At the risk of starting a major war, as electrical questions often do, curiosity demands that I turn to the experts.
First, the background: I recently installed a new laser printer/copier in my office at work, and it had a tendency to make the lights flicker when it kicked on, and about once per minute in standby mode. None of our other laser printers or copiers do that. A little research revealed that this was because this particular machine employs a different method of keeping the fuser hot, which tends to create a spike in power demand.
On a hunch, I plugged the machine into one of the surge protected outlets (not battery-backed-up) of my UPS, and the problem ceased. I can hear the UPS trip periodically, but no more effect on the lights.
Now the question, and how all this relates to woodworking:
My Ridgid TS3660 table saw, wired for 110, causes the house lights to blink a bit when I turn it on, and this seems to irritate SWMBO. Would going through a surge protector help, and would this have any negative effect on my saw? I know the primary purpose of a surge protector is to keep surges from getting to your equipment. But my experience at the office suggests they also limit surges from your equipment. Is that so?
Electricity is a mystery to me, so I’m looking forward to your comments.
no it will not – but that’s a great excuse to use why you NEED to setup shop and upgrade electricity ;)
the problem with the copier is indeed surges, or busts, but with the table saw it’s peak amp request from the motor. if any – it’ll trip off your surge protector but will not fix the dimming lights. well, I guess if it’ll trip off the surge protector everytime you’ll turn your saw on – it WILL help with the dimming lights problem, but I don’t think your saw will cut too well with the blade not turning.
Another option is to move your saw to your office- since everyone there is already used to the dimming lights ;)
-- ㊍ When in doubt - There is no doubt - Go the safer route.
An electrical upgrade is definitely in the future anyway. I’m just not sure exactly how far in the future. Our house is about 35 years old, and the swimming pool, with all its related equipment were added later, so the panel is pretty well maxed out in its current (no pun intended) configuration.
The best thing in my favor is that Lynda knows she can’t have a hot tub without the upgrade. :-)
When a motor starts, it briefly draws considerably more amps than when it is running. This is the reason people run higher HP motors on 220, as the required amps is cut in half. When you start your table saw, you hear it change in pitch briefly. That first sound is when it basically wants more amps than is available. If you have enough amps, you start right up with that steady sound. The easiest way to get more amps is to double the voltage.
sounds like the ups contains a line conditioner (regulator) as well as a ups It doesn’t seem like a suppressor would help the dimming. I have two separate units. they do help
Charlie, My first question would be, is your table saw on the same circuit as your lights? A solution might be to run a seperate circuit for your saw. A surge protector for your saw probably would not help. A whole house surge protector wired into your electrical panel is always a good idea.
It sounds like you have to many things plugged into that line for the size of breaker you have in the box. You might see if you can put a little bit larger one in there. If not unplug a couple of the other things on the curcuit, even the are turned on they still draw power. There is a item that you can get that you plug in between the item and the power outlet to test how much power it is drawing when it is not being used. Then you can see which one is drawing to most and then unplug it when not using it. I personally unpulg all my tools at the end of the day, and flip the breaker for my 220 also.
-- Tim, Missouri ....Inside every older person is a younger person wondering what the heck happened
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