Must Have Shop Items

[ovrszd]

Make sure that you get a contactor with a 110v coil, many of them have a 24v coil. It's a lot easier to connect with the lights without having to get a 24v transformer.

Yes!!!! And some have a 220V coil. If you are duplicating my setup you need one with a 110V coil.

Good point Randy. I forgot to say that earlier!!! Thanks!!!

 

[PILOON]

I'm envious of everybody with a shop.

And an uncluttered one more so!

 

[PILOON]

A Shop is also good for a Marriage. A little distance between you on occasion can be a good thing.

LOL, keeps U out of the 'dog house'.

 

[ovrszd]

And an uncluttered one more so!

Terry (Big Barn) has the most organized and extensive personal shop I've ever saw. And the cleanest. I swear that guy is like the EverReady Bunny, he just goes and goes and goes. He's always showing us pics of projects he's working on. And in the background you can't see a tool out of place or any mess on the floor/work bench.

 

[PILOON]

Usually just an electro-magnetic contactor and is used on large motors and fans.

It all depends on the amperage drawn.
That simple doble pole wall switch probably is adequate for most home style 220 VAC compressors.
Most toggle types will handle 15 amps per side, some rated at 20.

 

[the old grind]

Amperage alone doesn't guarantee best service when it comes to motors that surge on startup. (All 'capacitor-start', ~7x)

Look for contactors that are rated for the horsepower of your compressor. The one I recommended is rated for 5hp.

 

[ovrszd]

Amperage alone doesn't guarantee best service when it comes to motors that surge on startup. (All 'capacitor-start', ~7x)

Look for contactors that are rated for the horsepower of your compressor.

I'm foremost not an Electrician. So I relied on the expertise of my Supplier. He asked me what Compressor I was using and the motor specifics. I couldn't give him that particular information standing at his counter. He Googled it and verified he was looking at my compressor. Then he read the specs and determined the contactor I would need. In this process he discussed startup. Which went way over my head.

 

[the old grind]

Not to worry, Richard. He did you right. :thumbsup:

 

[grsthegreat]

I'm foremost not an Electrician. So I relied on the expertise of my Supplier. He asked me what Compressor I was using and the motor specifics. I couldn't give him that particular information standing at his counter. He Googled it and verified he was looking at my compressor. Then he read the specs and determined the contactor I would need. In this process he discussed startup. Which went way over my head.

Yup, and with your setup a contactor was the way to go. I set up a cabinet shop lighting system once that used over 100 of the 8 foot high output florescent lights ... this was years ago before led lighting and ceilings too low for hid lighting... To operate with only 3 regular light switches with the use of contractors. Otherwise the wall would have had maybe 14 regular toggle switches.

My arena lights are a series of 4 - 1000 watt MH and 4 -500 watt MH lamps all 240 volt controlled by a 4 way lighting circuit. Coil voltage is 120v. All I had to do was run the control circuit to each switch like a normal 4 way circuit and use a contactor. Easy Peazy.


heres the shop compressor switch layout.

 

[ovrszd]

Yep. That's why I used him. I took him a stubby pencil drawing/layout of my shop. We stood at the counter for 30 minutes going over it. I had forgotten many things that involved the electrical of the building. He pointed them out. He also laid out my lighting arrangement. I used exposed conduit for everything at his suggestion. He said to wire duplex outlets on the ceiling where the lights would hang. Then put a 6ft pigtail on each 4ft LED fixture that is hanging from the ceiling. That way I have the ability to easily move these fixtures to enhance their lighting ability. I would have never thought to do that.

I also used him when I wired our new house. He was an invaluable asset with that project. Taught me how to wire 4 way dimmable switching to light circuits. Suggested putting switched duplex outlets in the Soffit along the front of our porch. Guess what those are for?