Received my compressor today.... and a hernia!!

[Maddog]

Hi guys,

My new Clarke SE16C150 (3hp 2.2KW) compressor was delivered today... On a wet palette!! so 100kg plus a wet palette took a lot of lifting!!

My mate met me at my folks (where it was delivered to) in his van.. we lifted it into the van and out the other end at my gaff and inserted it in the garage...

I put a 13a plug on it (i'll flame myself before you all do) and it blew it straight away despite the soft start.

I've read on here that in theory with the soft start it should be ok with a 13a plug. It does state in the instructions that on single phase it needs a 30a supply. My sockets are on a 16a circuit breaker in my garage..

Can anyone advise me what my options are... apart from rewire my house & garage.

Thanks in advance chaps.

 

[the snooper]

it should run fine ona 13 amp plug BUT with it being new all the bearings will be nice and tight and given that its winter and very cold that will have caused it to blow the fuse

get a hot air gun warm up the pump and try again dont get it hot or melt any plastic.

also is your supply to your garage or shed ok and able to supply enough starting power

 

[Rick]

it should run fine ona 13 amp plug BUT with it being new all the bearings will be nice and tight and given that its winter and very cold that will have caused it to blow the fuse

get a hot air gun warm up the pump and try again dont get it hot or melt any plastic.

also is your supply to your garage or shed ok and able to supply enough starting power

Had to do this every morning when it was really cold. Mine was tripping the 20 amp breaker!

 

[the snooper]

Had to do this every morning when it was really cold. Mine was tripping the 20 amp breaker!

can be a bit of a pain cant it

 

[Maddog]

Thanks for that, I'll give it a try tomorrow after work.

It did spin for about a second or two before it blew.

The instructions (whatever they are) state that it should be run with the outlet open for 10 mins when first run, doesn't say why, but i guess to free off the motor.

 

[the snooper]

just so it can run with no load less wear on the inital run

 

[rtbcomp]

I have mine (old one without softstart) on a 16A supply without any problems.

 

[Rick]

Sure was a pain Snooper.

I have mine (old one without softstart) on a 16A supply without any problems.

Mines 4hp, I reckon you must be on the limit in the cold, my 3hp is on a 16 amp and that tripped once, the rest of the time it was ok, when I only needed a bit of air I just used the little compressor.

 

[brightspark]

Winter problems! If you have 20amps that would be better. Maybe think about it if you get sick of hair drying the compressor.

check the supply to your garage. if its 2.5mm minimum and not a long length u could increase the breaker to a type c 20 amp and hard wire the compressor in the circuit with a 20 amp double pole switch on the same line as the sockets

 

[Maddog]

The wiring into the garage is huge armoured cable that if I remember correctly is 50a, this is wired to the cooker fuse box in the house.

I think I could safely upgrade the breaker to a 20a one and maybe use a 16a blue plug.

 

[brightspark]

The wiring into the garage is huge armoured cable that if I remember correctly is 50a, this is wired to the cooker fuse box in the house.

I think I could safely upgrade the breaker to a 20a one and maybe use a 16a blue plug.

technicaly if using a 20 amp mcb feeding the socket u should use a 30 amp plug on the welder .just technicaly mind

 

[Maddog]

I suppose the weakest link is the 2.5mm cable i've wired the socket ring with.

how many amps is 2.5mm twin and earth rated at, ideally i dont want to be putting any fuses in higher than the cable rating... or do I?

If my existing mcb is 16a (and lets say this is enough) can i just put a 16a fuse in a normal plug , or do i need to fit a funny blue one and socket one of those funny caravan type things. If so i take it i can just take a spur off my ring main to the 16a funny roundy socket things and then put a roundy plug on my compressor.

Then if the mcb pops, maybe upgrade it to a 20a (if 2.5mm cable will allow that to pop before the cable melts).

Sorry for the questions guys, when it comes to electrical stuff i can do all the wiring and things, just not too sure when it comes to the ratings, fuses, burning down of stuff!

Thanks again.

 

[tigler]

The only problem is starting surge, running current is just under 13 amps. So a 16 amp spur with a type C MCB will do the job. The type C is designed to allow 5 to 10 times the rated current for a short term surge. There is also a type D but that is for very heavy surges.
2.5 mm cable is ok for upto 20 amps.

 

[Maddog]

Cheers fella.

I've been on to my electrician mate and we're going to do some jiggery pokery involving putting the sockets and lights on one of the 16a mcb's (with the lights on an additional 5a spur) therefore leaving one 16a mcb free just for the compressor through a double pole switch apparently.

All Greek to me!

 

[tigler]

Nothing wrong with that plan but you may still find the MCB trips if it is a tybe B. If it does just replace it with a type C.

 

[Maddog]

Thanks for all the help and advice chaps.

I'll let you know how i get on soon.

 

[series2]

For the reasons stated above, I use a pair of 2HP compressors, set up so they don't kick in at the same time! I did have a 3HP one, but it repeatedly knocked out the 16A breaker on startup.

Because the supply to my property is only 60A (when we moved in it was 40A, 60A is the upgrade!), and I have blown the main fuse once, I only have a 30A feed to the garage. It's adequate for most purposes, we just have a rule that if I'm in the garage, the shower can't be used!

I want a higher rated supply, but I would have to pay for the new cable to be laid, I didn't ask how much it would cost as I would rather not know!

Using a C20 breaker should sort it out, the inrush current on a 3HP motor is huge!

 

[brightspark]

For the reasons stated above, I use a pair of 2HP compressors, set up so they don't kick in at the same time! I did have a 3HP one, but it repeatedly knocked out the 16A breaker on startup.

Because the supply to my property is only 60A (when we moved in it was 40A, 60A is the upgrade!), and I have blown the main fuse once, I only have a 30A feed to the garage. It's adequate for most purposes, we just have a rule that if I'm in the garage, the shower can't be used!

I want a higher rated supply, but I would have to pay for the new cable to be laid, I didn't ask how much it would cost as I would rather not know!

Using a C20 breaker should sort it out, the inrush current on a 3HP motor is huge!

i clocked the starting current on my comp at 55amp it has a 2.5kw motor on it. u can buy the same fuses as the board use. either 60 /80/100 amp there only £3.50 each. available from any wholesalers there called lawson fuses hrc. ive got a bag of meter seals and wires if anyone gets stuck

 

[series2]

I know I could change the main fuse, but the cable from the street is only good for 60A! I do however have some spares in case of blowing the main fuse again (CEF sell them). As for the seal, thats been missing since I changed the consumer unit along with the one on the meter, no-one seems to care if they're sealed or not!

 

[Rick]

First thing this morning, went down to the bottom of the workshop, switched the compressor on, bump it clicked off. Had to walk 50 meters, falling over everything to get it back on, only I didn't swear, i thought of this thread knowing it doesn't only happen to me. Didn't even think it was that cold. Time for an oil change I think.