I just got a craftsman 60 gallon 3.1hp 240v air compressor, off of craigslist, and Im wondering how to wire it up. The house has 120 volt outlets. Is it possible for me to just undo the 120 volt outlet and switch it out with a 240 volt receptacle? Advice greatly appreciated
Thank you guys I’m glad I asked so I dont burn my house down!
You’ll need an electrician to check the breaker panel to see if there are blank slots or unused breakers that can be swapped out to for the required compressor, mostly likely a 240V two pole single phase 20 amp breaker. If there is, then you’ll need Sparky to run install the breaker and pull the feed circuit to the outlet where you want it.
If you don’t have the ampacity in the panel, it’s maxed out, you’ll need a simple single feed sub-panel to power the compressor circuit.
That depends on the type of motor that is installed in your compressor.
If it is an induction or synchronous motor, you will burn it. It will pull a too high current. (It probably is an induction motor)
If it is a DC motor (probably not), there is no problem, you will just half the hps.
I strongly advice not to do it, the insurance will probably not pay.
If you want to wire it up some way you will need a three phase connection. There is 240V between the different phases in the US. In Europe it is 230 phase-neutral and 400 phase-phase
I assume you want to place the compressor in your garage(workshop). Does your house have a laundry room? If so, what type of clothes dryer (gas or electric)? If electric, you have a 220 volt circuit/plug already. Just go down to local electrical supply house and buy a dryer plug and a pigtail and make your own. Make sure that the extension cord you use to run to compressor is rated for the load and distance required.
If you want a dedicated circuit in the garage, then that is a completly different task. Unless your an electrician, DON’T attempt this on your own. A licensed and insured electrician can run a dedicated 220v circuit from your panel to your garage/shop quickly and safely for a reasonable amount. you can’t just replace a receptacle.
Cheers.
Never try to change a 220/240 plug to a 110 and then plug it in. You wil blow your circuit box, and possibly start a fire in your house.
Get an electrician friend to come over and look at your main feeder to see how many amps your house is being fed. The have him look at the box where all the individual circuit breaker are. You’ll probably want to add a dedicated 220-240 breaker and a line running out to where you install the compressor. That line will be larger than a 110 line. Worse case is you may need to upgrade your main feeder. If not you could overload the main feed with a dryer, oven or range and the compressor all running at the same time.
Here in Hawaii adding more amps requires a change at the meter (depending on the meter), that requires someone from the electric company coming out and doing some work. Getting them to come out is not always timely, especially with the number of homes converting to solar power. There’s a long line of customers waiting for that group of workers.
There’s also single phase power and 3 phase power here. Industrial 240v compressors can have 3 phase motors and will require 3 phase power. Some larger central AC systems will have 3 phase motors. That will cost you a little more per month. I don’t think a 3hp compressor is 3 phase, but when you get into the higher numbers it probably is.