Help installing a 230v Single Phase Air Compressor in my home garage

[future]

Hi gents

I’ve decided to upgrade my home garage compressor setup since my current 3hp 50ltr unit struggles to run the air tools I’m using to restore my old Porsche.

All was going ok until I invested in a 20 gallon sandblaster with the result being its simply not up to the job.

I’ve tried adding a separate 100ltr air receiver tank so I have more stored air volume in an attempt to keep the motor cycle from trying to keep up with the amount of air I need, but it really has been to no avail.

So I may as well make it clear at this point that I’m not an electrician, nor do I have any qualified electrical experience so just looking to be pointed in the right direction.

Rightly or wrongly, I’ve been advised by friends that having 3 Phase power installed could be very costly so I guessed that’s out the question which has lead me to looking at the next best option being a 230v Single Phase setup which would allow me to utilise a bigger motor powered compressor.

So I’ve hunted about and decided that what I’d like is this vertical type compressor with a 4hp motor running on 1ph: Clarke VE18C150 18cfm Industrial Vertical Electric Air Compressor 1ph (150ltr) - Machine Mart - Machine Mart - https://www.machinemart.co.uk/p/clarke-ve18c150-18cfm-industrial-vertical-elec-2/

Moving forwards, I’ve found the exact compressor linked above which somebody else purchased a year ago but didn’t end up using (for whatever reason) for nearly half the list price so I’ve snapped it up and take delivery tomorrow.

So I guess this leaves me needing a single socket for the compressor adding in my garage and this is where I would greatly appreciate your advice and hopefully find somebody whom can do all the nessacery installation so I can start sandblasting etc.

My garage is separated from my house by about 50 metres and the picture below is what electric I currently have wired into the garage (I think this is called a Consumer Box). From this box runs 6 6ft LED tube lights and 3 double sockets:

Below is a pic of the specs of the power I need (unfortunately I’m no electrician but know it’s not for plugging into a normal socket 13amp socket):

Here is a pic of where I’d like the compressor to live (note the location to where my power comes into the garage so I hope only short wiring will be required):

Here is a pic of where the electric enters the house:

Firstly I’d really appreciate if somebody could clarify exactly what I need doing to make this work for me (what questions to ask an electrician for phone quote and parts I may need to buy).

I’m really hoping I’ve not committed to purchase this compressor in vein being left having to sell it on.

Lastly any ideas what sort of cost should I be expected to pay and how long this takes.

Many thanks... cheers,
Mark

 

[rtbcomp]

Welcome to the forum, I've moved this to the "Electrical Installations" section as it's more of an electrical topic than compressed air. That said, if you're blasting you may end up using both compressors so it may be as well to factor that in.

 

[julianf]

The unit says 3kw. Which at 240v is 12.5 amps. But the inrush will probably be larger, and if you have volt drop on the line from your house, you wont have 240v, so you will need even more amps.

Assuming that the feed to the workshop is properly spec'ed, then you should simply be able to run an additional wire, pre-fuses from your fuse box, into another small consumer unit type box with a 16amp breaker in it - from that, wire to a 16amp socket, and put a 16amp plug on your compressor.

 

[julianf]

...or better yet, replace the fuse box with a larger consumer unit with breakers not fuses.

 

[future]

...or better yet, replace the fuse box with a larger consumer unit with breakers not fuses.

Thanks Julian... I’m great around metal and composites fabrication work etc but when it comes to anything electrical I haven’t got a clue :-(

My main point was to clarify that it wouldn’t be a huge involving and expensive task to do the wiring and having read your comments it’s reassuring to know that hopefully it’s an easy job for a sparky... just need to find a good local to me now :-)

Cheers,
Mark

 

[dobbslc]

Hi Mark, can you get some pictures of the breaker that feeds your garage in that main dist board & and one from under the cover of the little one in the garage. Also what size armoured cable it is feeding the garage ( should be moulded into the black sheathing)
Looks like you have a 3 phase head there! You could probably have a new meter installed to get BIG power!
You might be lucky and have a decent supply to the garage (40 amps or more) and fitting a new dist board with spare ways will do. A 16 amp supply should be ok for the compressor using a commando type plug and socket.

 

[dobbslc]

I've just looked at the spec sheet for that compressor and it says " requires a 40 amp supply"!
Mmm that's probably to cover their arses from people saying it's blowing my fuses. It will take a big start current to fire that up but it'll probably only run at 12 amps or so, I think you'd be ok on a 16 amps socket with a C type mcb fitted or to be safe a 32 amp one but the garage supply might need upgrading too.

 

[future]

Hi Mark, can you get some pictures of the breaker that feeds your garage in that main dist board & and one from under the cover of the little one in the garage. Also what size armoured cable it is feeding the garage ( should be moulded into the black sheathing)
Looks like you have a 3 phase head there! You could probably have a new meter installed to get BIG power!
You might be lucky and have a decent supply to the garage (40 amps or more) and fitting a new dist board with spare ways will do. A 16 amp supply should be ok for the compressor using a commando type plug and socket.

View attachment 154322

Hi Dobbslc, I currently running some errands but as soon as I’m home I’ll investigate and take some better pictures to confirm.

I was thinking the same regards what appears to be a 3 phase coming into the house so I’ll double check. It’s a big old house and the garage is a good 50 metres away from the property.

I’m guessing the big black cable which runs out of the bottom left of the houses consumer box is what’s running to the garage as seen in my last pic from the original post. The cable looks the same as what goes into the box in the garage... I’ll see if I can find some writing on the cable as suggested so we know what it can handle.

The fuse going from the main consumer box running out to the garage looks like this if it helps:

The garage only has 6 6ft tube lights and 3 twin sockets at present and I’ve had a 110v welder running at the same time as my old compressor with no problems.

I’ll pop the cover of the box in the garage and take a pic of what’s inside when home.

Thanks, cheers,
Mark

 

[julianf]

Are you hall lights also on a 32amp breaker?

If the cable to the garage is on a 32a breaker and the cable is correctly matched then you can just replace that old fuse box in the garage with a modern consumer unit with breakers, and wire a couple to the sockets linked to above.

It shouldnt be an involved job at all, so long as the 42amp comment on the spec sheet can be handled by a c type breaker.

 

[dobbslc]

Just quickly you'll also need a type 3 mcb in that Merlin Gerin dist board.

 

[future]

Are you hall lights also on a 32amp breaker?

If the cable to the garage is on a 32a breaker and the cable is correctly matched then you can just replace that old fuse box in the garage with a modern consumer unit with breakers, and wire a couple to the sockets linked to above.

It shouldnt be an involved job at all, so long as the 42amp comment on the spec sheet can be handled by a c type breaker.

Hi Julian

Yes the hall lights appear to be on a 32A breaker... in fact I’d hazard a guess that the current lighting install in the hallway is where most of my power is consumed (when used) since there is a huge chandelier with approx 30 bulbs on it which needs modernising ASAP.

I like the idea of replacing the garage consumer box which makes good sense. Like I say, I’ll take the cover of it when home so we can what’s inside etc.

The compressor arrives this evening ... it would be great to have it up and running next week but I’ll have to plumb all the air lines first with a few drop-legs etc so I’ll be back for help and suggestions for that no doubt :-)

Thanks, cheers,
Mark

 

[future]

Just quickly you'll also need a type 3 mcb in that Merlin Gerin dist board.

Lol... what’s one of those :-)

 

[future]

Would I be right in guessing that a Type 3 MBC simply replaces the 32A Type 2? ... if so it it simply ‘plug and play’ sort of install?

 

[julianf]

Hi Julian

Yes the hall lights appear to be on a 32A breaker... in fact I’d hazard a guess that the current lighting install in the hallway is where most of my power is consumed (when used) since there is a huge chandelier with approx 30 bulbs on it which needs modernising ASAP.

I like the idea of replacing the garage consumer box which makes good sense. Like I say, I’ll take the cover of it when home so we can what’s inside etc.

The compressor arrives this evening ... it would be great to have it up and running next week but I’ll have to plumb all the air lines first with a few drop-legs etc so I’ll be back for help and suggestions for that no doubt :-)

Thanks, cheers,
Mark

A 32 amp breaker is about 7.6kw, or 76 X 100w bulbs.

You may have 7600w of lighting, or you may have the wrong breaker in there. If the latter, you light want to review the others.

 

[dobbslc]

Lol... what’s one of those :-)

They are old mcb's, a type 3 is similar to a modern type C. They just swap over.

 

[future]

Ok, I’m back with a quick update :-)

So the compressor arrived and I quickly offered it up to it’s new home:

After we got it in the garage the previous owner (whom never used it since purchasing new) gave me a bag and inside along with the instructions, oil and oil filler cap etc was a 16a blue plug which he stated MachineMart sold him to go with the compressor so at least I definitely know it’s 16a we are dealing with.

So I installed the plug which was easy enough even for me and then took the cover of the white power box in the garage:

Looks old school to me... I looked on the inside of the cover and see this:

If I’m reading right then the Garage Lighting is on the WHITE 5amp and the sockets are on the RED 30amp which leaves the BLUE 15amp free?!?

Would I be right in thinking I’ve been extremely lucky since nothing is on the BLUE 15amp and this could be used for the 16amp plug on the compressor simply running a wire to 16amp socket?

If not then can anybody please provide some wisdom as to my best way forwards so I can get up and running.

Once again, many thanks,
Mark

 

[dobbslc]

If its a spare way then it mignt be ok to get you going but it looks to me like you have no RCD protection to anything in the garage.
You need to change that old fuse board for one with a 30ma RCD.

 

[future]

If its a spare way then it mignt be ok to get you going but it looks to me like you have no RCD protection to anything in the garage.
You need to change that old fuse board for one with a 30ma RCD.

Ok thanks dobbslc

Do I not have this covered from the main consumer box inside my house which runs out to the garage box (32A Type 2)?

As stated I have no clue about electrics unfortunately.

This could be completely not what I need but what about trying one of these things first from a standard socket first?!?

Just thinking as it came up with a search...

Cheers,
Mark

 

[brightspark]

pretty useless as its only a 13 amp plug in lead if the manufacturers say 40 amp that's for a reason . the starting current is high a 30 amp rewirable you will get away with till you sort something out decent . a new rcd board

 

[julianf]

Those fuses just have fuse wire in them.
You can get whatever wire you want and fit it.

So, if you just want to get it running, fit the spare with fuse wire and wire to a 16a socket.

Sure there are better ways of doing it and I know nothing of regs, but it would work.