Electrical question

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cowchaser

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Sep 14, 2007
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Bartlesville, Oklahoma, USA.
Need some help trying to design the new layout for my DC unit. Not sure where to put the question, but I will try here.

I can't seem to find my paperwork that tells how many amps things draw. But if I move my stuff around I will end up having several things on 1 20amp breaker. Unfortunately they are federal breakers which are not the best out there.

That would include the DC unit (jet 1100 1 1/2hp) my jet mini and a couple of overhead flouresents (2 bulb with the pull chain at lowes). Only the DC and 1 other tool will operate at a time with the lights. Anyone that may have a clue on amps on these have any idea if it will work. The DC on Jets website shows 11/5.5 amps. I believe that is 11 at start up and 5.5 at run. It shows the lathe at 5 amps. Not sure on the lights, but couldn't be more than a couple amps. I am for a loss on this one and will continue to look for my paperwork. I don't throw anything away so it has to be here somewhere. My wife will know when she gets home. She hides my stuff.
 
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The I would guess the 11/5.5 is 220 or 110. One thing you have to look at is start up surge. When you start the dust collector it will pull more amps. I would guess the 20amp would work for the DC but I use it only for the DC.
 
Aha, never looked at it that way. After some more internet digging from what I found it's 11 amps at 115v and 5.5 at 220. Sure sounds backwards, but hey that's why I am asking. I am electrical knowledge lacking. I don't touch the stuff. I have this working knowledge of "if I can't see what's going to hurt me then I don't touch it".

Sounds like I will have to add a dedicated breaker for it. Sure didn't want to have to do that.
 
If your DC can be wired either 110 or 220 the 5.5 would be for 220 volt operation and the 11 would be for 110 operation. Each light (assuming a standard bulb would draw approx 1 amp each) So I would say you are pushing it on a single 20 amp circuit. Someone else may have more precise calculations but I would say you could in the neighborhood of 18 amps.
 
Do you know what size wire was run from your 20 amp breaker to your plug in? Many times the contractors that built the house/garage will run the same size wire everywhere to save pulling/carrying different sizes. Also look at the idstance from the breaker to the receptacle. Distance does make a difference. If you are lucky and they run 12/2 or 12/3 Romax, and the distance is reasonable, I think less than 25', you may be able to just switch out your braker to a 25 or 30 amp, and this would help you have a safety factor to keep from overheating/throwing your breakers. If you do have to put in another line/breaker, try to make it the 220 if possible. I always try to run the largest volt/smallest amp combination possible.
Hope this makes sense.
 
My jet lathe ,dc, and a 100 watt light are all on the same receptacle. If the lathe is running and the light is on, the light dims slightly when i turn on the dc, but only for a few seconds. Of course my dc is a 1 horse.
 
Another thing to remember. What amp is the wire your running? Many times you will have 15amp wire and a 20amp circuit. And the wire will overheat before the breaker will.
 
Thanks for all the suggestions. I will have to have a dedicated breaker put in on the DC. I will keep my current setup and just reconfigure my ducting. I was just trying to simplify the ducting by having it go down 1 wall. I will have to cross the ceiling to get to my lathe for now. Thanks.
 
Originally posted by cowchaser

Need some help trying to design the new layout for my DC unit. Not sure where to put the question, but I will try here.

I can't seem to find my paperwork that tells how many amps things draw. But if I move my stuff around I will end up having several things on 1 20amp breaker. Unfortunately they are federal breakers which are not the best out there.
Click to expand...

Dustin; It is certainly possible to have more equipment on a line than the capacity of the line. It is referred to as "over-committed" and is common practice. I would put the lights on a separate breaker so that if you blow the breaker, you aren't in the dark as well.

I have 3 20 amp circuits in my workshop. One has the lights, one has the Dust Collector, and the third has all the tools. Although the tools collectively draw more current than the 20 amp rating, how often do you have more than one tool going at a time?

GFCI (Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter) protected outlets or circuit breakers are an important safety item. It prevents ground faults in tools from zapping you.

You might want to consider GFCI breakers for this area. At one time they were very expensive, but are now in the $30-$40 range.

I wired my workshop myself and it has been inspected. While I have done electrical wiring before, I call an electrician to work on the Electric Panel.
 
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