Replies

1. 
   hammer1 | Jun 11, 2011 10:19am | #1

   It helps to know what machines you will be setting up and where. Industrial shops often use 220 three phase for their eqipment which is specifically wired for this. 3 phase isn't normally run in a residential building but if you buy industrial equipment, you either need 3 phase, a phase converter or change the motor. Not likely something you have to worry about.

   Different motors have different requirements. You may need a 30 amp 220 circuit for the dust collector, depending on what you have. The table saw, shaper, planer, etc. may be able to run on a 20 amp 220 circuit. Since you don't run these machines at the same time, they can share a circuit. The dust collector runs with most all your machines, so that should have it's own circuit. Not all machines need 220, a portable planer runs on 110, for example. Regardless of the electrical requirements of the machine, you want the outlet fairly close to the location. I have a 220 outlet on the ceiling over my planer as well as a 110 for my ambient dust collector. A switched outlet for the dust collector can be handy.

   You would want several 110 outlet circuits. The compressor, lights, refrigerator, etc. may want their own circuit and you may want to run a couple different circuits near the workbench. I often run my table saw, dust collector, ambient collector, shop vac and stock feeder at the same time. I could also have the radio on, a glue pot heating up, batteries being charged and an auxillary light going. A duplex outlet isn't going to do the trick, I would use quads in most shop locations, at least 2 at the workbench on different circuits.

   Your electrician should be able to help with the various circuits but it's important that they understand you may be running a lot of things simultaneously.

2. 
   bones | Jun 11, 2011 10:46pm | #2

   it depends

   I've had 5 different shops now and had to deal with it multiple times. I've wired all but 1 myself.  Here's something I've learned. Don't overkill and plan!   Think about what you will be doing and what tools.  I generally plan for two circuits for light (split them so if you trip one breaker you don't lose all of them!)   Next is 220 a natrual progression.   Plan on two circuits (one for a DC of any size, and a sectond to handle your tools).  Now sizing will be critical here.  Up to 3hp and (generally speaking) a 20A circuit and 12/2 wire will suffice.  Size your tools though, some require a 30A circuit and that would be 10/2.  Some will say go ahead and run 10 awg and that's fine and dandy but if you will not need it don't spend the extra, and it's expensive.    I ran all the 220 outlets for shop equipment on a single circuit. Think about it, you will not be running multiple large pieces at the same time.   My BS, TS, and Jointer are combined, and I have a seperate for the DC (2hp) for regular outlets I'd run two 20a circuits in stips.  I put a few in my bench area about every 5ft other key areas get double gange outlets.    I've followed that through the last 4 and it's been perfect.  Now if you have not already bought your shop equipment, I'm going to make a new reccomendation that I just started doing with my current shop.   Consider 3 phase tools! I'm talking old american iron.  It can be got for a song and will be the heck out of anything you can buy today!  I bought a 3 phase bandsaw from late 30's for 100 bucks bought a new 3 phase motor of CL for 80 bucks and it's a tank.  Bought  an 18" planer for 1500 that weighs 1600 pounds made in the 60's for less than 1500.     I just put a rotary phase converter in and it's a great addition.  You can buy 3 phase motors and tools a lot cheaper that single phase motors.    You won't regret it.      As to your question about 220, there is not multiple kinds, it simply means instead of a hot and an neutral and ground you have two hots, and a ground.   When I spoke of 3 phase it's simply 3 hots and a ground.   If you send me an E-mail, I'll send you a great little article that explains it in laymens terms.  After you get past the fear factor 220 and 3 phase is the only way to go. 

3. 
   [email protected] | Jun 14, 2011 01:56pm | #3

   As the others said:

   Two 220-volt 20-amp cirucits.  One for the Dust Collector, and one for the rest fo the tools.  You might want one more 220-Volt circuit if you use an air compressor or welder. 

   At least two light circuits. 

   I have 6 circuits of duplexed 110-receptacles every 8-feet at 42-inches above the floor, one pair on each wall onther than the one with the roll up garage door.  Each receptacle box contains one white and one black receptacle, wired on seperate circuits.  That way if I want to plug in the router table, and use the shop vac for dust collection I don't over load the circuit.  You are doing new construction so you can wire these with 12/3 romex. 

   In my shop since I was retrofitting the outlets, the shop interior had been finished with OSB painted white, and there were problems with the existing wiring I couldn't solve without tearing it all off so I ran surface mounted conduit and boxes for the receptacles.  The lighting was exposed in the attic, so I could get to and fix it. 

   I added a new dedicated subpanel for the receptacle cirucits, and ran the feed to it through a contactor, so if the power drops out, the receptacle circuits are killed until I go push the green button to reenergize them.  A standard red mushroom, kills them all.  This keeps bad things from happening when the power comes back on.