Powering a 230v air compressor

Darter6 said
A guy that washed the trucks where I worked had a spliter that was pluged into 2 outlets(120) that was on different circuts that run his pressure washer.I'm sure any body that knows electric wiring could do this. That way you come up with 240V and 40 amps from 2 20 amps breakers. Just a thought.

No, and very dangerous. I used to know an amateur radio op who did this with a big linear.

First, you cannot get 40 amps from 20A breakers. Second this is incredibly dangerous for the following reason. You plug into two outlets, you have your haywired "splitter" box. What happens if someone UNplugs one of the cables and GETS ACROSS the male plug they just unhooked? It's got 120V live on that male plug!!!!

66plyValiant said
if you look in your breaker pannel thats all 220 is anyway, 2 breakers combining 110V

Exactly. Only difference is that it may not be wired through the house as 220 in such a way that you can utilize it without additional wiring.

"Back in the day" some rural houses were supplied with 120V only, but that ended a LONG time ago. I'd guess you'd have to be in a 100 year old farmhouse in rural US to come across such an installation that is still working