 14/2 to up to 30 amp I believe the proper wire would be 8 or 10. This also brings into the question the outlets that are generally only rated for 15 or 20 amps.

Keep in mind that the MaxJax power unit's cord is also not rated for 30 amps.

http://garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=31570&highlight=maxjax+power&page=6

 

[amishman]

So, is Dannmar still shipping the MaxJax with a standard 15amp plug?

If that is the case, if I do a new wire direct to a new 30amp breaker with proper wire gauge, the outlet though I have to install is a standard 15amp style outlet and not the 30amp style since the plug and cable from Dannmar is only 15amp style.

Or are they switching to proper 30amp plugs and cables now?

tj

 

[FoMoCo_Mofo]

I have been using mine with a 15amp on an extension cord with no issues for quite some time.

 

[suprasteve]

Bringing this thread back from the dead, as I had the same confusion as others with electrical requirements. The official response from Danmar was that a 20amp circuit breaker and 20amp capable outlet is required.

Response:
Steven,

The MaxJax requires a 20 amp breaker and comes with a standard 3 prong household plug.

We are currently working on changing all our literature and websites to reflect the information above....

Question:
-------
Hello,
I am in the process of building a new house and garage and would like to make sure I can accommodate a MaxJax. When researching the electrical requirements, I found a lot of conflicting information in Danmar's documents. I hoped you could clear this up. I am interested in a 110/120VAC install...what outlet style and current handling is required?

The MaxJax Brochure says 15 amp breaker for 115 volts
The MaxJax Installation manual says 30 amp breaker for 110-120 volts and 10 gauge wire
The Danmar user manual says 20 amp breaker for 110-120 volts
Maxjaxlifts.com FAQ says 20 amp breaker with a standard household plug

To make matter worse, customers online have had similar confusion since 2009 and mentioned the motor data plates say 14.5-14.8 amps and 21 amps. Moreover, the power cord is only 14 AWG...typically only rated at 15 amps.

If 30 capacity is actually required, standard form factor outlets such as NEMA 5-20R are only rated to 20 amps, and I believe it would be code violation to use a 30 amp circuit breaker on an outlet only rated for 20 amps, even if using the required 10 gauge wire. This would drive the use of TT-30R or NEMA-60, 30 amp outlets....and I understand the MaxJax does not come equipped with either.

https://www.maxjaxusa.com/media/wysiwyg/Downloads/MaxJax_Brochure.pdf
https://www.maxjaxusa.com/media/wysiwyg/Downloads/MaxJax_Installation_Operation_Manual.pdf
http://www.dannmar.com/dannmar-products/two-post-lifts/files/MaxJax-Manual-Rev-F-4-12-14.pdf
http://www.maxjaxlifts.com/faqs/installation.html
http://garagejournal.com/forum/showpost.php?p=436460&postcount=101