Switching 220 Volt

Whats the simplest way to switch on and off a 1.5Hp 220 volt single phase motor on my new auger feed system?

It should pull what Less than 7 amps right???

Be as expensive as to use a Magnetic starter?
or
as cheep as to Make/Break one leg 120volt leg with a light switch???

How about a single breaker-box with a 220v breaker. ??

Greg L

.

Double pole switch

Lowes has them to I think right around same price.

For on-off of any inductive load like an electric motor the current wants to continue to flow as you break the connection. This results in a spark between the previous connected conductors. If the spark is intense enough, i.e. hot enough you will ionize the air and current will flow through the ionized air. Motor starters are designed with this in mind and break connections quickly and with larger distances than switches. So for long life use a motor starter, for less life use a contactor, for almost no life use a Double Pole Single Throw switch, for almost zero life use a Single Pole Single Throw switch.

The cheapest solution is a 220 volt socket and a mating 220 volt plug. Start the motor by forcefully plugging the plug into the socket. Stop the motor with a forceful quick jerk of the plug. The quick jerk gives a large distance for the spark arc and it will quickly extinguish. Sometime cheap is not the way to go.

Use this kind of switch, will start a motor with out the risks of the simple two pole switch.

http://electrical.hardwarestore.com/14-51-safety- ... 13646.aspx

Use a motor starter w/thermal overload protection @ it's output. This will protect the motor which is a lot more money than the difference between a switch and a motor starter.

I have only use a used a double pole swich on one motor and after two years it is still working, all though it only gets used 3 to 4 times a week. you can use this as well

Thanks guys -- per your advice:

Going with an electro magnet contractor to run the 220 volt motor - It will also switch the 110 motors so the whole contraption will run in concert.

a buddy found one in his junk pile

Uh-oh! Sting is gonna dable with lectricity again. Might have to change his name to Stung Scott

just call me "Sparky"

You asked for the simplest way and all I could think of was to stand there with a wire in each hand and,,,,,,,, Scott

Thanks pal;

I never thought of that!

It's a good thing you know I'm serious , or I mean joking. What are you building . Come on give it up , sketches, diagrams, big explainations and alot of hand waving. Why the 1.5 horsepower motor? isn't that a little large for a homeade setup? Scott

well one reason for using the 1.5 hp motor is --- I got one in stock from some drug deal of a past life
I have too many folks that think my contraptions - while still dealing with solid fuel - since its not hard, shiny, delivered wet, and a black material of color --- is shouldn't be chatted about here - so I lurk

You are toooo funny Scott