ok guys really need some help here as i may have done something dumb dumb dumb. This week i ordered. bought and recieved a "wtd big bertha "compressor with 80 litre tank and 15cfn motor. All arrived well and good and i was wrapped, however i just went to plug in to power point for first time and lol the plug doesn't fit into my power point "shit" it has a 15 amp plug on it! The earth on it is to big to go in to normal everyday household power socket. Stupid thing is that i read "15 amp plug "in the blurb when i bought it and just assumed that it meant a heavier duty cord ! I did not realise that the plug wouldn't fit any power points in my house. What can i do to fix this ? Can I get an adaptor or just change the plug to a ten amp plug. Why would it be a 15 amp plug in the first place? The spec plate on the induction motor says the motor is ten amp 240 volt single phase. Please if anybody is/knows a tech or sparky experienced in such wonderous things ( i obviously know nothing ) could they please post here or u2u me a number i could call on for direction asap as i was going to paint my car tomorrow.:cry
ok guys really need some help here as i may have done something dumb dumb dumb. This week i ordered. bought and recieved a "wtd big bertha "compressor with 80 litre tank and 15cfn motor. All arrived well and good and i was wrapped, however i just went to plug in to power point for first time and lol the plug doesn't fit into my power point "shit" it has a 15 amp plug on it! The earth on it is to big to go in to normal everyday household power socket. Stupid thing is that i read "15 amp plug "in the blurb when i bought it and just assumed that it meant a heavier duty cord ! I did not realise that the plug wouldn't fit any power points in my house. What can i do to fix this ? Can I get an adaptor or just change the plug to a ten amp plug. Why would it be a 15 amp plug in the first place? The spec plate on the induction motor says the motor is ten amp 240 volt single phase. Please if anybody is/knows a tech or sparky experienced in such wonderous things ( i obviously know nothing ) could they please post here or u2u me a number i could call on for direction asap as i was going to paint my car tomorrow.:cry
I'm not an electrician, but I've got an extension cord that has 10 amp one end and 15 amp the other so I can run my air compressor off a normal power point. Havent had any probs to date.
65 Meyers Manx
68 Country Buggy (KO 367)
68 Country Buggy (KO 669)
68 Country Buggy (KO 789)
68 Country Buggy (KO 815)
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really really? Thats good to here any idea where i can find such a beast, say bunnings maybe, doh i feel so stupid:blush
Im no electricion but the mill I bought had the same plug so I filed down the earth lug , works ok havent blown the fuse yet .
I can't remember where I got mine, it was a couple of years now....maybe Trade Tools??? not sure
65 Meyers Manx
68 Country Buggy (KO 367)
68 Country Buggy (KO 669)
68 Country Buggy (KO 789)
68 Country Buggy (KO 815)
68 Baja Bug
76 Baja Kombi Twincab
Bunnings should be able to assist or you can make up a lead from individual components.
As a last resort any caravan store can provide a cord as all caravans have 15 amp power input sockets and most also sell an adapter cable.
Just remember - don't leave the extension cord in a coil as the induction can cause it to melt if it is under heavy loads for long periods.
They do this so you have to use a 15 amp rated power point.That covers their Arse... Just snip it off and stick a ten amp plug on it all will be OK:thumb
Keeping it real !
I'm no electrician but have dabbled. I could be very wrong as i am home taught. From my memory this is design so you have a dedicated point for it and this point runs directly to your fuse box. I.e not into the kitchen first where you have the kettle and the toaster on drawing close to 20 amps between them when on. Just try plugging it into a point that something like the toaster is also on. If you run all these at once you keep blowing fuses. Only guessing but we had an airconditioner like this that is now hard wired on it's own circuit directly to the fuse box. Most point lines in a house have many points on them. They don't blow as you rarely have them all turned on and if you do it doesn't draw heaps of amps due to the appliance. The kitchen is usually the exception with a much higher amp line/s.
Disclaimer: This is purely my opinion. Please seek the proper advice before believing it. :thumb
many I know have filed down the earth. just use a circuit that's not running anything at the same time. you can buy a 15A powerpoint at any hardware store, but you won't be changing anything but the plate. your wiring is still gonna be good ol 10 amp standard from there back to the fusebox. i'm no electrician, but bugger it, it's a ten amp motor, either whack a ten amp plug end on it, or file the bugger down. this is why we have fuses 😉
let sleeping dubs lie
yep think ill just switch the plug end over ive got heaps of single point pwer outlets with rcds. i really wanna paint my car. Final primer tommorrow.
Yes, Just change the plug over or file it down the earth pin , so it fits into a 10 amp power point...
Single phase Compressors do draw a few amps when starting so just remember to use a circuit with nothing else connected and switched on, or You may have problems, Nothing major, just that Your compressor won't be able to start up...
I have trouble with My Sons Compressor when using it, in My Garage... If I have all the flouroscent lights on in the Garage, the compressor won't start up.. tries too, then an overload switch trips... so there isn't any real problems...
Lee
- Helping keep Air Cooled VWs on the road - location: SCONE in the Upper Hunter Valley - Northern NSW 320 kms NNW of SYDNEY---
File the earth pin down to suit.If you are using it on a proper power circuit it will have as a minimum a 16amp breaker but more likely a 20 amp breaker on 2.5 cable.My split Air cond is a 2.5 horsepower and sometimes it would trip the original 20amp breaker on start up,so put a 25amp in and have solved the problem.
It needs to be run from a dedicated circut. I was advised when looking at MIGs that this was the case. Thats why the different style of plug. They did not reckomend filing the earth pin down as the warranty on the welder would be vioded. And you can have problems with senitive electrical gear, like computers and home entertainment systems due to brown out and power spikes caused by the MIG when in use.
So I am getting a sparkie to run a dedicated line into the shed if I ever buy a MIG in the future.
For me, its not worth risking a fried home theater or computer. Really.
My 2 C
we're talking about the earth pin here, and we're not even removing it completely.
let sleeping dubs lie
i am an electrician... so heres my 2c..... DON'T file down the earth pin.... it is meant to be that size.... others are correct in stating that it is meant to be run from a dedicated circuit straight from the fuse box on its own fuse... if you run it from the 10amp GPO in your house then it is a fair assumption that with other things running at the same time then this could cause an overload in the circuit. hopefully your protection devices are ok ie.. fuses/breakers as this will protect you... however... all fuses/breakers in a house are only there to protect the cables...not the appliances you plug into them so the appliance may blow its own protection - if fitted... so i would be wary of what current the appliance will draw... if it has a 15amp plug.. then plug it into a 15amp socket outlet.... just my 2c... hope it all works out.
see.... air and water do mix 😉
1974 1300
1997 MK3 Golf GL
2003 NB Cabrio
2012 Golf VI GTI
2014 Audi A4 Quattro
the reason for the 15 amp plug and cord is the big current draw when the motor is first started. or at least thats what they taught me on my electonics technitian course. i say bite the bullet and get an qualifed sparkie in to put a dedicated line in the workshop or shed ans then you can also use the 15 amp mig welders as well
“We all pay for life with death, so everything in between should be free.” Bill Hicks
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an electric motor can draw up to 8 times the full load current
see.... air and water do mix 😉
1974 1300
1997 MK3 Golf GL
2003 NB Cabrio
2012 Golf VI GTI
2014 Audi A4 Quattro
I aint an electrician now - but I was. I did do an aprenticeship many moons ago.
DONT file/cut/change/modify it.
As Bluetopless said - it is the other things on THAT circuit.
It is meant to be on a dedicated circuit.
Futue te ipsum!!!
blutopless2 wrote:an electric motor can draw up to 8 times the full load current
hahaha.... just read this bit... should clarify this stupid statement a little... an electric motor can draw up to 8 times the rated full load current
ON STARTING....
that's better... :thumb
see.... air and water do mix 😉
1974 1300
1997 MK3 Golf GL
2003 NB Cabrio
2012 Golf VI GTI
2014 Audi A4 Quattro
stick a fork in the socket while standing in a puddle of water 😀😠:duh:jesus
let sleeping dubs lie
