Can I convert my headstock to 220VAC?

[chrispitude]

Hi all,

Right now the Shopsmith shares a circuit with the rest of my garage (including 320 watts of overhead fluorescent lighting, my radio, a few other miscellaneous things hanging off the same circuit in the basement). Every now and again, the garage breaker trips when the Shopsmith fires up. It's just a bit more than the main garage circuit can handle.

Rerunning that garage circuit in a higher capacity is not an option because that wire goes all over the place in the walls for many outlets plus the overhead ceiling lighting. It'll have to stay how it is. I think it's already 20A anyway.

In any case, I'll be adding a 240VAC circuit for a dust collector, and it would be a perfect opportunity to add a second 240VAC outlet on that same new circuit for the Shopsmith. If I don't go that route, my only other option is to find two other existing 120VAC circuits in the panel and hang them off the same breaker to free up a breaker slot for a dedicated 120VAC Shopsmith circuit. Or, I can look into adding a subpanel for the garage, but that starts to get into some real money, plus most of my available wall space is already covered by shelving.

The Shopsmith 240VAC motor is of reasonable cost once the old motor is sold off, and I will have 240VAC run in any future houses to allow for dust collection anyway. The subpanel is interesting too, I'll have to price one out at the local big box store and see if I can find a place to squeeze it in. I'm not decided on either route yet.

Or, I could simply saw with the lights out...

- Chris

[paulmcohen]

The main reason to switch is if you pannel is out of space for new breakers and you need 220 for something else. I had been putting off adding a subpannel but eventually I bit the bullet. Now I have two pannel both of which are 1/2 empty, but I am sure I spent more than what a 220 motor would have cost.

[chrispitude]

The main reason to switch is if you pannel is out of space for new breakers and you need 220 for something else. I had been putting off adding a subpannel but eventually I bit the bullet. Now I have two pannel both of which are 1/2 empty, but I am sure I spent more than what a 220 motor would have cost.

Hi Paul,

That's precisely the situation I'm in. It'll be a few dollars to hang an outlet off the one I'm already adding. Now I just need to weigh the cost and trouble of installing what will be a mostly empty subpanel versus a motor swap (and selling the old motor off).

- Chris

[osx-addict]

Ahh.. Point taken..

[reible]

Hi again,

OK now I'm beginning to see where you are coming from and where you want to go.

I'm guessing you know you will need two breaker positions for the 220 circuit?? So if you are already out of slots you have a major rework come up any how. So if you run the 220 to the garage/basement and put in another panel, you can then add additional breakers for the 120, and a 220 as needed. It is hard to have to much service in a shop... my air compresser shares a circuit with house proper and I'd say at least 3 or 4 times a summer I mess us and pop the breaker.

Depending on where you are and codes for that location might bring in more things for you to think about. If you get a professional to check it out for you and get an estimate it might be a lot more clear.

Thanks for bring this up, now you reminded me I have a few things on my electical list... code says the garage door opener needs to be on its own circuit... so it has been in a box for years and years now... Oh yea I think I need a new garage door too... and....

Ed

[a1gutterman]

.............In any case, I'll be adding a 240VAC circuit for a dust collector, and it would be a perfect opportunity to add a second 240VAC outlet on that same new circuit for the Shopsmith. If I don't go that route, my only other option is to find two other existing 120VAC circuits in the panel and hang them off the same breaker to free up a breaker slot for a dedicated 120VAC Shopsmith circuit. Or, I can look into adding a subpanel for the garage, but that starts to get into some real money, plus most of my available wall space is already covered by shelving................- Chris

In my state, code only allows one 220/240 receptacle per circuit. I wood (sp) need 4 electrical spaces for two circuits if I wanted to operate the DC and the Mark V simultaneously (legally speaking).

Originally posted by reible

..........if you run the 220 to the garage/basement and put in another panel, you can then add additional breakers for the 120, and a 220 as needed...............

This is probably the best solution.

[Ed in Tampa]

Hi Paul,

That's precisely the situation I'm in. It'll be a few dollars to hang an outlet off the one I'm already adding. Now I just need to weigh the cost and trouble of installing what will be a mostly empty subpanel versus a motor swap (and selling the old motor off).

- Chris

Chris
Why not run the the planned 220 30 amp circuit to a small sub panel with just a few slots. Then you could have one 220 circuit and a perhaps two 110v.

[billmayo]

If you have not ran a new circuit to your work area, I would got to a heavier gauge wire depending on circuit box used. You install the proper Amp breaker in the main box for the wire. I brought a 6 circuit box and breakers from Lowes, less than $50 for my new garage. I used #4 gauge wire from the house box with a 60 Amp circuit breaker. I have 2 220 VAC and 2 110 VAC curcuits available.

I ended up installing a 16 breaker circuit box (contractors package with main and some circuit breakers) in my work shop with a 100 Amp breaker at the house box. You can turn the main breaker in the 16 breaker slot box off when done in the shop if desired. I find the circuits get used up very quickly and had to go to using the 1/2 size breakers.

Bill Mayo

Chris
Why not run the the planned 220 30 amp circuit to a small sub panel with just a few slots. Then you could have one 220 circuit and a perhaps two 110v.

[georgebevan]

Chris,

You can't convert your existing motor, but you can either change the motor to a 230VAC or buy an European headstock as over here we run 230VAC.

Not sure what amperage it is (230VAC) but it's rated at 2hp

Hope that helps

George, ShopSmith owner in the UK

[8iowa]

The advantage of 240V is that it cuts your amperage in half. Older houses often have as little as 100 amp service. A Shopsmith, at 13 amps on 120V takes a big bite out of the supply. Couple this with the fact that the motor will draw about 50 amps on start-up, and it might interfere with other lights, appliances, and electronics that might be on the same line. running the Shopsmith on 240V will eliminate any interference problems without getting into extensive electrical work. Even in more modern homes, with 200 amp service, the garage seldom will have more than two 15 amp 120V circuits. Often the lights, Shopsmith, dust collector, and other things inside the house will be on the same circuit. Naturally, in this type of situation, the circuit breaker will trip, leaving you 1/2 way through a cut in total darkness. (I've been there) If the circuit breaker box is already "jam packed" with breakers, as is often the case, hooking your Shopsmith up to 240V is an inexpensive solution.

For the older home with only 100 amp service, the answer is an electrical up-grade, with new electrical service of 200 or more amps, and a larger circuit breaker box with many more "slots". This however, could easily cost $2000 or more.