Skip,
Most residential wiring consists of two 120VAC circuits and a neutral coming
from the pole (3 wires). Half of your house is wired with one of the 120 V
circuits and the other half on the other circuit. You get 240 VAC by using
both circuits. Does your garage panel have three wires coming into it from
the pole or from your house? If so you probably already have 240 VAC there.
If you only have two wires coming into the panel then you only have 120 VAC
available.
You need to either hire an electrician or get an electrician buddy to wire a
240 VAC receptacle for you. It's not hard to do, but there are codes that
need to be followed and then there is the safety factor. Don't want any
fried listers.
Rick
----- Original Message -----
From "Tannen, Skip" <tannen at babson.edu>
To: <spridgets@autox.team.net>
Sent: Tuesday, January 03, 2006 1:30 PM
Subject: Wiring a real air compressor
> Folks,
>
> Thought I would chime in with a wiring question since I'm also getting
> ready to buy a "real" compressor. I know we have lots of 12VDC gurus on
> the list - are there any AC electrical gurus? :-)
>
> Clearly, 240V is the way to go for decent CFM - how does one get 240 set
> up? I have a detached garage with its own 50A panel and there is plenty
> of expansion space - is it just a matter of wiring in a new 240V circuit
> or do I have to get 240 piped in from the pole? If so, does that mean
> buying a different level of service from the electric company? It would
> be nice if I could just have my electrician set me up...
>
> Thanks in advance.
>
>
> Skip Tannen
> tannen@babson.edu
> '65 Austin Healey Sprite
> '71 Triumph Bonneville T120R
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