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My workshop (attached garage) is currently wired with 110V receptacles fed from the main panel in the house by #10/3 with ground (1 black, 1 red, 1 white, 1 ground) attached to a double-pole 30A breaker.

I'd like to power a 13A, 220V table saw, and need to install a 220V receptacle. It would also be convenient to install a couple of "extension" receptacles around the perimeter so that I have of the option of changing my shop layout. I see two options, and would welcome advice.

Option 1:

Extend the existing wiring around the shop, using double-ganged boxes for a 110V receptacle on one side, and a 220V receptacle on the other side. The 220V receptacle would use both hots and the ground, and for the 110V side, I would draw from either hot leg to create a split receptacle.

Option 2:

Install a subpanel in the workshop, fed from the currently-installed 30A breaker in the main panel, and create separate circuits for 110V and 220V. Each circuit would receive its own breaker.

Questions:

  1. Option 1 seems most straightforward. But is it correct or safe?
  2. If choosing Option 2, what size breakers should I use for the 110V and 220V circuits?
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2 Answers

up vote 9 down vote accepted

A subpanel is probably the safest bet. It will allow easier access to cut power in an emergency, and it will offer better protection of the wiring.

If you go with option 1, you'll have to step down to #12 or #14 wire at some point to feed 120V receptacles. Which means you'll potentially be able to draw 30 amps on a #12/#14 wire, before the breaker trips.

If it were me, I'd install a subpanel with a 30A main breaker. Then use a 20A single pole breaker to feed the 120V receptacles, and a 20A double pole breaker to feed the 220V receptacle. You could use a 15A breaker for the 120V receptacles, but since it's a shop (where you'll likely use high draw devices) I'd go with 20A. If you do use 20A for the 120V receptacles, make sure you use receptacles rated for that amperage and #12 wire.

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What wire gauge would you recommend for the 20A 220V receptacle? – Michael Aug 17 '12 at 15:44
Definitely don't want everything sharing a single 30A breaker. Sub-panel with appropriate smaller breakers for the 120 circuits (I'd just do 15's, but as you like). – dbracey Aug 17 '12 at 16:40
@Michael You could use #12 for that too, but you might want to go with #10 depending on what you're plugging in and the length of the wire. – Tester101♦ Aug 17 '12 at 16:45
@dbracey 15A breakers are fine for lighting and most other areas of the house. Since this is a garage where higher draw tools will likely be used, it's a good idea to go a bit bigger. You don't want to trip the breaker every time you use your circular saw. – Tester101♦ Aug 17 '12 at 16:49
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You can find 20A receps that will take 10AWG wire, like this one: leviton.com/OA_HTML/…, but I still agree that a subpanel is a better option. – Jay Bazuzi Aug 19 '12 at 23:32
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You shoul install a 60 amp sub panel and use 20 amp breaker single pole for your plugs with a wire # 12 gauge 1 hot, 1 neutral and 1 ground, you can share 1 neutral for 2 circuits and for your 220 v use 20 amp doble pole wire# 12, 2 hots and 1 ground.

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