Cut the plugs off all the compressors

[series2]

I visited my local machine mart today, just pricing up for a 3hp/100L belt drive compessor. As usual the salesman was on me as soon as I walked in, wanting to know what I was after.

When I explained what I was looking for, he was quite insistant that I couldn't have a 3hp compressor and run it from a 13a plug. I tried to explain to him that I knew it should be on a min 16A supply, but he kept banging on about it, and how they were now supplied without a plug, and if I ran them from a 13a plug I would void the warranty.

How does the guy from Machine mart know what power supply I have? Why should he care? How could it void the warranty?

As it happens, I do have 16a & 32a points in my garage. The shed where my 2 x 2hp compressors live however, has only a 13a supply, with a four way plugged in for the light and the two compressors! If Ihad told him this, would he have sent for the electric police to take me away?

Anyway, I've vented my spleen now, and i'm going to buy a SIP compressor from Costco because it's £100 cheaper!

 

[rtbcomp]

and how they were now supplied without a plug,

I bought one years ago and it wasn't supplied with a plug then!

 

[BillJ]

i'm going to buy a SIP compressor from Costco

I did just that a couple of years ago. 3hp and specified to run from a 13A supply (with a 13A plug moulded onto the lead). Just bear in mind that you may have to replace the regulator with something that has decent flow, unless they've changed the supplied regulator since. Other than that, I couldn't be happier with it (a 150l unit).

Mine came with a toolkit that sells elsewhere for about £60. The impact wrench is rubbish but the rest of the tools (air hammer, die grinder, air ratchet) all work quite well.

 

[series2]

won't be using the supplied regulator, output straight from tank into existing pipework. one of my mates has similar compressor, reasonably quiet, good output & seems reliable. If I buy the same model without the "free" tools, it's cheaper?!?

and it has a 13A plug on it! (not that it really matters).

I have come to the conclusion that Machine mart don't employ staff for their technical knowledge.

 

[BillJ]

If I buy the same model without the "free" tools, it's cheaper?!?

Of course. Nothing's really free...
Still, I considered mine a good price. Much less than anywhere else at the time. And a mate paid half for me (and let me use his Costco card) in payment for damage he did to my car during a "test drive"

I have come to the conclusion that Machine mart don't employ staff for their technical knowledge.

I don't think any of the big retailers do, whether it be electrical goods, car accessories or tools. It's cheaper not to and many of their customers would rather have lower prices than good service. Personally, I prefer to do my research so I don't need dubious technical advice from sales staff, then I'm free to look for the best deal.

 

[Pete.]

3hP is only about 10 amps why should you not run it on a 13amp plug?

 

[rtbcomp]

3hP is only about 10 amps why should you not run it on a 13amp plug?

You have to allow for the switch-on surge. 10A sounds a bit low, my 2hp motor draws about 8 amps, (states 9 on the plate) so I would have thought
3hp would be about 12 amps.

Even so I had to replace a plug because it ran a bit hot.

 

[malcolm]

3hP is only about 10 amps why should you not run it on a 13amp plug?

It's normally the current getting the motor started that blows the fuses. My 3hp (might be 3.5 - I've not checked) was like that in colder weather and I ended up wiring it to a 16 amp supply.

 

[eil]

It used to be a rule of thumb that you allowed 5amp per hp, I have got an old 3hp 1ph brookes motor to run my T30 instead of the 3ph one and that says on it max run amps 16a.

 

[BillJ]

Not all 3hp compressors will work on 13A. As stated above, it's the startup current that causes problems, not the normal running current. My SIP has a soft-start specially designed to allow it to run from a 13A supply.

 

[eil]

Another thing is they have a run capacitor these days to ramp up the hp figure, you will soon find out if it can cope the first day you give it some real work to do, I suppose they are trying to cover them selfs saying you need 16amp as there are so many variables involved with installation, cabling etc. does the newer ones come with a thermal/amp cut out, klickson device installed ?