Electrical problems in woodworking

[garys]

More breakers and panels don't necessarily add more load on the main breaker. The loads drawing power are what trips breakers when you exceed their capability.
If you run your Shopsmith on a 20 amp circuit shared with another simlar motor, you trip the breaker. If you run them on separate 20 amp lines, they each run without problems. And, if you look at the formula for electric power, P=IE, it tells you that if you load a circuit to near capacity, a voltage drop will in turn cause a rise in current to maintain the needed power level. As current is what trips the breaker, loading circuits trips breakers while adding more circuits makes things run cooler and more safely.
My total power consumption runs around 750-1000kw per month. That means I'm using an average of under 1 1/4kw per hour. The only devices in my house running on 240v are my kitchen range and my clothes dryer. Together they take around 60amps, but seldom run at the same time. That 60 amps plus my 120v stuff would rarely reach 75 amps which doesn't put any stress on my 150 amp breaker. More breakers don't cause problems. Too few breakers and lines is the problem.

[JPG]

Too many LOADED breakers WILL cause Main breaker to trip because the total load exceeds it's rating.

Power is a result of current and voltage(and power factor) NOT the other way around. The voltage and current DEFINE the power load. Yes a loaded 'circuit'(wires) WILL cause a voltage drop in the circuit, but the power will then be reduced due to that decrease in voltage and the current will likely also decrease further reducing the power consumed.

Yes multiple circuits with LIGHT loading will be more 'efficient' due to the circuits not creating voltage drop between the breaker and the load, but they WILL consume more power due to the full voltage being available at the load.

You might want to check local electrical codes re adding a 100A sub panel to a 150A main panel.

I do not disagree with your application, but do not agree with your explanation.

[garys]

Local codes here follow NEC. The licensed electrician who installed the panels was OK putting 100A sub panel on a 150A main, and the electrical inspector approved it this way so I'm OK with it too. I feel that they probably know NEC enough to get it right.

[Hobbyman2]

sounds as if a new service from the roof down and a sub panel in the shop would be a good investment regardless if you actually have a shop or not ? not sure how the grounds in the OAH home are, but some older homes didn't have grounds . it would also be a huge safety benefit for you and your equipment .our home was built in the teens , had knob and tube circuits ,at one time you would be shocked if you were in the cast iron tub of bath water and touched the faucet , needless to say it was a rather shocking experience . it is all gone and we sleep good at night .

[FalakCobb]

A master electrician will save you massive headaches especially if you accidentally burn down your shop/house. That being said, some preliminary steps you can take is to identify the rated power draw of each of your tools and put them on a list along with which circuits they're on