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.



View attachment 645472

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.

 

[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?