How big of shop

Take local "code rules" as a guideline, and exceed them. If you have to deal with inspectors and insurance guys, they're gonna want to see that you've got headroom, and aren't overloading your wiring. Let's say you ran every tool, oven, fan, light, heater, AC unit, radio, TV and beer-fridge in your shop at once (I know that's not going to happen very often, but bear with me)... would your system hold up? If the answer is "yes", you're golden.

I agree on the sub-panel. Go as big as you can, in terms of both amperage and number of circuits. Again, there is no such thing as too many outlets or lights.

220V is going to be crucial if you want to run a large kiln or other really heavy-duty equipment.

If you want to run a small kiln like a Paragon 14, 110V is fine, but you must have it on its own 20-amp circuit. It will kick off a 15-amp circuit breaker just on ramp-up. Flourescent lights and most power tools run fine on 15-amp circuits... just keep the power-tools on separate circuits from the lights.

20-amp circuits are actually not much more expensive to install than 15's, and are safer and more reliable. Make sure everything is grounded properly.

I'm not an electrician, this is just what I've learned from experience and from listening to master electricians.
 
Last edited:
I hear the 220 thing. In my garage, I only have 1 220 outlet. Both my grinder and kiln are 220, and I wish my ph was 220. You wouldn't believe how many times I want the kiln running and to grind something
 
in my temp shop (buildig new in the summer ) i have only 2 220 lines and 2 110 and they put a 100amp box in but pulled 150 amp of wire (200 woudl not fin on the house box to run to the shed )
cant wait to have a hand full of of 110 lines tho i think im plenty happy with 2 220 lines (if i need more i ll but building a bigger shop and adding helpers)
 
Cody I'm in 20'x20' no dirty room, and no forging, I do have a lot of toys but theres not room for
even 1 more coffee can. I do have pretty good wiring and close to 5000 watts on lights alone so ok
there. 25x50" 2 story would be nice. Out of the original 35 double outlets more than 1/2 of them have
7 outlet power strips on them- Griswold family christmas is my idea on the power.
Ken.
 
I can not emphasize how important power is. 200 amps is the minimum, 300 amps is even better if you plan on any big equipment . 20% for lights, 30% for 220 outlets, 50% for 110 outlets. The power should be run 48" above the floor, with a quad box every 4' all the way around the walls. 220 boxes should be every 8' around the shop, and the bench should have two or three 220 boxes. Big equipment should be wired on dedicated breakers.

When you start adding up compressors, grinders, blowers and fans, HT ovens, tempering ovens, lights, lights, and more lights, maybe an AC unit and a heater,..... well, you can see how the breaker panel will get loaded up fast.

Now if three phase power is available, you are indeed lucky. If not, wiring a phase converter in the shop and having 220V3Ph outlets will make for a great setup.
 
That is interesting Brett, we always hear about general size but not as much concerning the specific shape.
 
Brett Mathews said:
I have a 20x30 shop and find it is almost to wide it if I could it would be great to go 15x40

Brett
Click to expand...

That's a great point Brett. I just re-arranged my shop to a 75/25 split with a 40"x110" bench in the middle. I wish my finish table was closer to my grinders and drill presses but with a barrier of sorts between.

With a big shop the challenge is wasting time walking between tools.

And lights. Oh I wish I had lots of money for lights. And windows. Natural light.
 
RE: enough outlets... it turns out that if you unplug the chest freezer in the shop to plug in your 2nd drill press and use it for about five whole minutes, and then forget all about it for a day or two, it will cost you a bunch of money and your wife will get extremely ticked off. Don't ask me how I know this :( :grumpy:
 
Running water has been the most significant addition to my shop from the old one. Sure saves a lot of packing water jugs.
 
james terrio said:
RE: enough outlets... it turns out that if you unplug the chest freezer in the shop to plug in your 2nd drill press and use it for about five whole minutes, and then forget all about it for a day or two, it will cost you a bunch of money and your wife will get extremely ticked off. Don't ask me how I know this :( :grumpy:
Click to expand...

Power bar strips.

It's nice if you can get that freezer onto a circuit separate from the ones you use.
It's entirely possible to pop a breaker and not know it either.

You have to subtly make it "your" shop and not "the" shop; otherwise the lawnmower, bicycles and other crap starts taking over too.




Of course bigger is better and you will probably run into money limits first but;

Look into your local building codes city, county, township Home-owners associations-whatever you are governed by.
They will have limits on square footage, heights, distance from the property lines, distance from other structures, construction style and such like that.

It's entirely possible to build it, use it for years and have it torn down because it didn't conform to something.
 
I hear the freezer thing!! Been there done that. As far as codes go, I'm out in the middle of no where with 120 acres, but money is a limiting factor. Good points to consider. Thanks
 
12345678910 said:
Power bar strips.
Click to expand...

You are, of course, correct. Stupid oversight on my part. Learn from my mistake, guys.

12345678910 said:
You have to subtly make it "your" shop and not "the" shop; otherwise the lawnmower, bicycles and other crap starts taking over too.
Click to expand...

Subtle, my behind! We have a garden shed for that sort of thing and I have no problem building another one if need be... they don't require power/heat. But for better or worse, the freezer is staying. I just need to allow for it in the overall plan.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top