Wire gage for compressor power?

[GzrGlide]

I searched but didn't find a decent answer.

What gage wire do I use to get power from the 220 wall outlet to the 60 Gal compressor? I'm thinking that I could use the same 10-2 cable I used from the subpanel to the wall outlet, but in all the pictures I've looked at on this sight, I see what looks like cables that are the same size as the cable I used to feed teh sub-panel?Ok. Maybe not quite that big. But much bigger than the 10-2.

Will 10-2 work ok? Any good reason to go to a thicker gage? Whats the deal with what looks like the larger gage cable others are using?

 

[Aceman]

We can't recommend a wire size without knowing your motor size.

 

[mrb]

you shouldnt use the 10/2 romex from your attachment plug to the compressor. You should be using portable cord such as SO cable.

 

[GzrGlide]

Sorry, my bad....

Compresor tank label says 3.2hp, motor label says 2.98 Kw ( onlineconversion.com puts it at 3.99 hp).

 

[mrb]

there should be a data plate on the motor that shows the current draw (probably says FLA)

What size breaker and receptacle did you install?

 

[GzrGlide]

you shouldnt use the 10/2 romex from your attachment plug to the compressor. You should be using portable cord such as SO cable.

"SO" cable?

 

[mrb]

"SO" cable?

extra hard service cord is type 'SO'. Most of the stuff you will see is type SOOW which is water and oil resistant.

 

[mrb]

to add, the need for using proper cord instead of romex (besides device listing and doing the work to code), is the terminals in plugs are made for finely stranded wire and deform when tightened against solid or the class B stranding found in NM cable -these eventually heat up and burn.

 

[GzrGlide]

there should be a data plate on the motor that shows the current draw (probably says FLA)

What size breaker and receptacle did you install?

Only reference to amp draw says it's either 15A or 17.5A ( can't remember )
Breaker size in panel is a 30A, on dedicated circuit for compressor.

to add, the need for using proper cord instead of romex (besides device listing and doing the work to code), is the terminals in plugs are made for finely stranded wire and deform when tightened against solid or the class B stranding found in NM cable -these eventually heat up and burn.

Good to know. Thanks. Is 10 gage still ok for this application, or should I be looking for something bigger. Does the "SO" cable come in different gages?

 

[mrb]

Only reference to amp draw says it's either 15A or 17.5A ( can't remember )
Breaker size in panel is a 30A, on dedicated circuit for compressor.



Good to know. Thanks. Is 10 gage still ok for this application, or should I be looking for something bigger. Does the "SO" cable come in different gages?

youre fine with 10, no reason to go bigger. SO cable comes in sizes from 18/2 all the way to 2/5.....You should be able to get 10/3 SO cable (in romex they dont count the ground so while 10/2 really has 3 wires, 10/3 SO cable has a black, a white, and a green) at any home improvement store or electrical supplier.

You installed a 30amp receptacle right?

 

[GzrGlide]

youre fine with 10, no reason to go bigger. SO cable comes in sizes from 18/2 all the way to 2/5.....You should be able to get 10/3 SO cable (in romex they dont count the ground so while 10/2 really has 3 wires, 10/3 SO cable has a black, a white, and a green) at any home improvement store or electrical supplier.

You installed a 30amp receptacle right?

Great info. Thanks a bunch. Apprecate the straight forward info. The receptacle is a 30 amp.

 

[sberry]

That unit needs a minimum of a 12 cord running from 230V service.