Replies

1. 
   rx | Mar 04, 2007 09:08pm | #1

   It is all about the amperage. Most (newer, modern) grounded 110 volt plugs are rated for 15 amps. The plug strip is probably rated for 15 as well. It also depends on what size wire is feeding the plug strip. The farther away from the electrical panel the higher the resistance. You always want to use the shortest extension cord partnered with the highest gauge wire. Remeber the lower the number the thicker/better. Most 15 amp circuits are wired with at least 14 gauge hopefully 12 gauge if the electrician didn't pinch pennies.

   You can determine the amp draw of any tool by reading the name plate. My 1.5 hp PC router pulls 10 amps at full load. Add all of the numbers together to determine the total potential load. Most tools do not draw 100% of that number under normal conditions.

   Another thing to consider is what else is on the circuit between your plug strip and the main panel. Most 110 circuits have multiple wall plugs and or lights on the same circuit back to the circuit breaker. Do you have a radio, refrigerator/freezer, electric heater, lights, etc. already putting a load on that circuit? I am assuming you are working in the garage. If you see any lights dim when you switch a tool on, then you know the lights are on the same circuit.

   Electricity is stupid. It will try to compensate for our mistakes. If we use to light of a wire gauge, it will try to push more amperage through it. This is what generates heat and is the cause of electrical fires. This also leads to a shortened life span of your tools. Heat tears up the armature, windings and brushes.

   If you have an older house that does not have gounded plugs or has glass fuses etc., you should be even more conservative. If you find that you are tripping the circuit breaker reguarlly, you need to pull items off of that circuit. Tripping circuit breakers wears them out over time.

   Ask around, I bet you can find an electrician that would put a dedicated 110 cicuit in fairly resonable. $100.00 or less. Depending on whether there is any room on your panel and its proximity to your work area.       

1. 
   wiskytango | Mar 05, 2007 12:15am | #2

   rx
   Thanks for the info. Yeah i understand all of that but what i am more concerned with. Is it dong harm to the saw motor by maybe not getting all the juice it needs? I would assume that the circuit in the power strip would just break if it was not getting enough power?

1. 
   dukeone | Mar 05, 2007 05:49am | #3

   W.T.: Most power strips have a circuit breaker that will trip at 15 amps. There is still the possibility of damage to motors before the breaker trips. For any motor that draws a significant amount of power I would stay away from power strips, use a heavy (#12 or #14)extension cord if needed. Reserve power strips for smaller loads like cordless tool battery chargers, drop lights, etc. If you really want to use a strip stay away from the cheap ones. They will have lesser quality contacts and add to voltage drop/heat/problems.

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2. 
   RickChristopherson | Mar 05, 2007 09:53am | #4

   There is nothing wrong with running your small hand tools from a powerstrip because a universal motor (the kind with burshes) can deal with a reduced voltage without any problems. This is the basis for most early variable speed controllers. The motors will run at reduced speed without damage.

   However, you do not want to run inductive motors (such as your tablesaw) from a powerstrip because during startup, these motor will draw far more current through the strip than it is cabable of handling. (Universal motors do not have the high inrush current that induction motors have). Running an induction motor at reduced voltage (due to the voltage drop of the wiring in the powerstrip) will cause the current in the motor to increase.

   
   

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   Edited 3/5/2007 1:58 am ET by RickChristopherson

3. 
   Cincinnati | Mar 05, 2007 04:40pm | #5

   Since only one tool is running at a time, I recommend exchanging the power strip for a short (possibly custom made) extension cord if you need one. Unless you are doing something where you have to repeatedly switch quickly from one tool to another, the task of unplugging one tool and pluggin in another is a minor inconvenience. Since the outlet box probably has two outlets, if you are needing to rapidly switch from one tool to another, you can have two tools plugged in at a time.

   Do not use too small or too long of an extension cord. These can both damage a motor.