Wiring up air compressor

[tojan19]

I've got a 60gal 3.5hp/7hp peak Kobalt air compressor. I had to call CS to get a new pressure switch since the threads on one of my screws was stripped. I mentioned that I noticed when I went to wire up the power cord. The lady on the phone told me that I have to hard wire not use a power cord. A cord has to much loss. I tried to explain but she was having none of it and said it could void my warranty. I was planning to wire using 10ga jsoow power cord and a 30amp twist lock plug to a 30 amp dedicated circuit I ran to the compressor. I've talked to the guys at work (electrical engineers) and we all concure the lady is an idiot. What do you guys think?

 

[jake00]

My guess is the lady didnt understand that youre using wire of the proper guage

 

[e-tek]

Warranties are expressly written and she was probably expressly trained! Only an idiot from your vantage point - probably a genius employee from her vantage!

 

[mcgyverit]

Tojan19, out of curiousity, how did you hook up to the motor?

According to the motor label, it calls one conductor to go to 1 and the other conductor to go to 6. But when I open the access panel on the motor, 1 is full with a conductor going to the motor and one going to the pressure switch already. The only other open spot is at 3 and one at 6.

Any help would be appreciated.

 

[Charles (in GA)]

You want to run the wire directly into the pressure switch? Most likely the connections inside the pressure switch are designed (and UL rated) to only be used with solid wire. Electric cord like you are planning on using is made of very fine strands of wire and very possibly the only way to properly connect the wire to the pressure switch would be to thoroughly tin the wire with solder.

Charles

 

[mcgyverit]

Thanks for the info Charles, I have solid 10g wire to run to the Compressor, so that shouldnt be a problem, I will check the PS and see what is available.

 

[mcgyverit]

checked the PS last night and that is where I am to hook up, all they use is 1/4" spade connection, seems a little light for 220 but oh well. thanks for the help.

 

[Falcon67]

With that motor, 12 gauge should be fine. 7-8 amps per leg on 220 I would think. I ran a 12 romex line to a box, then used a piece of a fresh 12 gauge heavy duty extension cord (freshly cut by clumsy application of a hedge trimmer ) as the drop from a small box to the compressor. I'm adding a lockout on/off switch I found at Grizzly when it gets here.