wrote in message ...
Hello All...
I recently bought a 2HP (running) 25gal Craftsman air-compressor. I
had an electrician come out last week and hook me up w/a designated
circuit. He installed a 20a breaker w/ one 15a dual receptacle.

Yesterday I fired the thing up -- and in the first half-hour I tripped the
breaker
3 times! While resetting I noticed that my *pro* had used an old 20a
breaker
instead of the new one he charged me for. I confronted him and he said
that it
shouldn't make any difference. I pressed him further and he made excuses
("Breakers never wear out..." Blah, blah, blah."You couldn't tell me what
you
were running so I used what I had at the shop...")

Now, he's just a kid and so I'm willing to cut him some slack. But the
bottom
line is I'm not sure he or his work can be trusted completely. The thing
is
whether I decide to call him back or not -- I think there is some stuff
that
I'd like to know beforehand:

First, in addition to replacing the 20a breaker, should I also switch the
15a
receptacle w/ a 20a? I only have the one receptacle on my circuit...

Second, what's involved in swapping my existing 120v circuit to 240v? The
compressor is currently wired for 120v but I do have the option of
converting it to 240v if I must. How much work will it take?

And third, how at fault is this electrician? Is this something he should
have
foreseen? How much of this is his responsibility? I don't like that he
passed off old as new. Or that he made excuses when he was found out.
But most of all I don't like the idea of giving him more money if he's
burning me,
deliberately or not.

Any help/info/input will be greatly appreciated...

1, You paid for new, you should get new. I would make him replace it.
2, Is there a permit involved? What did the inspector say?
3, What gauge wire did he use? Should be 12 for a 20a, newer romex is yellow
for 20a, white for 15a.
4, You paid for a 20a circuit, should be a 20a outlet!
5, What amperage does the compressor require at 120v? 2hp should not be that
high.
6, Is the cable run excessivley long? If so, might have to up the gauge of
the wire.

on point #4. A 15a outlet is acceptable if it's a duplex.

--
Steve Barker


"Brian V" wrote in message
. ..

wrote in message ...
Hello All...
I recently bought a 2HP (running) 25gal Craftsman air-compressor. I
had an electrician come out last week and hook me up w/a designated
circuit. He installed a 20a breaker w/ one 15a dual receptacle.

Yesterday I fired the thing up -- and in the first half-hour I tripped
the breaker
3 times! While resetting I noticed that my *pro* had used an old 20a
breaker
instead of the new one he charged me for. I confronted him and he said
that it
shouldn't make any difference. I pressed him further and he made excuses
("Breakers never wear out..." Blah, blah, blah."You couldn't tell me
what you
were running so I used what I had at the shop...")

Now, he's just a kid and so I'm willing to cut him some slack. But the
bottom
line is I'm not sure he or his work can be trusted completely. The thing
is
whether I decide to call him back or not -- I think there is some stuff
that
I'd like to know beforehand:

First, in addition to replacing the 20a breaker, should I also switch the
15a
receptacle w/ a 20a? I only have the one receptacle on my circuit...

Second, what's involved in swapping my existing 120v circuit to 240v?
The
compressor is currently wired for 120v but I do have the option of
converting it to 240v if I must. How much work will it take?

And third, how at fault is this electrician? Is this something he should
have
foreseen? How much of this is his responsibility? I don't like that he
passed off old as new. Or that he made excuses when he was found out.
But most of all I don't like the idea of giving him more money if he's
burning me,
deliberately or not.

Any help/info/input will be greatly appreciated...

1, You paid for new, you should get new. I would make him replace it.
2, Is there a permit involved? What did the inspector say?
3, What gauge wire did he use? Should be 12 for a 20a, newer romex is
yellow for 20a, white for 15a.
4, You paid for a 20a circuit, should be a 20a outlet!
5, What amperage does the compressor require at 120v? 2hp should not be
that high.
6, Is the cable run excessivley long? If so, might have to up the gauge of
the wire.

"Brian V" wrote in message
4, You paid for a 20a circuit, should be a 20a outlet!

With a duplex, 15A meet code.

5, What amperage does the compressor require at 120v? 2hp should not be
that high.

2HP will draw about 13A running, but when a compressor starts, it takes one
heck of a lot more. You also have to consider the duty cycle of a
compressor. They often have a limit of so many starts per hour.