Replies

1. 
   bilyo | Oct 14, 2022 05:47pm | #1

   I'm not an electrician, but I have wired 3-way switches before and did all of the wiring for my shop. I can't think of any reason why it would be any different than wiring any 3-way for a light fixture unless maybe if it is for 220 volt. I would have to look into it more for that.

2. 
   suburbanguy | Oct 14, 2022 05:59pm | #2

   Make sure you use a switch rated at least 220V that can handle current draw on motor start. An electrician or other suitable professional could advise on that initial current draw.

3. 
   esch5995 | Oct 14, 2022 09:50pm | #3

   I think everyone is overlooking the fact that 240v circuits have 2 hot legs and I have never seen a switch made to accommodate this, it would be quite complicated in a 3-way configuration and would have to contain 6 connections.

   A quick search of some electrical blogs says the answer is no way, at least not legally. Always amuses me when some Sunday electrician comes up with work around that is dangerous and the very reason we have electrical codes.

4. 
   suburbanguy | Oct 14, 2022 10:34pm | #4

   Here's how it's done.

   
5. 
   jharveyb | Oct 14, 2022 10:38pm | #5

   I believe the industrial solution to this is to use remote switches that can each activate a magnetic switch at the compressor. Typically the magnetic switches also have "heaters" that provide overheating protection for the motor. I have such a system for my dust collection system, that runs on 220. I have four switches, each of which can start the dust collector or turn it off. The on switch activates a magnet that pulls the contacts closed; the off switch de-activates the magnet and the contacts open up.

6. 
   ajg1942 | Oct 14, 2022 10:52pm | #6

   You can probably use a contactor to apply the power to the compressor. A contactor is a switch that is activated when another electrical circuit is applied to it.. A standard 120 3-way switch circuit could be used to turn on and off the contactor from two locations.. the contactor would basically takes the place of a light in a standard 3-way switch circuit... iVac makes a contactor to turn on/off a dust collector using a wireless switch (ivac pro switch).. the 3-way switch would just replace the wireless switch. ivac Contactor is rated for 40 amps and has 3 poles so it works for a 120v, 240v, and 3 phase.

   https://www.ivacswitch.com/ivac-contactor/

7. 
   Todd_67 | Oct 14, 2022 11:56pm | #7

   Thanks everyone. All great responses. I saw a few things about contactors but am unfamiliar with them. I will pursue this course.

1. 
   esch5995 | Oct 15, 2022 12:46am | #8

   The iVac system, which is essentially a wireless contactor, would be the simplest and no electrical work would be required. The one question is would the wireless remotes have sufficient range for what you are trying to do.

8. 
   msdr | Oct 15, 2022 03:57am | #9

   My set-up is similar, but for 120V. Compressor in garage, outlet next to compressor. One half of the outlet is wired hot, and the other is wired to a switch in my basement. When I use the compressor in the garage I simply move the plug to the hot half of the outlet. I imagine something similar could be rigged for 240V, but I don't know if a double outlet exists. But two separate outlets would solve the problem

9. 
   _mj_ | Oct 15, 2022 08:24pm | #10

   This is from a licensed master electrician in NYC:

   "Use a conventional 3-way switch setup to control a 220V contactor."