I got power in the workshop! *grunt* *grunt* *grunt* In addition to the four puny 15A receptacles already there, I now have an additional 18 (duplex) 20A receptacles in full metal jacket to plug stuff into. I'm not sure I have that many tools...yet (more grunting). Oh, and five 240V outlets as well.
Of course, this is just the main shop area. I still have to wire the other room with an additional 12 receptacles! (grunt chorus).
I ran a "trunk" line at the top of the wall, with drops every 4 ft. or so. That's a LOT of boxes, conduit and fittings. But it all turned out great. It's rock solid, even if I do something stupid like swinging a large board against the wall nothing is going to come loose. Ever. Alien civilizations will conduct archeological diggings twenty millenia from now and find that the only thing left of Raleigh is this weird collection of tubes with copper wires inside them.
I probably went a little overboard here and there. Once you get going, it's so easy to add an extra outlet, "just in case". One of the reasons I went with metal conduit is that's easy to change and add outlets later. Kind of pointless having that flexibility if you've blanketed the wall with outlets from the get-go
Next up is wiring the lights...
__________________
Bas.
I don't need it. I just want it.
I admit, outlets do look happier when they resemble a smiley face. But with a 220V outlet, it not only smiles, it winks at you! How will anyone in the WW community ever take me seriously with a shop like that!
No worries Travis, I took it as a joke too. But this was discussed on another forum recently, and it was "groan, here we go again" Some people take electricity waaayy too seriously
I'm with Fred. If you plug something in and it works, and the lights don't go out, it's good!
Ahhhhh, I was unaware of the history, it all makes sense now. I was installing two new 220 circuits last week. My 4 year old daughter thought the winking outlets were pretty funny too.... (she's the electrician referenced earlier in the thread).
I did something very similar in my garage. I ran boxes across the top of the ceiling as well. But I dropped romex down into the walls for the outlets. I don't envy you all of the pipe bending. That is an art .
Oh, and I am already wishing I ran one more 110v circuit .
I did something very similar in my garage. I ran boxes across the top of the ceiling as well. But I dropped romex down into the walls for the outlets. .
You know, that sounds like a pretty good solution. You lose some of the flexibility with Romex inside the wall, but adding an outlet later is still fairly simple to do. Certainly saves a LOT of pipe bending not to mention money. All the surface mounted stuff is $$$. Also conserves wall space.
I don't plan to EVER move again, but let's say I win the lottery or something and upgrade to a slightly bigger place (say Biltmore House), I'll keep that in mind
Originally Posted by farmerbw
Nice work bro. When's the pluggin' in ceremony!?!?!
When the lights are done. And the floor. And I have a few cabinets built. Spring shop crawl, most likely
__________________
Bas.
I don't need it. I just want it.
Nice job. And a question - that second pic looks like 2 110V duplexes and a 220 outlet on the left. I assume that is wired with 12/3 and each duplex sits on 1 hot leg? Asking cause I have not seen that arrangement before.
Nice job. And a question - that second pic looks like 2 110V duplexes and a 220 outlet on the left. I assume that is wired with 12/3 and each duplex sits on 1 hot leg? Asking cause I have not seen that arrangement before.
Actually, it's not. The wiring for the 220V and 110V outlets is completely separate. This kept things simpler, and also means I don't have to worry about the combined load when plugging in 220 and 110V tools at the same time. I could have saved myself a little wire that way (and kept the j-boxes a little emptier!), but I decided to keep things simple.
I do plan to install a multiwire branch circuit like that in the closet that will house my compressor and DC. Right now, they're both 110V, but I have a feeling one or both will be replaced with a 220V version soon I don't need tons of outlets in the closet, so a separate 110V would have been overkill. So yes, I ran two hots and a neutral for that one.
Some people feel multi wire branch circuits are dangerous. I can understand that. If you don't use a double pole breaker, it's easy enough for someone to install them incorrectly (i.e. both on the same leg). And even if done correctly, what's to prevent someone from moving one of the breakers to a different spot, again putting them on the same leg? But, if you know what you're doing, I don't see anything wrong with it.
__________________
Bas.
I don't need it. I just want it.
But, if you know what you're doing, I don't see anything wrong with it.
Agreed. There's certainly nothing dangerous about it from an electrical standpoint if it's done correctly. For simplicity sake I tend to avoid them if possible but in certain circumstances they make perfect sense (like your plans for wiring the closet).
10-29-2009, 12:23 PM
(more grunting). Oh, and five 240V outlets as well.
How will anyone in the WW community ever take me seriously with a shop like that! .gif "Drogar Laugh(DBG)")
.gif "Drogar BigGrin(DBG)")
.
.
Linear Mode
