New shop wiring plan and questions

For a home shop separating the circuits isn’t that important because you usually aren’t using more than one machine at a time.

-- I am always doing that which I can not do, in order that I may learn how to do it. - Pablo Picasso

220 will use fewer amps so that you can put more equipment on the same circuit as opposed to leaving them wired for 120.

I can’t imagine a situation whereby you would be using more than 1 tool at at time with the exception of dust collection/ air cleaner. This would be the only situation whereby I see you would have more than one tool on at the same time. I am assuming that your heating/air, if installed, are on a separate circuit.

-- With God's help all things are possible- even woodworking. Woodworking is not just a hobby, it is an (expletive deleted) expensive hobby.

In both my old garage shop as well as my new addition I had (2) 20Amp circuits—one on each “hot” of the breaker box —and installed quad boxes with 2 outlets on circuit “A” and 2 on circuit “B”. Lighting was run on an independent 15A circuit—so I don’t end up in the dark during a overload.

My dust collector requires a 20A 240V circuit, and I put in an additional (2) 240v circuits – 1@15A 1@20A for my bandsaw, heater and if I rewire it, the tablesaw.

This so far has been more than adequate for my one-man shop.

As for the wire, 12/2 should work fine for 240V…you don’t use a common, just two “hot” which I would assume means with Romex you’d need to mark the white white as a hot (but I’m not a licensed electrician, so take that for what it’s worth).

In my neck of the woods code requires us to use conduit—which is very convenient for rewiring and I wouldn’t do it any other way even if it weren’t required. Much easier than opening a wall.

-- Patrick, Chicago, IL www.TenonAndSpline.com

Stacey: I have built a similar sized shop in the U.P. I have also placed my receptacles 48” high and spaced as close as possible to every 4 to 5 feet. they are wired with #12 wire and are on two 20 amp circuits for each wall. In the back of the shop, inside a small enclosure under the stairs, I have put, on it’s own circuit, a separate 20 amp 120V receptical just in case I imight want to put a dust collector or compressor in there.

For my lighting, the six incandescent bulbs on the ceiling are on one switch and one 15 amp circuit. The three rows of fluorescent bulbs are on another 15 amp circuit, however, each row has a separate switch. Unless all the power goes off, there is no way I can be left in the dark. Each row of fluorescent fixtures are plugged into ceiling recptacles, so I will also be able to plug in a ceiling mounted air cleaner. I also have outside lights on front and rear under the roof overhang. It was required by code that I have an outside receptacle, and I’m glad to have it just to the side of the front door.

Rather than have a rather immoble table saw occuping “center stage” I have two Shopsmith 520’s. One of them is wired for 240V, so I have two 20 amp 240V recptacles, 48” high half way down each wall. At the present time all the rest of my tools are on 120V.

I don’t know what kind of dust collector you have, but since you are now in construction mode, give consideration to placing it outside in it’s own enclosure. Dust collector manufacturers have yet to become interested in noise levels, so having it on the other side of an insulated wall will make for a much more pleasant shop atmosphere. I have a smaller dust collector that is very mobile and connects to the tools with 2 1/2” flex hoses. Since it is relatively quiet I have yet to decide whether to use it as is, or put it under the stairs and build a piping system.

Highland Woodworking in Atlanta is not too far from you. They have a “getting smaller” supply of 5100 BTU ceramic type electric heaters on sale for $29.95 each. I have bought three, two for up North and one for here in Gainesville. This heater is doing a great job of taking the morning chill out of my garage.

Rather than use drywall, I used OSB. It was tedious to fill in the seams with wood filler and then sand, and the texture is definitely hard to paint – three coats! However, now that it is done, it is very durable and strong enough to hold screws for wall cabinets and shelves.

-- "Heaven is North of the Bridge"

Check out my shop pics. Shows the 220/20, 220/30, and 110/20 circuits around my shop at 48” off the floor. I just finished the structure last fall and I’m still in the process of setting it up. I also ran 1/2 inch copper around the shop for air. I’d space about 4 feet apart. Try to figure out what your load will be at each plug to determine how to wire the plugs. You should not be exceeding 80% of the rated breaker capacity for a continuous load.

-- Dave Herron, Boise, ID -- “That which does not crash the browser, makes it stronger”