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You are here: Experts > Home/Garden > Home Improvement/Repair > Electrical Wiring in the Home > 220v compressor
Expert: Bob Sponaugle - 11/5/2009
Question
QUESTION: I have a 220v compressor in my shop that keeps buring the pressure switches up. I have found that i only have 208v avalible at the compressor. It is directly wired to a 220 breaker in a sub panel. is there anyway to get the voltage up where it belongs to prevent the extra high current draw at start up that i belive is burning these switches? I could probably somehow move the breaker into the main panel. Just would require a bit of shuffling of circuits. Thanks
ANSWER: Hi.
Normally 208 volts is available only to 3 phase commercial buildings. If you are losing 12 volts between the panel and the compressor, then you probably need thicker wire.
I hope this helps.
Bob
---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------
QUESTION: The building is in a commercial park type setting and there are 3 phases in the panel. I only have the compressor hooked to 2 of them. I did look at the compressor when i got out there and the motor calls for 23A @ 240V. Do i need some sort of step up transformer? Thanks for your help
Answer
Hi.
No. For some reason one phase is 110 volts, 2 phases is 220 volts and 3 phases is 208. So, I am not sure why you are getting only 208 volts. Is the breaker larger than 20 amps, and the wire thick enough for the size breaker you have?
I hope this helps. If it doesn't, I'll send your question to the pool, so that someone who is more familiar with commercial wiring can pick it up.
Bob
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