Must Have Shop Items

[sodamo]

And a pallet for them to sleep on?

Can’t imagine mine on a pallet, but they sure do like a pile of fresh saw dust or planer chips.

 

[countrybumpkin]

Ah HOURS , that makes more sense. The first one was in minutes, I was thinking that that would be a pain in the rear to reset the timer every hour to keep the compressor full if you were in the shop for very long.

 

[sodamo]

I'm envious of everybody with a shop.

First 50+ years of my life so was I. Naturally, when I had a chance to fix that, I built too small (10x24). I added on to almost double the sqft. While I now have room to do some things, I think of it more as a tool room. Thankfully I’ve expanded my tractorshed a few times. The area between the 2 is all concreted and where I do bigger projects unless raining.

 

[ovrszd]

I like the contactor Idea Richard has, I have always been around compressors wire hot 24/7. In my new shop I have been thinking about a way to shut it off, the compressor is outside the shop area in my cold storage area and with two walk in doors it was going to be a lot more wiring but my lights are all wired with three way switches so all I will need to do is tap into one of the light fixtures closets to the compressor wiring.

Yep .

 

[grsthegreat]

How does that switch control 220V? Wouldn't it just shut off one leg?

it’s a double pole switch. Shuts off both legs

 

[grsthegreat]

Yeah, that's how mine works.

He's using a double pole toggle wall switch. I'm not an electrician at all. I didn't know you could buy a switch like that to run a 220V air compressor motor.

yes, there 30 amp rated, 240 volt rated switches. Bout $10 at my supply house. Way easier and cheaper to use than contactor. Breaks both legs of circuit. I added a pilot light to remind me its on.

 

[dragoneggs]

Mark, I think I paid $40 for the contactor, another $10 for the box. The box is between the power source (fuse box) and the compressor. Then add a circuit from the nearest light to the box. All of that was pretty simple for me since the compressor is in the bathroom and so is the fuse box. The light circuit was about 20ft away.



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I guess I need to relook at this tomorrow. Sounds like I need to run wiring from my 20amp 220v breaker to a contractor that is located in a box and then wire to the outlet where the compressor is plugged in and another wire to the 110v circuit that the lights are on?

 

[randyjs]

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.

 

[ovrszd]

yes, there 30 amp rated, 240 volt rated switches. Bout $10 at my supply house. Way easier and cheaper to use than contactor. Breaks both legs of circuit. I added a pilot light to remind me its on.

The best cost method would depend on the location of everything. For me I only had to run 20ft of additional wire. And it was relatively cheap 14 gauge.

I have two man doors in my shop. One is 40ft from the Compressor and fuse box. One is 70ft. I would have to put in a 3way switch setup to be able to control from either door. That would require running large enough wire to carry the Compressor load. By the time I set all that up the $40 contactor gets real cheap.

I like the idea of the pilot light in your method. Would be a reminder to hit the additional switch. In my case it's accomplished when I flip the light switch.

Regardless of method, I will always have a convenient, easy way to turn off the air in my shop when I leave. And the older I get the more I need that method to be dumb proof.

 

[ovrszd]

I guess I need to relook at this tomorrow. Sounds like I need to run wiring from my 20amp 220v breaker to a contractor that is located in a box and then wire to the outlet where the compressor is plugged in and another wire to the 110v circuit that the lights are on?

You need to intercept your circuit going to the compressor at a location that's most convenient, and/or closest to the light circuit you are going to use. That's where you'll locate the box and contactor. Then you'll run a small gauge wire to a nearby light circuit. Actually only need one wire. That's where you'll provide switched power to the contactor.

As I mentioned to grs, the best method is dependent on the location of everything.