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Advice for converting Sears Craftsman 220V compressor plug to washing machine plug
On Sun, 25 Jul 2010 00:36:55 -0700 (PDT), Evan
wrote: On Jul 25, 2:06Â*am, Elmo dcdraftwo...@Use-Author-Supplied- Address.invalid wrote: I just want advice for the conversion I just did before I plug it all in. Details: 1. I have a two-phase 220V Sears Craftsman compressor which uses a 220 volt plug with one blade sideways (otherwise it looks like a normal 120V grounded plug). 2. I have no sockets in the house which fit that 220 volt plug. 3. I have a three-pronged dryer socket in the garage with 220 volts (two hots and a neutral). 4. I just attached a new 3-pronged male dryer cord to a female 220 volt plug with the one blade sideways. Before I plug in the compressor to the recepticle to the dryer cord to the recepticle, would you have any concerns about safety or other? I assumed the neutral in the compressor plug was the center wire (looks like a ground pin) while I assumed the neutral on the 3-pronged dryer cord is the L-shaped center pin. Is that the correct assumption for the shared neutral? Ummm yeah... Why would you want to plug a 20 amp 240 volt appliance which uses a NEMA 6-20 cord configuration into a 30 amp outlet made for a NEMA 10-30 cord configuration by means of using a cord adapter which you have created yourself... There is a reason why the outlets for vastly different amperage ratings do not fit into each other... SAFETY... Why not have a correct 20 amp 240 volt NEMA 6-20 outlet installed in your home so you can use your compressor safely on a circuit which is not capable of supplying more power than your appliance is rated for which could damage it or cause an accident of some kind... ~~ Evan Evan - sorry but your ignorance is showing. Virtually every item you plug into a 15 or 20 amp 115 volt receptacle in your home is rated MUCH below the 15 or 20 amps the receptacle is rated at, and the breaker is designed for. It is NOT a safety issue. Your computer draws something like 2 amps, the monitor 1/2 amp, a 100 watt light bult less than an amp, your fancy little transistor table radio about 250 milliamps. The "right" way to do it would be a "fused adapter" with a 30 amp plug that fits the dryier receptacle, and a 20 amp receptacle to fit the compressor plug, with a 20 amp fuse or breaker between the two. This would protect the wiring to the compressor motor - which, in all likelihood, already has a thermal shutdown protection device built into it - making the fused adapter redundant anyways. |
Advice for converting Sears Craftsman 220V compressor plug to washing machine plug
On Sun, 25 Jul 2010 05:41:59 -0700 (PDT), jamesgangnc
wrote: On Jul 25, 2:06Â*am, Elmo dcdraftwo...@Use-Author-Supplied- Address.invalid wrote: I just want advice for the conversion I just did before I plug it all in. Details: 1. I have a two-phase 220V Sears Craftsman compressor which uses a 220 volt plug with one blade sideways (otherwise it looks like a normal 120V grounded plug). 2. I have no sockets in the house which fit that 220 volt plug. 3. I have a three-pronged dryer socket in the garage with 220 volts (two hots and a neutral). 4. I just attached a new 3-pronged male dryer cord to a female 220 volt plug with the one blade sideways. Before I plug in the compressor to the recepticle to the dryer cord to the recepticle, would you have any concerns about safety or other? I assumed the neutral in the compressor plug was the center wire (looks like a ground pin) while I assumed the neutral on the 3-pronged dryer cord is the L-shaped center pin. Is that the correct assumption for the shared neutral? Yes, the L shaped prong is the nuetral on a 3 wire dryer. The other two are the hots. Your compressor more likely needs 2 hots and a ground. While what you are doing is not exactly by the book it will run your compressor. The safety issue is that you will be using your nuetral line for a ground and using a 30 amp circuit where a 20 amp one is called for. What you really need to do is install a dedicated 220 outlet in the location of your compressor. Have you looked at the compressor to see if it can be run on 110? Many motors have alternate wiring that allows them to run on 220 or 110. If it is a 20 amp 220 plug on the compressor, it would need 40 amps at 110, which is very non-standard. Assuming the 20 amp plug is already over-sized a bit, he might get away with a 30 amp 110 volt circuit - which again is definitely "non-standard" in today's residentiial wiring scheme. |
Advice for converting Sears Craftsman 220V compressor plug to washing machine plug
On Sun, 25 Jul 2010 13:44:54 +0000 (UTC), Elmo
wrote: On Sun, 25 Jul 2010 05:41:59 -0700 (PDT), jamesgangnc wrote: What you really need to do is install a dedicated 220 outlet I agree that's the by-the-book method. However, the cost of having an electrician replace the 30-amp NEMA 10-30R with a 20-amp NEMA 6-20R is more than the cost of a compressor that runs off of 110. Have you looked at the compressor to see if it can be run on 110? I didn't realize the 30-year old Sears Craftsman compressor COULD run on 110. How would I know? (I'll try to dig up a model number and google it after this reply.) The safety issue is that you will be using your nuetral line for a ground and using a 30 amp circuit where a 20 amp one is called for. But wouldn't the neutral line ALREADY be used as a ground in the NEMA 10-30R dryer circuit were I to plug in a dryer to that circuit? Isn't the compressor the same as the dryer from an electrical standpoint with respect to the ground/neutral wire? Actually, the dryer may have an issue with today's code as it is using the "ground" as a neutral for the 110 volt lamp, motor, and timer circuits. Today's code (at least here in Ontario Canada) requires a FOUR wire plug for dryers and other 220 volt devices that use 110 volts as well. The compressor is a straight 220 device - not requiring a neutral (which is being "faked" on the ground on a 3 wire plug) |
Advice for converting Sears Craftsman 220V compressor plug to washing machine plug
FatterDumber& Happier Moe" "WheresMyCheck wrote:
Working air compressors are just real handy to have around, I use mine for lots of things, great for blowing out a dusty old computer, adjusting the pressure in the car tires, gobs of uses. I've had a compressor for over a decade, but I've only had air tools (impact and ratchet, also nail and brad guns) for a couple of years. Makes working on the car _so_ much easier, I can't believe it took me so long to get them! Jon |
Advice for converting Sears Craftsman 220V compressor plug to washing machine plug
On Sun, 25 Jul 2010 09:14:25 -0400, "RBM" wrote:
"Elmo" wrote in message ... I just want advice for the conversion I just did before I plug it all in. Details: 1. I have a two-phase 220V Sears Craftsman compressor which uses a 220 volt plug with one blade sideways (otherwise it looks like a normal 120V grounded plug). 2. I have no sockets in the house which fit that 220 volt plug. 3. I have a three-pronged dryer socket in the garage with 220 volts (two hots and a neutral). 4. I just attached a new 3-pronged male dryer cord to a female 220 volt plug with the one blade sideways. Before I plug in the compressor to the recepticle to the dryer cord to the recepticle, would you have any concerns about safety or other? I assumed the neutral in the compressor plug was the center wire (looks like a ground pin) while I assumed the neutral on the 3-pronged dryer cord is the L-shaped center pin. Is that the correct assumption for the shared neutral? Your setup will work as you describe. The Nec prohibits using a 20 amp receptacle on a 30 amp circuit. Provided that the motor has built in overcurrent protection, I would install a 30 amp dryer cord set directly on the compressor Zip tie the 20 amp "receptacle" to the compressor cord and it is no longer a receptacle but part of the compressor, and that portion of the code is no longer applicable. |
Advice for converting Sears Craftsman 220V compressor plug to washing machine plug
On Sun, 25 Jul 2010 13:27:42 +0000 (UTC), Elmo
wrote: On Sun, 25 Jul 2010 03:51:43 -0400, mm wrote: Also get a meter that goes up to 250 VAC and measure the voltage at all three slots of the receptacle, relative to ground. I did use the Fluke DMM to measure the connections; I was just double checking which was the ground/neutral because I didn't wire the house in the first place. The ground in the two-phase 220v compressor NEMA 6-20P plug should be the center pin and the ground/neutral in the NEMA10-30R dryer receptacle should be the L-shaped center prong. The two questions I would like to ask here a a) How do I know if the NEMA10-30R is on a sub panel (it's inches from the main panel on the other side of the wall outside the garage)? b) Are my tests correct that the ground on the 20-amp NEMA 6-20P plug is "equivalent" to the ground/neutral on the 30-amp NEMA10-30R receptacle? You are right and safe. Use it. |
Advice for converting Sears Craftsman 220V compressor plug to washing machine plug
On Sun, 25 Jul 2010 06:06:44 +0000 (UTC), Elmo
wrote: I just want advice for the conversion I just did before I plug it all in. Details: 1. I have a two-phase 220V Sears Craftsman compressor which uses a 220 volt plug with one blade sideways (otherwise it looks like a normal 120V grounded plug). 2. I have no sockets in the house which fit that 220 volt plug. 3. I have a three-pronged dryer socket in the garage with 220 volts (two hots and a neutral). 4. I just attached a new 3-pronged male dryer cord to a female 220 volt plug with the one blade sideways. Before I plug in the compressor to the recepticle to the dryer cord to the recepticle, would you have any concerns about safety or other? I assumed the neutral in the compressor plug was the center wire (looks like a ground pin) while I assumed the neutral on the 3-pronged dryer cord is the L-shaped center pin. Is that the correct assumption for the shared neutral? The only thing I can say is what has already been said. If you have to ask these questions you should not be doing this job. This is something left for the professionals. Consider what could happen to your family if you assume wrong... |
Advice for converting Sears Craftsman 220V compressor plug to washing machine plug
"Gordon Shumway" wrote in message ... On Sun, 25 Jul 2010 06:06:44 +0000 (UTC), Elmo wrote: I just want advice for the conversion I just did before I plug it all in. Details: 1. I have a two-phase 220V Sears Craftsman compressor which uses a 220 volt plug with one blade sideways (otherwise it looks like a normal 120V grounded plug). 2. I have no sockets in the house which fit that 220 volt plug. 3. I have a three-pronged dryer socket in the garage with 220 volts (two hots and a neutral). 4. I just attached a new 3-pronged male dryer cord to a female 220 volt plug with the one blade sideways. Before I plug in the compressor to the recepticle to the dryer cord to the recepticle, would you have any concerns about safety or other? I assumed the neutral in the compressor plug was the center wire (looks like a ground pin) while I assumed the neutral on the 3-pronged dryer cord is the L-shaped center pin. Is that the correct assumption for the shared neutral? The only thing I can say is what has already been said. If you have to ask these questions you should not be doing this job. This is something left for the professionals. Consider what could happen to your family if you assume wrong... The compressor won't work, and they'll run out of air? |
Advice for converting Sears Craftsman 220V compressor plug to washing machine plug
On Sun, 25 Jul 2010 08:30:42 -0500, Steve Barker
wrote: On 7/25/2010 1:06 AM, Elmo wrote: I just want advice for the conversion I just did before I plug it all in. Details: 1. I have a two-phase 220V Sears Craftsman compressor which uses a 220 volt plug with one blade sideways (otherwise it looks like a normal 120V grounded plug). 2. I have no sockets in the house which fit that 220 volt plug. 3. I have a three-pronged dryer socket in the garage with 220 volts (two hots and a neutral). 4. I just attached a new 3-pronged male dryer cord to a female 220 volt plug with the one blade sideways. Before I plug in the compressor to the recepticle to the dryer cord to the recepticle, would you have any concerns about safety or other? I assumed the neutral in the compressor plug was the center wire (looks like a ground pin) while I assumed the neutral on the 3-pronged dryer cord is the L-shaped center pin. Is that the correct assumption for the shared neutral? I'm suspecting that out of all these replies, NONE are correct. What i suspect is that you have a 20a plug on a 120V compressor and you just don't have any 20a 120v outlets in your house. Better look a little closer at everything before you feed that unit 240v. HOLD ON - I think Steve caught something I missed - you did say ONE blare is crosswise, not 2 - right? That COULD BE a NEMA 5-20 plug. oR IT COULD BE A 6-20. BOTH crosswise would be a 6-15. WHEN YOU HOLD THE PLUG WITH THE PINS FACING YOU AND THE "U" GROUND DOWN, WHICH SIDE HAS THE "ROTATED" BLADE?? Rotated blade on the right os a 5-20 - 115 volt 20 amp. (nominal) Rotated blade on the left is a 6-20 - 230 volt 20 amp (nominal). If it is a Nema 6-20, go ahead you are OK (and I think you DID say it was a 6-20R that you were using - which would not let a 5-20P fit) |
Advice for converting Sears Craftsman 220V compressor plug to washing machine plug
On Sun, 25 Jul 2010 13:32:33 +0000 (UTC), Elmo
wrote: On Sun, 25 Jul 2010 01:04:05 -0700, Smitty Two wrote: Really? Two phase? How old is this gadget, anyway? You know, I bought it that damn Sears Craftsman compressor on a whim in a sale in the 80's. It was (on sale), about 350 or 400 bucks. Then, when I brought the huge thing home, I realized I didn't have an outlet for it, so I just let it sit for a year or so. Then I moved, and didn't have an outlet for it, so I let it sit for a few years. Finally I moved to a place that had the outlet, and I used it every six months or so to blow up the kids toys. I moved again, and guess what, no outlet. Funny thing is that I've seen Sears compressors on sale over and over and over and over again for, guess what, just about 350 or 400 bucks. They never changed prices in decades. Amazing. In hind sight, I never should have bought it as I barely used it due to the cord and the lack of needs. However, I still have it. And I actually want to blow up a kids toy and then figured I'd plug the NEMA 6-20P into an adaptor consisting of a NEMA 6-20R and a NEMA10-30P and then connect to the NEMA10-30R fused by a 30-amp circuit for my 20-amp compressor. I was just asking advice, specifically: a) How do I know that I'm NOT on a sub panel? b) Did I pick the correct ground/neutral? Is there anything else I didn't think of (before I plug it in)? Doesn't really matter if you are on a sub-panel or not as you are not using the "neutral" - it is simply a "safety ground" - and YES, you did pick the right neutral (actually, ground) |
Advice for converting Sears Craftsman 220V compressor plug to washing machine plug
On Sun, 25 Jul 2010 09:39:13 -0400, "RBM" wrote:
"Steve Barker" wrote in message m... On 7/25/2010 1:06 AM, Elmo wrote: I just want advice for the conversion I just did before I plug it all in. Details: 1. I have a two-phase 220V Sears Craftsman compressor which uses a 220 volt plug with one blade sideways (otherwise it looks like a normal 120V grounded plug). 2. I have no sockets in the house which fit that 220 volt plug. 3. I have a three-pronged dryer socket in the garage with 220 volts (two hots and a neutral). 4. I just attached a new 3-pronged male dryer cord to a female 220 volt plug with the one blade sideways. Before I plug in the compressor to the recepticle to the dryer cord to the recepticle, would you have any concerns about safety or other? I assumed the neutral in the compressor plug was the center wire (looks like a ground pin) while I assumed the neutral on the 3-pronged dryer cord is the L-shaped center pin. Is that the correct assumption for the shared neutral? I'm suspecting that out of all these replies, NONE are correct. What i suspect is that you have a 20a plug on a 120V compressor and you just don't have any 20a 120v outlets in your house. Better look a little closer at everything before you feed that unit 240v. -- Steve Barker remove the "not" from my address to email Very good point. Most of these small compressors run 120 or 240 volts, and do require a 20 amp plug @120 volt. It is entirely probable that the OP is looking at a 20 amp 120 volt plug and not a 20 amp 240 volt plug, which are very similar looking If his copressor plug fits the 6-30R he bought, I strongly suspect your suspicion is wrong. |
Advice for converting Sears Craftsman 220V compressor plug to washing machine plug
On Sun, 25 Jul 2010 13:41:50 -0400, "RBM" wrote:
Consider what could happen to your family if you assume wrong... The compressor won't work, and they'll run out of air? That's one possibility I hadn't thought of. Another possibility is the compressor will suck. That's the logical possibility. After all, it is a Craftsman compressor... |
Advice for converting Sears Craftsman 220V compressor plug towashing machine plug
jamesgangnc wrote:
.... ... If it doesn't have a ground you could use the neutral as long as you mark it as ground. no, No, NO, _NO_!!! One more time...the third wire in a 3-wire dryer circuit _IS_THE_GROUND_ wire allowed by previous NEC to double as the 120V neutral. It is not, repeat _NOT_ connected to the neutral bus. -- |
Advice for converting Sears Craftsman 220V compressor plug to washing machine plug
wrote in message ... On Sun, 25 Jul 2010 09:39:13 -0400, "RBM" wrote: "Steve Barker" wrote in message om... On 7/25/2010 1:06 AM, Elmo wrote: I just want advice for the conversion I just did before I plug it all in. Details: 1. I have a two-phase 220V Sears Craftsman compressor which uses a 220 volt plug with one blade sideways (otherwise it looks like a normal 120V grounded plug). 2. I have no sockets in the house which fit that 220 volt plug. 3. I have a three-pronged dryer socket in the garage with 220 volts (two hots and a neutral). 4. I just attached a new 3-pronged male dryer cord to a female 220 volt plug with the one blade sideways. Before I plug in the compressor to the recepticle to the dryer cord to the recepticle, would you have any concerns about safety or other? I assumed the neutral in the compressor plug was the center wire (looks like a ground pin) while I assumed the neutral on the 3-pronged dryer cord is the L-shaped center pin. Is that the correct assumption for the shared neutral? I'm suspecting that out of all these replies, NONE are correct. What i suspect is that you have a 20a plug on a 120V compressor and you just don't have any 20a 120v outlets in your house. Better look a little closer at everything before you feed that unit 240v. -- Steve Barker remove the "not" from my address to email Very good point. Most of these small compressors run 120 or 240 volts, and do require a 20 amp plug @120 volt. It is entirely probable that the OP is looking at a 20 amp 120 volt plug and not a 20 amp 240 volt plug, which are very similar looking If his copressor plug fits the 6-30R he bought, I strongly suspect your suspicion is wrong. When you're dealing with amateurs, there are many ifs. With the similarities between nema 20 amp 120 and 240 devices, it's difficult to determine what he bought, or thought he bought, however as the string progressed, it became clear that he does indeed have a 240 volt machine. Had you followed the progression, you may have noticed this as well. |
Advice for converting Sears Craftsman 220V compressor plug to washing machine plug
"Gordon Shumway" wrote in message ... On Sun, 25 Jul 2010 13:41:50 -0400, "RBM" wrote: Consider what could happen to your family if you assume wrong... The compressor won't work, and they'll run out of air? That's one possibility I hadn't thought of. Another possibility is the compressor will suck. That's the logical possibility. After all, it is a Craftsman compressor... Yea, but it's on old Craftsman, from when the sucked less |
Advice for converting Sears Craftsman 220V compressor plug to washing machine plug
"dpb" wrote in message ... jamesgangnc wrote: ... ... If it doesn't have a ground you could use the neutral as long as you mark it as ground. no, No, NO, _NO_!!! One more time...the third wire in a 3-wire dryer circuit _IS_THE_GROUND_ wire allowed by previous NEC to double as the 120V neutral. It is not, repeat _NOT_ connected to the neutral bus. It has to original at the service panel, where the neutral/ground conductor of the dryer cable connects to the neutral/ground buss of the panel. It cannot originate in a sub panel where you have separate neutral and ground busses -- |
Advice for converting Sears Craftsman 220V compressor plug to washing machine plug
"RBM" wrote in message ... "dpb" wrote in message ... jamesgangnc wrote: ... ... If it doesn't have a ground you could use the neutral as long as you mark it as ground. no, No, NO, _NO_!!! One more time...the third wire in a 3-wire dryer circuit _IS_THE_GROUND_ wire allowed by previous NEC to double as the 120V neutral. It is not, repeat _NOT_ connected to the neutral bus. It has to original at the service panel, where the neutral/ground conductor of the dryer cable connects to the neutral/ground buss of the panel. It cannot originate in a sub panel where you have separate neutral and ground busses -- My mistake, it has to originate in the service panel if type SE cable is used. If a cable with an insulated neutral is used, it can originate in a sub panel, in which case the neutral/ground conductor would go to the neutral buss |
Advice for converting Sears Craftsman 220V compressor plug to washing machine plug
On Sun, 25 Jul 2010 12:29:18 -0500, Gordon Shumway
wrote: On Sun, 25 Jul 2010 06:06:44 +0000 (UTC), Elmo wrote: I just want advice for the conversion I just did before I plug it all in. Details: 1. I have a two-phase 220V Sears Craftsman compressor which uses a 220 volt plug with one blade sideways (otherwise it looks like a normal 120V grounded plug). 2. I have no sockets in the house which fit that 220 volt plug. 3. I have a three-pronged dryer socket in the garage with 220 volts (two hots and a neutral). 4. I just attached a new 3-pronged male dryer cord to a female 220 volt plug with the one blade sideways. Before I plug in the compressor to the recepticle to the dryer cord to the recepticle, would you have any concerns about safety or other? I assumed the neutral in the compressor plug was the center wire (looks like a ground pin) while I assumed the neutral on the 3-pronged dryer cord is the L-shaped center pin. Is that the correct assumption for the shared neutral? The only thing I can say is what has already been said. If you have to ask these questions you should not be doing this job. This is something left for the professionals. Consider what could happen to your family if you assume wrong... "the sky is falling, The SKY is FALLING" - Chicken Little. |
Advice for converting Sears Craftsman 220V compressor plug to washing machine plug
"RBM" wrote in message ... "Gordon Shumway" wrote in message ... On Sun, 25 Jul 2010 06:06:44 +0000 (UTC), Elmo wrote: I just want advice for the conversion I just did before I plug it all in. Details: 1. I have a two-phase 220V Sears Craftsman compressor which uses a 220 volt plug with one blade sideways (otherwise it looks like a normal 120V grounded plug). 2. I have no sockets in the house which fit that 220 volt plug. 3. I have a three-pronged dryer socket in the garage with 220 volts (two hots and a neutral). 4. I just attached a new 3-pronged male dryer cord to a female 220 volt plug with the one blade sideways. Before I plug in the compressor to the recepticle to the dryer cord to the recepticle, would you have any concerns about safety or other? I assumed the neutral in the compressor plug was the center wire (looks like a ground pin) while I assumed the neutral on the 3-pronged dryer cord is the L-shaped center pin. Is that the correct assumption for the shared neutral? The only thing I can say is what has already been said. If you have to ask these questions you should not be doing this job. This is something left for the professionals. Consider what could happen to your family if you assume wrong... The compressor won't work, and they'll run out of air? You'll shoot yer eye out, kid? Three wires is pretty hard to screw up. The only thing is that the dryer/range plug will have too big a breaker, and if the compressor overheats, it won't pop off in time to save it. Steve visit my blog at http://cabgbypasssurgery.com |
Advice for converting Sears Craftsman 220V compressor plug to washing machine plug
I wouldn't want to plug a two phase compressor into a single phase
socket. -- Christopher A. Young Learn more about Jesus www.lds.org .. "Elmo" wrote in message ... I just want advice for the conversion I just did before I plug it all in. Details: 1. I have a two-phase 220V Sears Craftsman compressor which uses a 220 volt plug with one blade sideways (otherwise it looks like a normal 120V grounded plug). 2. I have no sockets in the house which fit that 220 volt plug. 3. I have a three-pronged dryer socket in the garage with 220 volts (two hots and a neutral). 4. I just attached a new 3-pronged male dryer cord to a female 220 volt plug with the one blade sideways. Before I plug in the compressor to the recepticle to the dryer cord to the recepticle, would you have any concerns about safety or other? I assumed the neutral in the compressor plug was the center wire (looks like a ground pin) while I assumed the neutral on the 3-pronged dryer cord is the L-shaped center pin. Is that the correct assumption for the shared neutral? |
Advice for converting Sears Craftsman 220V compressor plug to washing machine plug
Elmo says the name plate says 15 amps. That tickles!
-- Christopher A. Young Learn more about Jesus www.lds.org .. "RBM" wrote in message ... If that's the case, why don't you just replace the breaker and receptacle with a 20 amp |
Advice for converting Sears Craftsman 220V compressor plug to washing machine plug
That's good advice if you move every couple years. But, if you're in
the same place for year, the larger compressor is good. -- Christopher A. Young Learn more about Jesus www.lds.org .. "Elmo" wrote in message ... I've had the compressor for 30 years and barely used it because of this damn plug. If I can give any advice to a young 30 year old kid buying his first compressor, it would be to get a 110V smaller one! |
Advice for converting Sears Craftsman 220V compressor plug to washing machine plug
That's likely why the repair garages use them.
-- Christopher A. Young Learn more about Jesus www.lds.org .. "Jon Danniken" wrote in message ... I've had a compressor for over a decade, but I've only had air tools (impact and ratchet, also nail and brad guns) for a couple of years. Makes working on the car _so_ much easier, I can't believe it took me so long to get them! Jon |
Advice for converting Sears Craftsman 220V compressor plug to washing machine plug
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Advice for converting Sears Craftsman 220V compressor plug to washing machine plug
On 25 Jul 2010 21:11:18 GMT, ddl@danlan.*com (Dan Lanciani) wrote:
In article , lid (Elmo) writes: | I wondered about that. Does the "code" cover temperary adapters? That's an interesting question. I've noticed that marine stores sell a lot of twist-lock adapters and the "odd" configurations (like 30A male with 15A female) are not UL listed (or say something like "made with UL-listed parts) while the matched amperage ones have the UL hologram. So maybe the answer is that UL covers this, but nothing stops people from selling, buying, and using adapters that UL won't list. Why would the lack of a UL rating stop people from selling something? UL isn't the government. |
Advice for converting Sears Craftsman 220V compressor plug to washing machine plug
On Sun, 25 Jul 2010 15:45:35 -0400, Stormin Mormon wrote:
I wouldn't want to plug a two phase compressor into a single phase socket. I read everything stated in all the helpful posts, and I only have two things that I'm not sure of at this point, neither of which were questions initially. 1. The 30-year old Craftsman compressor (model 919.176940, nameplate says 240 volts, 15 amps) certainly uses two hot wires ... but since it's using the third (green on the compressor, white on the adapter) wire as a ground, I guess it's really not TWO phase but really one phase. Is it in actuality just a one phase two hundred volt motor? 2. Since the garage dryer receptacle is just on the other side of the main panel, I assume it's connected to the main panel; but I need to check. What I'll do, before plugging in the compressor, is stick a DMM into it and then hit the breakers. Is there any other way to tell that you're NOT on a sub panel? |
Advice for converting Sears Craftsman 220V compressor plug to washing machine plug
"Elmo" wrote in message ... On Sun, 25 Jul 2010 15:45:35 -0400, Stormin Mormon wrote: I wouldn't want to plug a two phase compressor into a single phase socket. I read everything stated in all the helpful posts, and I only have two things that I'm not sure of at this point, neither of which were questions initially. 1. The 30-year old Craftsman compressor (model 919.176940, nameplate says 240 volts, 15 amps) certainly uses two hot wires ... but since it's using the third (green on the compressor, white on the adapter) wire as a ground, I guess it's really not TWO phase but really one phase. Is it in actuality just a one phase two hundred volt motor? It is a single phase 240 volt motor 2. Since the garage dryer receptacle is just on the other side of the main panel, I assume it's connected to the main panel; but I need to check. What I'll do, before plugging in the compressor, is stick a DMM into it and then hit the breakers. Is there any other way to tell that you're NOT on a sub panel? For your purposes, it doesn't matter if it's connected to a sub panel |
Advice for converting Sears Craftsman 220V compressor plug towashing machine plug
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Advice for converting Sears Craftsman 220V compressor plug towashing machine plug
On Jul 25, 1:12*pm, wrote:
On Sun, 25 Jul 2010 00:36:55 -0700 (PDT), Evan wrote: On Jul 25, 2:06*am, Elmo dcdraftwo...@Use-Author-Supplied- Address.invalid wrote: I just want advice for the conversion I just did before I plug it all in. Details: 1. I have a two-phase 220V Sears Craftsman compressor which uses a 220 volt plug with one blade sideways (otherwise it looks like a normal 120V grounded plug). 2. I have no sockets in the house which fit that 220 volt plug. 3. I have a three-pronged dryer socket in the garage with 220 volts (two hots and a neutral). 4. I just attached a new 3-pronged male dryer cord to a female 220 volt plug with the one blade sideways. Before I plug in the compressor to the recepticle to the dryer cord to the recepticle, would you have any concerns about safety or other? I assumed the neutral in the compressor plug was the center wire (looks like a ground pin) while I assumed the neutral on the 3-pronged dryer cord is the L-shaped center pin. Is that the correct assumption for the shared neutral? Ummm yeah... *Why would you want to plug a 20 amp 240 volt appliance which uses a NEMA 6-20 cord configuration into a 30 amp outlet made for a NEMA 10-30 cord configuration by means of using a cord adapter which you have created yourself... There is a reason why the outlets for vastly different amperage ratings do not fit into each other... *SAFETY... Why not have a correct 20 amp 240 volt NEMA 6-20 outlet installed in your home so you can use your compressor safely on a circuit which is not capable of supplying more power than your appliance is rated for which could damage it or cause an accident of some kind... ~~ Evan Evan - sorry but your ignorance is showing. Virtually every item you plug into a 15 or 20 amp 115 volt receptacle in your home is rated MUCH below the 15 or 20 amps the receptacle is rated at, and the breaker is designed for. It is NOT a safety issue. Your computer draws something like 2 amps, the monitor 1/2 amp, a 100 watt light bult less than an amp, your fancy little transistor table radio about 250 milliamps. The "right" way to do it would be a "fused adapter" with a 30 amp plug that fits the dryier receptacle, and a 20 amp receptacle to fit the compressor plug, with a 20 amp fuse or breaker between the two. This would protect the wiring to the compressor motor - which, in all likelihood, already has a thermal shutdown protection device built into it - making the fused adapter redundant anyways. Umm... No... It is not ignorance... The CONVENIENCE outlets in your home are designed for that purpose... When you are talking about dedicated circuits for non-convenience loads your logic about that is faulty... If it isn't designed to fit into that outlet it shouldn't be used with it... ~~ Evan |
Advice for converting Sears Craftsman 220V compressor plug towashing machine plug
On Jul 25, 1:06*pm, Elmo dcdraftwo...@Use-Author-Supplied-
Address.invalid wrote: On Sun, 25 Jul 2010 06:06:44 +0000 (UTC), Elmo wrote: I just want advice for the conversion I just did before I plug it all in. |
Advice for converting Sears Craftsman 220V compressor plug to washing machine plug
On Sun, 25 Jul 2010 15:40:22 -0700, Bob wrote:
On 7/25/2010 15:00, zzzzzzzzzz wrote: Why would the lack of a UL rating stop people from selling something? UL isn't the government. UL isn't a government agency, but some jurisdictions may require electrical products to be listed by UL or similar organization in order to be sold there. Citation please. The UL listing only means that the product is deemed safe *for its intended purpose.* A listed 18-gauge extension code is safe when run along a wall for a table lamp, while it can be a fire hazard if run under a carpet to power an air conditioner and microwave oven. Sure, but it is nothing more. |
Advice for converting Sears Craftsman 220V compressor plug to washing machine plug
On Sun, 25 Jul 2010 15:05:31 -0400, wrote:
Consider what could happen to your family if you assume wrong... "the sky is falling, The SKY is FALLING" - Chicken Little. Maybe. I don't know about you but I hope I never live next to someone that thinks they know how to work with electricity only to find out they know how to burn their house down. |
Advice for converting Sears Craftsman 220V compressor plug to washing machine plug
On Sun, 25 Jul 2010 18:31:35 -0400, RBM wrote:
For your purposes, it doesn't matter if it's connected to a sub panel Well, after reading everything, I put it all together and plugged it in and tested it and it worked just fine. I finally have a convenient way to plug in the old compressor. Thanks for all your help! |
Advice for converting Sears Craftsman 220V compressor plug to washing machine plug
On Sun, 25 Jul 2010 16:25:57 -0700 (PDT), Evan wrote:
Just because you have made something that provides power doesn't mean you have done so properly or safely... Hi Evan, Thanks for the advice after looking at the pictures of the adapter. You're the only one to comment on the pictures of the adapter. The ring terminals caused no problem; and certainly the way I did it is as safe as any other method ... but you mention the strain relief??? Do you have a picture of how it should be done if the way I did it is either improper or unsafe? |
Advice for converting Sears Craftsman 220V compressor plug to washing machine plug
Most compressors are single phase.
As to being on a sub panel, only way I know would be to trace the wires, and look for one. Does your house even have a sub panel? -- Christopher A. Young Learn more about Jesus www.lds.org .. "Elmo" wrote in message ... On Sun, 25 Jul 2010 15:45:35 -0400, Stormin Mormon wrote: I wouldn't want to plug a two phase compressor into a single phase socket. I read everything stated in all the helpful posts, and I only have two things that I'm not sure of at this point, neither of which were questions initially. 1. The 30-year old Craftsman compressor (model 919.176940, nameplate says 240 volts, 15 amps) certainly uses two hot wires ... but since it's using the third (green on the compressor, white on the adapter) wire as a ground, I guess it's really not TWO phase but really one phase. Is it in actuality just a one phase two hundred volt motor? 2. Since the garage dryer receptacle is just on the other side of the main panel, I assume it's connected to the main panel; but I need to check. What I'll do, before plugging in the compressor, is stick a DMM into it and then hit the breakers. Is there any other way to tell that you're NOT on a sub panel? |
Advice for converting Sears Craftsman 220V compressor plug to washing machine plug
On Sun, 25 Jul 2010 18:31:35 -0400, "RBM" wrote:
"Elmo" wrote in message ... On Sun, 25 Jul 2010 15:45:35 -0400, Stormin Mormon wrote: I wouldn't want to plug a two phase compressor into a single phase socket. I read everything stated in all the helpful posts, and I only have two things that I'm not sure of at this point, neither of which were questions initially. 1. The 30-year old Craftsman compressor (model 919.176940, nameplate says 240 volts, 15 amps) certainly uses two hot wires ... but since it's using the third (green on the compressor, white on the adapter) wire as a ground, I guess it's really not TWO phase but really one phase. Is it in actuality just a one phase two hundred volt motor? It is a single phase 240 volt motor 2. Since the garage dryer receptacle is just on the other side of the main panel, I assume it's connected to the main panel; but I need to check. What I'll do, before plugging in the compressor, is stick a DMM into it and then hit the breakers. Is there any other way to tell that you're NOT on a sub panel? For your purposes, it doesn't matter if it's connected to a sub panel First question - do you know you even HAVE a sub-panel?????? If you don't have one it's pretty obvious it's not connected to one. |
Advice for converting Sears Craftsman 220V compressor plug to washing machine plug
On Sun, 25 Jul 2010 13:27:42 +0000 (UTC), Elmo
wrote: On Sun, 25 Jul 2010 03:51:43 -0400, mm wrote: Also get a meter that goes up to 250 VAC and measure the voltage at all three slots of the receptacle, relative to ground. I did use the Fluke DMM to measure the connections; I was just double checking which was the ground/neutral because I didn't wire the house in the first place. Okay. Good. I jumped to the conclusion that you hadn't. The ground in the two-phase 220v compressor NEMA 6-20P plug should be the center pin and the ground/neutral in the NEMA10-30R dryer receptacle should be the L-shaped center prong. The two questions I would like to ask here a a) How do I know if the NEMA10-30R is on a sub panel (it's inches from the main panel on the other side of the wall outside the garage)? b) Are my tests correct that the ground on the 20-amp NEMA 6-20P plug is "equivalent" to the ground/neutral on the 30-amp NEMA10-30R receptacle? You keep using "ground/neutral" wrt the receptacle. I think you mean ground. The neutral is one of the two main slots in a *110* volt receptacle. It carries full current when something is using the recept. But it's voltage wrt ground is zero. But that's not the same as being a ground. It's a neutral. OTOH, in *220*, two of the wires are hot though at different potentials wrt ground. Only the ground is without voltage, but if you call it neutral, I'm pretty sure you will confuse some people, or their reply to you will confuse you, and that could lead to a mistake. |
Advice for converting Sears Craftsman 220V compressor plug to washing machine plug
On Tue, 27 Jul 2010 15:03:51 -0400, mm wrote:
You keep using "ground/neutral" wrt the receptacle. I think you mean ground. You are correct sir! I only belatedly, half way through this thread, realized that the green ground wire on the 240 volt compressor was connecting to the white ground wire of the 240 volt dryer receptacle. If a DRYER were hooked up, then that white third wire in the dryer receptacle would be doing double duty as a ground (for the 240 volt circuitry of the dryer) and neutral (for the 120 volt circuitry of the dryer). But, I learned in this thread, that the dryer receptacle in the wall has its white ground/neutral wire hooked to ground in the panel. So, even though that white wire does double duty (when a dryer is hooked up), for the compressor, I'm hooking ground to ground so there is no additional danger because current is not being carried in this ground wire. Thanks for all your help. The compressor worked flawlessly when I hooked it up. I only got one comment on the pictures of the adapter so I'd appreciate if anyone could tell me how to improve it. A picture of the adapter cord and compressor is he http://img534.imageshack.us/i/006ary.jpg/ http://img153.imageshack.us/i/005tqn.jpg/ http://img714.imageshack.us/i/004wtt.jpg/ http://img525.imageshack.us/i/003zpn.jpg/ http://img809.imageshack.us/i/007pet.jpg/ http://img828.imageshack.us/i/002nd.jpg/ http://img265.imageshack.us/i/001aaz.jpg/ |
Advice for converting Sears Craftsman 220V compressor plug to washing machine plug
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Advice for converting Sears Craftsman 220V compressor plug to washing machine plug
On Mon, 26 Jul 2010 17:46:16 -0400, Stormin Mormon wrote:
As to being on a sub panel, only way I know would be to trace the wires, and look for one. Does your house even have a sub panel? There are multiple sub panels as the house has had wings added over time by previous owners. The one problem with my "test" of hitting one of the breakers is that breaker could, I guess, have actually been going to a sub panel, in which case all circuits on that sub panel would have gone out. I think someone said it doesn't really matter if it's on a sub panel anyway because the white wire is physically wired as a ground in the main panel and in the sub panels, not as a neutral. |
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