Ask Experts Questions for FREE Help !
Ask
    hdts's Avatar
    hdts Posts: 3, Reputation: 1
    New Member
    		  
    #1

    Oct 3, 2007, 10:49 AM
    What gauge wire for Airlift
    I'm helping a friend wire their new garage. He wants a 220 plug for a vehicle airlift. What gauge wire do I need to run in order to support the airlift on a 220 plug? It will be connected to a 20 or 30 amp double-pole circuit breaker (depending on which airlift he decides to buy). With the same notion, he wants another 220 plug for an air compressor. What gauge wire and which circuit breaker will work? Thanks so much!
    tkrussell's Avatar
    tkrussell Posts: 9,659, Reputation: 725
    Uber Member
    		  
    #2

    Oct 3, 2007, 10:54 AM
    Need to know the horsepower of each motor to determine any wire size.

    I can tell you that a 20 amp circuit uses #12 wire and a 30 amp is #10 wire.
    hdts's Avatar
    hdts Posts: 3, Reputation: 1
    New Member
    		  
    #3

    Oct 3, 2007, 11:08 AM
    He doesn't know what he's getting yet for either equipment. He's not planning on drywalling for a while, so do I need to not run anything until he knows what he wants? How much horsepower can a 12 gauge vs. a 10 gauge wire handle?
    tkrussell's Avatar
    tkrussell Posts: 9,659, Reputation: 725
    Uber Member
    		  
    #4

    Oct 3, 2007, 11:38 AM
    Commercial lifts are usually 3/4 to 1 HP, both using #12 wire at 240 volts. An air compressor can be 5-10 HP. 5HP needs #8 and a 10 HP needs #4.
    hdts's Avatar
    hdts Posts: 3, Reputation: 1
    New Member
    		  
    #5

    Oct 3, 2007, 11:56 AM
    Thank you so much for your answers, this gives me a better idea of what I need to do. One more question, do I still need to use a 20 amp double-pole breaker for the airlift or will a single 20 amp breaker work for the 220 plug with 12-gauge wire? Same question for the air compressor too, but would I need to up the breaker to a 30 amp (single or double-pole)? Thank you again for all your help.
    tkrussell's Avatar
    tkrussell Posts: 9,659, Reputation: 725
    Uber Member
    		  
    #6

    Oct 3, 2007, 12:04 PM
    240 volt feeder needs a 2 pole 240 volt rated breaker, with a handle tie on both poles and internal common trip.
    Stratmando's Avatar
    Stratmando Posts: 11,188, Reputation: 508
    Uber Member
    		  
    #7

    Oct 4, 2007, 07:33 AM
    I would pull a 2 #10 plus ground, to each. Later it can be on a 20 Amp, 30 Amp, Single pole, or double breaker(120 or 240) If going to be 120, Neutral will need to be identified as white. You can put a #10 on a 20 Amp breaker.
    Dr D's Avatar
    Dr D Posts: 698, Reputation: 127
    Senior Member
    		  
    #8

    Oct 4, 2007, 09:37 AM
    If I were you, I would opt for the #10 wire for 30 amp. When I wired my garage addition for a future lift, I screwed up and put #12 wire under my sheetrock. I have so far found only one lift that requires about 17 amps. That lift is a Mohawk, which costs $4400, whereas other good quality lifts are only $2000-$3000. So I am faced with spending the extra $, or running a new 30 amp circuit. Just another example of poor planning.
Not your question? Ask your question View similar questions
 

Question Tools Search this Question
Search this Question:

Advanced Search

Add your answer here.


Check out some similar questions!

Wire service, wire gauge 100 amp [ 9 Answers ]

I'm installing a 100 amp service in the backyard with a separate meter on a pole next to sub-suface power tranasformer. I have a 100 amp meter box on one side of the pole and a 100 amp braker panel with a 100 amp main breaker on the other side. I'm going to place in it a 15-20 amp breaker for gfi...

Wire Gauge and Amperage [ 8 Answers ]

If the wire gauge to a machine is changed, will the voltage/amperage to the machine automatically change? Or does it matter what the machine actually uses? In my case, the amperage was already much lower than the original wire gauge, but now the wire gauge will match better with the actual...

14 gauge wire on 20 amp circiut [ 1 Answers ]

Can I use 15 amp outlet on 14 gauge wire that goes into a split box that has 12 gauge wire that goes back to the fuse panel and has a 20 amp circiut

Gauge of wire? [ 1 Answers ]

Thank you for responding. I would like to know what size of wire I need to run a circuit 125 amp, 240V to a sub panel 244 feet away? Or, what size of wire I need to run a circuit 60 amp, 240V to a sub panel 244 feew away? Thank you in advance

Wire gauge drop for lights? [ 1 Answers ]

I'm installing two sconces over a sink, each will have a 60 watt maximum bulb. The switch will share a box with the GFCI that is on a dedicated 12 gauge 20 amp circuit. Can I use 14 gauge wire from the load side of the GFCI to power the switch and then run 14 gauge to the sconces or must all...

View more questions Search