I just bought a air compressor but it only runs off 220...

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Question by leroy
Submitted on 3/14/2004
Related FAQ: Electrical Wiring FAQ (Part 1 of 2)
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I just bought a air compressor but it only runs off 220 volts and 15amps my garage is only 110volts and my fuse box in my house is full how do i get 220 in my garage? thanks

Answer by electrician
Submitted on 3/24/2004
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the panel in your garage is 208 phase if you get a two pole homeline breaker it just simply takes two circuits to make 208 volts

Answer by D.Tiwari
Submitted on 4/7/2004
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U didn't state whether it's a 1 phase or 3-phase compressor. Assuming it's a single phase 220V compressor, then U have 2 alternatives. Buy a heavy duty step-up 110V - 220V transformer ( about 1 KW ) and use it everytime U want to work the compressor. Or check to see if U have 220V single phase line service to your house. This should be 2 hot and 1 neutral wires where U have two 110V out of phase from neutral to any hot. Breaker the two hot ( for 220V ) wires to your garage through suitable guage/length cables.

Answer by Mikey
Submitted on 4/12/2004
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Most single phase motors run on 110 or 220 VAC. However many compressors have to be 220 to spin the pump. This is really true with most 60 gallon tanked models. If you change one of these it will simply pull too many amps an blow the breaker. 220 uses half the amps.

Answer by Paul Drake Jr.
Submitted on 11/16/2004
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Dear air compressor owner you need to wire it up to 220volt 20amp breaker since breakers are triping at 20% less then the tag ,that would be 16 amps. So put it on 12 guage wire and a 20 amp 220v dual breaker. paul

Answer by Briago
Submitted on 8/13/2006
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This thread is old, but in case anyone else is looking for an answer. Yes run a new 220 line form a new breaker. If your panel is full, then try switching out some of your standard 15/20 Amp breakers for the half size double breakers to reduce the space they take up and free up space for a new 220 breaker.

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