Building the Shop #3: Electric

When I laid out my shops circuts, my layout had lumber storage on one of hte long sides and my miter bench on the other long wall, I went ahead and ran 2 – 120v 20 AMP circuts down that wall. I have been very happy with that decsion…

-- //FC - Round Rock, TX - "Experience is what you get just after you need it"

I think my lumber storage is going to be one wall of the garage. I just don’t think I’ll have space for a lot of storage. So it’ll be a stockroom kind of deal, where only the project stuff is in the shop. I do have some space in the furnace room for a small material cart to park, but that’s it.

One good thing is, my walls will be removable in case I need to run anything new. But like you, I think I’ll have one wall that receives the bulk of the outlets.

-- Eric ---- Wise Words T.B.D.

I’d think about a 110v/20A dedicated plug/circuit for that space heater in winter and air conditioner in summer. Might want to think about locating it near a window if possible. In a previous shop, I had some issues when the heater was plugged in and suddenly firing up the miter saw, though that was only a 15 Amp circuit.

-- Dave; Lansing, Kansas

No need for an AC unit. It’s a walkout basement and it stays very very cool. It’s miserably hot and humid out right now and the basement is comfy.
You’re right about the 15A for a little heater. Good call. Tho I wonder if the furnace will keep it warm enough once it’s insulated.

-- Eric ---- Wise Words T.B.D.

I did a shop wiring upgrade about a year ago and added a lot of the same you are talking about. If I had to do it again I would add at least 1 30 amp circuit. If you dont need it its nice knowing its there. I would also put the outlets 48” from the floor, that way you can lean a sheet of plywood against the wall and still have access to the power. The general 110v outlets, the more the better. All of mine are 4 plex, also 20A

-- My job is to give my kids things to discuss with their therapist....medic20447@gmail.com

Since the shop is in the basement along with the panel, I can always add a 30A if I need it when the time comes. The issue with the circuit now would be WHERE to put it, since I don’t know what it would be for, and where that item would go.

Good idea on the outlets. I planned to have them counter/workbench high, but the 48” rule for sheetgoods is a great idea! Thanks!

-- Eric ---- Wise Words T.B.D.

Eric, I just posted an update on my shop. You are where I was bout a year and half ago. I am not an electrician but did all the wiring myself and then paid an electrician $25.00 and a beer to come and inspect my work (beer was after the inspection). One thing I would suggest, if you think you only need three outlets along one wall add another. I spaced my outlets out about every 48” and placed them 50” high. I also didn’t have all my outlets on one wall running to the same circuit breaker. What I did was to wire my shop where circuit breaker one fed outlet one on my west wall then I ganged it to outlet one on the north wall then ganged from outlet one north wall to the outlet one on the east wall, then circuit breaker two to outlet two on the west wall ganged to outlet two on the north wall and outlet two on the east wall etc. This allows me to have a power tool and shop vac etc plugged into outlets along the same wall but on different breakers to reduce the load to a single breaker. You use a bit more wire but I think it created a better load balance along each wall. Just a thought. It is nice to see you bouncing ideas off the members here. These folks are talented and my shop is better because of Ideas that were passed along to me during the construction process. Have fun building your shop, I had fun doing mine and I am bout down to a finished shop now. I will post the final pics of my shop tomorrow. Cheers/Wudbutcher

-- Big Steve

If you look at the pic in my blog on my miter bench you will see my outlets. The single gang boxes and the left side of double gang boxes are circut A on the right hand side of the double gang boxes is circut B. Sometimes think that they should have been all double. Oh yeah as a went though the miter bench blog, I saw the power cord coimg down from the loft and pluging into one of my outlets. With all of my planning including the plan to put the…..Air Comressor up in the loft I didn’t plan for power for it. That is a half day winter project for me as it is just too dang hot in the sumertime to get up in the loft and do alot of work…

-- //FC - Round Rock, TX - "Experience is what you get just after you need it"

Oh yeah. I knew there was another circuit I needed! Air compressor!

-- Eric ---- Wise Words T.B.D.

Eric…..If you havent already you might want to get a copy of “Setting Up Shop” by Sandor Nagyzalanczy. There is a lot of good info and it came in handy while planning my shop.

-- My job is to give my kids things to discuss with their therapist....medic20447@gmail.com

I’ll look for that. (Thought I HAD a copy).

-- Eric ---- Wise Words T.B.D.

Guess Not! Time to get on Amazon!

-- Eric ---- Wise Words T.B.D.

YOur dad would be proud.

-- DocK, WV

Thanks, DocK, i’d like to think so.

-- Eric ---- Wise Words T.B.D.

I would forget about a dehumidifier. An Air conditioner does the same thing, plus cools things off. Takes about the same amount of energy to run either one.

-- Gary, East TX -- The longest journey begins with a single step.

@Gary: I don’t have the AC as an option. Basement with block walls. It’s naturally cool, just needs the dehumidifier, especially since it’s partly open to an earthen crawlspace.

-- Eric ---- Wise Words T.B.D.

@MedicKen: D’oh! I DID have a copy of “Setting Up Shop”. Now I’m going to have two!

Anyone want a copy of the 2001 edition?

-- Eric ---- Wise Words T.B.D.