I’m looking to purchase a new dust collector (1 1/2hp single stage) and I am a bit concerned about the power situation. The DC will only run at 120, but I will have my TS plugged into that same 120 outlet. Will this work or will it throw the breaker automatically because both tools will be running at the same time?
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It will likely trip the circuit breaker very quickly. You need to have the two devices on separate circuits. (If they were wired for 240V, you could have them both on the same 20A circuit.)
-Steve
I actually feared that.
A motor only draws full current when under full load. So, what would likely happen is that you could have both devices plugged in and running. The dust collector will be somewhere near full load (depending on the inlet piping arrangement, amount of dust caked on the bag, etc.), but the table saw will be drawing very little current. Then, as you make your cut, the tablesaw starts to draw more current. If you make a light cut in an easy-to-cut material (e.g., crosscutting a pine 1x4), you'd probably get away with it. But if you make a heavy cut (e.g., crosscutting 12/4 oak), the current draw will increase dramatically, and within a short time, the circuit breaker will trip.
-Steve
See this is taking me into the next part of my dilemma. I guess with having to put in a new circuit I might as well just upgrade everything to 220. I can move my TS, BS, Jointer and future DC over to 220 so this seems to be the time to consider it.
I used to have the same problem. I own a 1.5 hp tablesaw and was given a 1.5 hp DC as a birthday present. I knew it was unlikely that they would be able to run together and I was so so right. They would both cut on together and run for about 5-8 seconds before the breaker tripped. I did an electrical overhaul of the shop recently, but used an extension chord connected to another circuit (or breaker) to run the DC in the mean time.
My advice...(of course I don't know your situation) is to spend the $$$ up front getting your electricity up to par, which may not be much depending on your needs. I did lights, 2 dozen outlets, a new sub-panel with room for up to 32 breakers all for about $400.00. I got a steal on the sub-panel at lowes. They mark those babies way down when they have an opened box return. (make sure all of the pieces are there of course)
I'm pretty new to woodworking and have only owned my saw and DC for about 1.5 years. As I've gradually added tools though, I've been so thankful for the extra outlets.
By the way...with the 20amp outlets, I haven't had to rewire anything for 220. And, for the sake of full disclosure, I had the assistance of an overqualified electrician to help me with the electrical upgrade. I'm confident that I could have done it all on my own, but he saved me a lot of time in research trying to understand my needs and how to set it all up.
Edited 7/7/2008 11:56 am ET by marti038
Edited 7/7/2008 11:57 am ET by marti038
Startup amps will be greater than the FLA (free load amps) on the motor so if you try at the exact time it will blow the breaker for sure. Both of those machines are probably around 15amps and Steve explained the operating amperage. You could have an electrician wire in a four gang 120-20amp where each side is wired to a separate 20amp circuit. My electrican suggested one to me and it has been handy when I run the compressor and a few other items.
I think many of us all start about the same. We grow into the shops we have. I thought I could get away without 220V at the start, and now I have several 220V circuits. Each piece I bought kept getting bigger and bigger.
The extension chord may work, but please get a 12g or make a 10g if it runs any distance. It would be a shame to damage something over an extra $50.
Brad
I don't think I'll go the extension cord route. This is telling me to, "Wait and not be tired by waiting."
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