Shopsmith Power Solution ?

racerchris · Post by **racerchris** » Wed Apr 29, 2009 12:41 am

Still in my first month with the SS.

My old Ryobi Saw had a power outlet on the side with a cord that goes to the switch that turns it on. So I was easily able to hook up a dust collector to turn on each time I started the saw. This seems like a pretty useful thing to do on shopsmith. Has anyone done this or have similar solution?

Also, I noticed that when I saw, I first turn on the Shop Vac, then the saw. The saw draws so much power that there is noticable change in pitch of the dust collector. I has 12 ga wire in the walls (wired it myself) and a 30amp breaker. This shouldn't happen right?

beeg · Post by **beeg** » Wed Apr 29, 2009 12:48 am

WHY do you have a THIRTY AMP breaker on the 12 ga wire? NEED some warmth in the house?:eek:

JPG · Post by **JPG** » Wed Apr 29, 2009 12:59 am

racerchris wrote:Still in my first month with the SS.

My old Ryobi Saw had a power outlet on the side with a cord that goes to the switch that turns it on. So I was easily able to hook up a dust collector to turn on each time I started the saw. This seems like a pretty useful thing to do on shopsmith. Has anyone done this or have similar solution?

Also, I noticed that when I saw, I first turn on the Shop Vac, then the saw. The saw draws so much power that there is noticable change in pitch of the dust collector. I has 12 ga wire in the walls (wired it myself) and a 30amp breaker. This shouldn't happen right?

How LONG is the 12GA wire? Does the DC pitch go back up AFTER the saw has started?

WHY WHY WHY 30A breaker???? That is a NO-NO with 12GA wire. The breakers are sized to properly protect the wiring(hence the house). Minimum wire size for 30A is 10GA assuming no long runs. Maximum breaker size for 12GA is 20A. If the run is long, a larger WIRE size is appropriate.

Finally what else is on this 'branch circuit' that you 'wired yourself'?

a1gutterman · Post by **a1gutterman** » Wed Apr 29, 2009 1:24 am

racerchris wrote:...Also, I noticed that when I saw, I first turn on the Shop Vac, then the saw. The saw draws so much power that there is noticable change in pitch of the dust collector. I has 12 ga wire in the walls (wired it myself) and a 30amp breaker. This shouldn't happen right?

Sorry, I did knot know there were duplicate threads. I already posted a reply in the other thread, but I wood like to elaborate on something that JPG asked:

JPG40504 wrote:Finally what else is on this 'branch circuit' that you 'wired yourself'?

Chris, if you added that 12ga wire to an existing 30amp circuit, you may have overloaded it, and that is why JPG asked that question. I wood recommend that you have a dedicated 20amp circuit for the ShopSmith (the DC3300 should be oakay on it too) using 12ga wire no longer then 100' from the meter assuming that the meter is no further then 200' (or so) from the tranformer. If the SS is plugged into a circuit that exceeds 100', I wood recommend that you use 10ga wire, but still use a 20amp breaker. If the meter is more then about 200' from the transformer, make sure that you have the appropriate wire size there too. For that spec., you need to check with your local power company and/or local codes. Be safe]warm[/I] your house up, like beeg said.

definition of warm: burn

racerchris · Post by **racerchris** » Wed Apr 29, 2009 11:05 am

Guys,

Well, I must recall incorrectly. I wired the garage 9 years ago. Definitely a 30 amp breaker, but I probably used 10 ga wire. Checking the exposed wire, the main runs are definitely 10ga. But I noticed I tapped into an junction box wired with 10ga for an outlet near the SS with 14 ga. I'm no electrician - is this a problem? It'd be easy to switch out that wire.

Yes, the dust collector returns to a normal "whine" after I power up the saw.. Luckily the main breaker box is about 10 feet from the main breaker box, so it would be easy to add a dedicated circuit. Right now, all the garage is on the same circuit and the only things connected are my tools, and a few lights, etc.

PS - Sorry about the double post. Tried to delete the duplicate, but it seems the Forum won't let me...

JPG · Post by **JPG** » Wed Apr 29, 2009 11:18 am

racerchris wrote:Guys,

Well, I must recall incorrectly. I wired the garage 9 years ago. Definitely a 30 amp breaker, but I probably used 10 ga wire. Checking the exposed wire, the main runs are definitely 10ga. But I noticed I tapped into an junction box wired with 10ga for an outlet near the SS with 14 ga. I'm no electrician - is this a problem? It'd be easy to switch out that wire.

Yes, the dust collector returns to a normal "whine" after I power up the saw.. Luckily the main breaker box is about 10 feet from the main breaker box, so it would be easy to add a dedicated circuit. Right now, all the garage is on the same circuit and the only things connected are my tools, and a few lights, etc.

PS - Sorry about the double post. Tried to delete the duplicate, but it seems the Forum won't let me...

YES It IS a problem. DO change it to 10GA. The problem is the 14GA can overheat without the 30A breaker tripping. Think House Warming!

The momentary decrease in DC speed in NOT unusual if it returns to 'normal' speed AFTER SS gets up to speed. The SS requires a substantial start-up current that briefly causes the voltage at the receptacle to be lower.
The 14GA wire in addition to being a safety(fire) PROBLEM, is making the startup voltage drop more severe(although if the length of the 14GA is short, not too much so). REPLACE IT!!!!

charlese · Post by **charlese** » Wed Apr 29, 2009 2:30 pm

racerchris wrote:Still in my first month with the SS.

My old Ryobi Saw had a power outlet on the side with a cord that goes to the switch that turns it on. So I was easily able to hook up a dust collector to turn on each time I started the saw. This seems like a pretty useful thing to do on shopsmith. Has anyone done this or have similar solution?

Although interested in your electrical problem, I can not add more to that discussion.

However to address your first question - Yes a similar solution has been done in two ways, First to come out is the remote foot switch. The power cord for the DC is plugged into the foot switch cord. http://www.shopsmith.com/ownersite/item ... tem=711124 This is the unit I have.

But later they came along with a remote wireless switch. The latter seems like a better solution, as there is no power cord on the floor. Maybe the remote switch is not a product sold by Shopsmith. Or maybe i just can't find it.

a1gutterman · Post by **a1gutterman** » Thu Apr 30, 2009 12:25 am

charlese wrote:Although interested in your electrical problem, I can not add more to that discussion.

However to address your first question - Yes a similar solution has been done in two ways, First to come out is the remote foot switch. The power cord for the DC is plugged into the foot switch cord. http://www.shopsmith.com/ownersite/itemfind.htm?item=711124 This is the unit I have.

But later they came along with a remote wireless switch. The latter seems like a better solution, as there is no power cord on the floor. Maybe the remote switch is not a product sold by Shopsmith. Or maybe i just can't find it.

I bought one from SS about 2 years ago. It is #556021. As you will see, it is no longer offered by them. It is on page 24 of last years (2008) Fathers Day Sale Catalog.

racerchris · Post by **racerchris** » Thu Apr 30, 2009 12:52 am

JPG40504 wrote:YES It IS a problem. DO change it to 10GA. The problem is the 14GA can overheat without the 30A breaker tripping. Think House Warming!

The momentary decrease in DC speed in NOT unusual if it returns to 'normal' speed AFTER SS gets up to speed. The SS requires a substantial start-up current that briefly causes the voltage at the receptacle to be lower.
The 14GA wire in addition to being a safety(fire) PROBLEM, is making the startup voltage drop more severe(although if the length of the 14GA is short, not too much so). REPLACE IT!!!!

Whoa. Thanks for that, I'll do it this weekend! And stop using that outlet. Thanks!

racerchris · Post by **racerchris** » Thu Apr 30, 2009 12:57 am

charlese wrote: http://www.shopsmith.com/ownersite/item ... tem=711124

This foot switch only controls the Dust Collector, not the SS. So this solution requires a two step process. Right? Seems like the perfect solution if it powered both, but it's clearly not rated for that. Although it may be dangerous to have an unguard switch that controls the SS.

Here's a crazy idea. Anyone retro a switch or power outlet on the side of the SS?