Replies

1. 
   saschafer | Jun 16, 2009 06:44am | #1

   It is recommended that lighting circuits be separate from heavily-loaded circuits, so that a tripped breaker won't put you in the dark (lighting-only circuits very rarely trip a breaker). Residential code does not require it, however (except maybe in the kitchen--I don't recall offhand).

   I don't quite understand your first question. You're talking about an actual power failure, right? If so, then both go off at the same time, whether or not they're on the same circuit, no?

   As for the second question, yes, it's always safer to have a magnetic switch to prevent restarting, but once again, code doesn't require it on smaller equipment.

   -Steve

    

    

1. 
   jonnieboy | Jun 16, 2009 07:59am | #2

   Steve,

   You are correct. In this case it was both circuits at the same time, because it was power to the whole house. But that got me thinking about the other, if the lights and saw are on separate circuits and only the lighting circuit trips. 

   As a used-to-be electrician my first thought is to put the saw on a dedicated circuit, even though it has a relatively small motor. But I'm not so sure anymore.

   Like I say, it's bound to be a rare occasion. We're in the city with reliable utilities. I'll start by installing a magnetic switch of some sort.

   Thanks!

   Jonnieboy

2. 
   jonnieboy | Jun 16, 2009 08:05am | #3

   Steve,

   Duh. I'll just put a light or two on the circuit with the saw. I already keep the saw circuit lightly loaded to avoid nuisance tripping. I'll continue to do that, plus add the magnetic contactor.

   Jonnieboy 

1. 
   RalphBarker | Jun 18, 2009 01:11am | #4

   I have circuits for all the power tools that are separate from the lighting circuits. Flesh-hungry carbide teeth scare me in the dark.For total power failures, there are safety lights available that come on when main power fails. They operate on rechargeable batteries tied into a charging circuit.

1. 
   jonnieboy | Jun 18, 2009 05:46am | #6

   The emergency lighting is a good idea.

   What I've done for now is put two lights on with the saw circuit. They are near the saw, but not the one directly above the saw. All the other lights are on a separate circuit, including the one directly over the saw.  

   Thinking this way: Lighting circuit trips, I still have light. Saw circuit trips, I still have light.

   All situations covered except for total power outage. Emergency lighting unit and magnetic contactor are on the shopping list.

   Thanks for the feedback, guys!

   -Jonnieboy 

    

    

1. 
   saschafer | Jun 18, 2009 05:57am | #7

   "What I've done for now is put two lights on with the saw circuit."

   I really don't understand the logic here (I was going to reply to your previous message, but I forgot about it). Dedicated lighting circuits never trip their breakers.

   -Steve

    

2. 
   jonnieboy | Jun 18, 2009 06:55am | #8

   Hi Steve,

   I agree, the lights won't trip their breaker except in the rare case that a ballast goes bad in just the wrong way, or something else very weird happens. Just me over-thinking it again.

   Thanks again for the input.

   Jonnieboy

3. 
   jonnieboy | Jun 18, 2009 09:09am | #9

   Come to think about it, flourescents don't even have ballasts anymore, do they?

   -Jon

4. 
   saschafer | Jun 18, 2009 04:22pm | #10

   They do. Generally, they're electronic ballasts these days, which are smaller and lighter. CFLs have the ballast inside the base of the bulb. (Really cheap fluorescent fixtures still have old-fashioned electromagnetic ballasts.)

   -Steve

    

2. 
   PeteBradley | Jun 18, 2009 04:30am | #5

   I believe putting the saw on a lighting circuit is a code violation. You don't want to trip a breaker and be standing in the dark while the blade spins down.

   A mag starter would give you an additional level of safety since the saw will not start back up unexpectedly after a momentary outage.

   Pete

3. 
   BrianDerr | Jun 19, 2009 08:25am | #11

   Not only do you want separate circuits for tools and lights, you want more than one lighting circuit, so there is very, very little chance of being left in the dark.

   Brian

1. 
   jonnieboy | Jun 20, 2009 12:47am | #12

   Brian,

   Now you're talking. That's a great solution. I'll feel much more comfortable with that. My shop walls and ceiling are all open so it's no big deal to split circuits or add extras. Up to a point, of course.

   Jonnieboy