Home shop equipment

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nizak

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Would like opinions on the following.
I am doing the electrical on a new residential build.Owner tells me that she will be using a portion of the garage for woodworking. There are a variety of tools, all 120 volt. Drill press, table saw, mitre saw,air compressor, etc. The length of the runs are between 80 and 100 ft from the panel(opposite end of house). She tells me that only 1 or 2 pieces of equipment will be running at a time.There are a total of 8 receptacles in this area.Does running 4 20amp circuits (12/2NM - 2 receps /circuit) sound reasonable? Once drywall is up future access is almost impossible without removal (no fishing in after).VD comes into play if loading circuits at more than 12 amps. Can't seem to bring myself to pull all in #10awg. Am being told that the current scenario for the shop at the old house is just plugging into "standard 110" and never having a problem. Thoughts appreciated.
 
nizak said:
Would like opinions on the following.
I am doing the electrical on a new residential build.Owner tells me that she will be using a portion of the garage for woodworking. There are a variety of tools, all 120 volt. Drill press, table saw, mitre saw,air compressor, etc. The length of the runs are between 80 and 100 ft from the panel(opposite end of house). She tells me that only 1 or 2 pieces of equipment will be running at a time.There are a total of 8 receptacles in this area.Does running 4 20amp circuits (12/2NM - 2 receps /circuit) sound reasonable? Once drywall is up future access is almost impossible without removal (no fishing in after).VD comes into play if loading circuits at more than 12 amps. Can't seem to bring myself to pull all in #10awg. Am being told that the current scenario for the shop at the old house is just plugging into "standard 110" and never having a problem. Thoughts appreciated.
Click to expand...
In my experience, people who use a lot of portable power tools eventually plug in extension cords to take them outside (so they don't have to clean up the dust). So adding the cords makes any marginal VD much worse and keeping it to a minimum up to the receptacles is prudent. Also, what I have seen a lot is that although it's true that one person cannot use two tools at a time, sooner or later then add a compressor and/or a dust collector, maybe both, which run at the same time as the tools. If it were me, I'd talk her into 3 x 20A circuits rather than using #10.
 
With no other input I would say you would be fine since it apparently works now.
Is there a possibility of making a conduit run to the new area from your panel ?
If not, a spare cable for the new 240v piece of equipment they buy next year :)
 
Might be to your advantage to put a sub-panel in this area. Could take care of voltage drop, 1 run the distance, add anything then you could come from it, if more power ends up being used & trips breaker then it is there to reset. Just my thoughts........
 
Good thought. 20' ft of 10/2 NM stubbed from basement to garage attic would be money well spent.
 
I would install a 70- 100A feeder with a sub panel then branch circuits for the work shop. A large enough feeder will allow them for future expansion and if they decide on a backyard hot tub you can come off of that panel without any issues.
 
nizak said:
... Does running 4 20amp circuits (12/2NM - 2 receps /circuit) sound reasonable? ....
Click to expand...

With about the same equipment, that is what I had I my last shop - except:
augie47 said:
... If not, a spare cable for the new 240v piece of equipment they buy next year
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My table saw (and wire feed) are 220 - 221. So I had two 2 each 240V, 20A receptacles, same circuit - both in the wrong place, so I had an extension draped across the floor for the saw.

Still, you might ask, "Often shops have/get 220 equipment - table saw, compressor, wire feed. Be a lot cheaper if we put a receptacle in now."

Q: Does she have her own chainsaw? That is not a sexist question. I'm just wondering if she is an Alaskan.

ice
 
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150112-2117 EST

I vote for the subpanel. This provides 240 if needed, ease or resetting breakers (use QO), and voltage drop. In my home I have a main panel and 5 subpanels, very convenient, not for tripping, but to easily deactivate a circuit, and lower voltage drop.

From personal experiencec. A DeWalt couple HP radial arm saw wired 120 V with a 12" blade at the end of about 100 ft (probably 130 to 150 ft) of #12 copper could barely get up to speed without tripping a QO20. 30 to 50 V drop on startup.

One or two starts in a short time and the breaker trips. A 12" blade is a lot of additional inertia.

.
 
gar said:
150112-2117 EST
I vote for the subpanel.
Click to expand...

we all vote for the subpanel.
put a 125 amp panel in so you have some breaker room,
feed it with about 75 amps, and life is good.

and you don't know WHAT might happen. the woodworker
could become infused with Festool disorder, and go out and
buy a 2200 watt router, with the big dust collector.........

and then put a cutter in it the size of an old fashioned glass,
and go after the mahogany.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xv0SlsGKT_w#t=34

it's a slippery slope......
 
Fulthrotl said:
and you don't know WHAT might happen. the woodworker
could become infused with Festool disorder, and go out and
buy a 2200 watt router, with the big dust collector.........

and then put a cutter in it the size of an old fashioned glass,
and go after the mahogany.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xv0SlsGKT_w#t=34

it's a slippery slope......
Click to expand...
I believe I only imagined her saying "Being on TV, I can afford this stuff."
;)
 
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