3hp on 13A - really?

[Ray2k]

I'm looking to buy an air compressor but live in a rented property so can't touch the wiring and am therefore limited by the standard 13A supply to my garage. It's also a residential area so I'm after a belt drive.

I've come across the Sealey SAC1103B which claims to be 3hp and rated at 13A. Other brands like Clarke don't do compressors so powerful with such low current ratings, so I'm a bit suspicious about the Sealey one. Are these claims to be believed? It seems that 3hp is approaching the theoretical limit from 13A, so I presume the "Twin capacitors and a centrifugal switch aid trouble free start up on a 13amp supply" reduce the surge on startup and it's possible to maintain 3hp from 13A during continuous operation?

Thanks for any info

Ray

 

[Bsmith]

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=170429782936&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT

I have one of the above and use it on 13A household supply via extension lead. Performs perfectly and although the motor is 3hp, 2.2kw it appears smaller than the standard 3hp motor but I second your question Ray2k as I have blown a 20A fuse with a 3hp motor on a different machine.

 

[brightspark]

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=170429782936&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT

I have one of the above and use it on 13A household supply via extension lead. Performs perfectly and although the motor is 3hp, 2.2kw it appears smaller than the standard 3hp motor but I second your question Ray2k as I have blown a 20A fuse with a 3hp motor on a different machine.

i cant coment on the above compressor motor but on most new 3hp motors the starting load is 50 amps and 12 amp full load running

 

[dannyp]

starter boxes can do amazing things

 

[boydy1989]

what danny p said... as long as the running current draw isn't too high, a big enough capacitor will soften the surge enough to start just fine.

 

[the snooper]

i have a 3hp comp running from standard socket and never had any problems what so ever

 

[Chickenjohn]

I've used a Shiremoor compressors 3HP with a 50L tank for years now on a 13 AMP plug. It is plenty for spraying, but struggles with some air tools, although my DA sander, windy gun, and 10mm belt sander work fine on it. And I've never blown a 13A fuse with it, and it does run off an extension lead.

Beware- it won't have the power to run cheapo Aldi air tools properly though!

 

[the artfull-codger]

i have a 3hp comp running from standard socket and never had any problems what so ever

Like you ''snooper'' I run a 3hp compressor ''teclamit'' from a 13 a socket, & have done for years without problems

slan go fol

 

[Wedg1e]

My SIP 150L has a 3HP motor and would occasionally pop fuses when plugged into a 13A socket, so I put it on a 16A industrial connector with a dedicated C-curve breaker and it's been fine since.

 

[malcolm]

Mine (shiremoor 3hp) blew the 13 amp fuse so I stuck it on a 16 amp supply. It's marginal and the voltage here on the farm is about 245V because we are so close to the transformer.

There are bound to be workarounds if yours doesn't work and you can't change the electrics.

What are starter boxes dannyp?

 

[Ray2k]

Looks like this is what I'm after then. I was disappointed and annoyed when I travelled a fair way to machine mart only to find out that all their decent compressors take more than 13A. Annoyed because they don't make any mention of it in their catalogue.

Thanks for the info, I'll be buying this on the weekend if they'll let me collect it instead of be delivered..!