Apartment Wiring Question?

[Mastone]

I live in a apartment in the US and i have a garage that is attached. I have purchased a air compressor that requires 15 amps to run, but the compressor will only compress to about 40 ibs before the lights go dim and the motor stops, I was told that I need to upgrade to a 20 amp breaker, Is this something that is easy to upgrade or will I even be able to change anything due to living in a apartment and all the requirements they have to follow???? Appreciate all the help.

[suemarkp]

This question would probably get a better response if you posted in the Existing Home electrical forum instead of industrial, but many people read multiple groups.

I'd venture to say your circuit is inadequate because other things are on it, and a 15A circuit probably has no margin with nothing else on it. A 15A circuit may not run the compressor if it is a long circuit. A 20A circuit would be better if the circuit is long because they use the next larger size wire. If you have lights on that circuit, they are stealing some of your amps. Are there other things in the garage that may be using this circuit (like a fridge)? The ideal solution is to have a 20A circuit installed in the garage that runs only this compressor because compressors are a fairly heavy load on a circuit. Even a 15A circuit with no other loads on it may work. But this can be tough in an apartment, because you don't own it. A friendly landload may let you pay to have one added, but I think you have some other options to explore first.

I'd go to your circuit breaker box and look to see what kind of circuits were run in the apartment, and hope the breakers are well labeled. Look at the 15A and 20A ones and find out where they go. Perhaps there is a dedicated 15A or 20A circuit for a garage door opener. If so, plug into that with a short (25') 12 gauge extension cord. Just don't try to run the garage door opener and compressor at the same time or the breaker will trip. Code has required dedicated 20A circuits in laundries and kitchens for a long time. Is your laundry or kitchen close to the garage and can you run an extension cord to those receptacles while you want to run the compressor? Again, use the shortest 12 gauge cord that will work. Sometimes, bathrooms have 20A circuits.

[mdshunk]

That's fantastic advice for an apartment dweller or renter. Good job, Mark!

[Mastone]

This question would probably get a better response if you posted in the Existing Home electrical forum instead of industrial, but many people read multiple groups.

I'd venture to say your circuit is inadequate because other things are on it, and a 15A circuit probably has no margin with nothing else on it. A 15A circuit may not run the compressor if it is a long circuit. A 20A circuit would be better if the circuit is long because they use the next larger size wire. If you have lights on that circuit, they are stealing some of your amps. Are there other things in the garage that may be using this circuit (like a fridge)? The ideal solution is to have a 20A circuit installed in the garage that runs only this compressor because compressors are a fairly heavy load on a circuit. Even a 15A circuit with no other loads on it may work. But this can be tough in an apartment, because you don't own it. A friendly landload may let you pay to have one added, but I think you have some other options to explore first.

I'd go to your circuit breaker box and look to see what kind of circuits were run in the apartment, and hope the breakers are well labeled. Look at the 15A and 20A ones and find out where they go. Perhaps there is a dedicated 15A or 20A circuit for a garage door opener. If so, plug into that with a short (25') 12 gauge extension cord. Just don't try to run the garage door opener and compressor at the same time or the breaker will trip. Code has required dedicated 20A circuits in laundries and kitchens for a long time. Is your laundry or kitchen close to the garage and can you run an extension cord to those receptacles while you want to run the compressor? Again, use the shortest 12 gauge cord that will work. Sometimes, bathrooms have 20A circuits.

I appreciate all the good info, I spoke with a electric company that deals with commercial use and they did verify nothing smaller then 20 amps and 12 guage wire, and I have the 15 amp and 14 guage wire so that will not work, they said that it would not be to hard (but possibly expensive) to run me the correct wires however the apartment manager is proably not going to be to keen on the idea of changing anything. Other then that i'm stuck with a 450.00 compressor that does not work....lol

Anyone want to give a possible quote as to how much that would run, I do know that the wires are comming from under the ground, so the breaker box is proably not very close.......

-Matt

[suemarkp]

Did the compressor come with a power cord, or did you put the plug on it yourself? If it came from the factory with a 15A plug, it should work on a dedicated 15A circuit. If a 20A circuit must be used, it should have a 20A plug (one prong is sideways instead of both being vertical). Normally, a compressor with a 15A nameplate would require a 20A circuit and a 20A plug. If you have a 20A plug, then the extension cord idea will be more costly because few come with 20A plugs and receptacles. You can cut them off and change them, but it won't be as nice or durable as a factory made cord.

How much its costs to run a circuit is impossible to say without seeing your building and where the panel is located. Don't you have a breaker panel somewhere in your apartment? Its required that you have access to your circuit disconnects. They could be 100 feet away in a common area though (but thats a dumb way to do it).

[Mastone]

The plug did come hooked to the compressor, it does not have a dedicated circuit and that is where my problem is from what I understand, seems like my only option is to see if the apartment manager will let me pay someone to run me a dedicated 20 amp circuit with 12 guage wire (currently has 14) and 20 amp wall plug, but this is sounding like its going to be way more expensive then I was hoping......as the breaker box is not located on the set of 4 garages it is somewhere else.

BTW: I did try to run the compressor about 3 am, I figured that would give me the best chance to see if it works.......nope.

-Matt

[suemarkp]

Installing a receptacle directly below a panel is quite easy. If the panel is on another building (even inside but on a perimeter wall), getting a 20A otuside receptacle low on the outside wall may be about a $200 job (should be even less, but its usually $100 just to get someone to drive up in a truck to do anything). If this receptacle is more than about 50 feet from your garage, then I'd consider a 10 gauge extension cord. If its more than 100 feet, then I'd forget about the idea unless the compressor can be rewired for 240V.

Reading what you said earlier, I'm wondering if you're blowing a breaker or if a thermal protector is tripping in the compressor. If its the breaker, then turning off lights and other things on the circuit will help. If its the thermal protection, you are probably having a voltage drop problem (i.e. wires too small). Number 14 wire, if a short run, is marginal. Number 12 is what you need minimum, but if the panel feeding the receptacle is more than 100 feet away, then even larger wire should be run (10-2 or 8-2).

Another possibility -- buy a generator that you can take with you when you move, and run the compressor from it. Either a 120/240 5KW one, or a 120V ONLY 2500W one.

[Ohm1]

I wouldn't consider running anything, until the property owner (Not the manager) is notified. If you did plan to put in a dedicated outlet, and the place happen to burn down, then you could face possible jail time, and suit.
This is assuming they have the correct prints for the apartments electrical layout. Yet, with todays technology, the fire department want have a problem figuring this one out--trust me!!!

--Not to mention the fact that they could file suit for pass due rent--due to the fact that the rate in renting could go up, because the apartment was modified.

I would get with the owner, and work out an agreement to have someone come in and due the work, or If you feel you can do it, then work it out where your work can be inspected!

[Mastone]

I have decided to ditch the garage for my work site and have a storage unit lined up that can handle the amps that I need, having to pay about 40 more per month but thats better then the above stated, appreciate all the info you guys provide.

-Matt