220 volt

[rkc]

I needed to get some new circuits put in my garage/shop, and figured I should put in a couple of 220v outlets while I was at it.

Now I'm wondering which of my tools (if any) I should rewire to 220v. Obviously I shouldn't rewire more than 2 that I would expect to use at the same time, and some can't be rewired anyway. But I'm not sure which ones (if any) I would see any benefit from.

I think the following can be rewired for 220v:

HF bandsaw
Jet 1100CFM dust collector
Nova DVR3000
Performax 16/32

I'm thinking the bandsaw and the lathe might benefit from a bit more available 'oomph' under load, which I'm hoping the reduced voltage drop on 220v circuit might give...

Any opinions?

[LarryG]

quote:Originally posted by rkc

I'm thinking the bandsaw and the lathe might benefit from a bit more available 'oomph' under load, which I'm hoping the reduced voltage drop on 220v circuit might give...

You won't see any difference whatsoever unless your existing 110V circuits are unusually long and/or have wiring smaller than it should be. IOW, assuming your 110V circuits are up to snuff, switching these small-HP motors to 220V won't make any detectable difference, peformance-wise.

The main reason to run something on 220V is when it draws so many amps than running it on 110V becomes impractical. The second reason would be when your panel (or sub-panel) is about maxed out and you need to save every amp you can in order to run everything you need to run simultaneously.

[rkc]

Larry,

You may be right - the 110volt circuits I used to run on were inadequate, the new ones I just installed should not be so I guess I should see how the tools perform before making any modifications.

However I do recall reading in the past that the DVR3000 performs better on 220v (see http://groups-beta.google.com/groups...va&qt_s=Search)

Of course, if I _don't_ convert any existing tools to run on my new 220v circuit I'll be forced to go out and buy something that ONLY runs on 220v, so I can justify it......

[LCHIEN]

well said, Larry.

But to answer the original question, I'd put the one or two highest current drawing devices on 220V.

[LarryG]

quote:Originally posted by rkc

However I do recall reading in the past that the DVR3000 performs better on 220v (see http://groups-beta.google.com/groups...va&qt_s=Search)

Okay. I'm not really familiar with the Nova lathe (I know it exists, and that's about it) and how it works. I perhaps should have said that any small conventional motor (which the Nova's appears not to be) won't see any benefit from going to 220V.

IIRC the generally accepted rule of thumb is that motors of 3HP and above ought to be run on 220V; 1.5HP and below might as well stay on 110V; everything in between is iffy/debatable. I noticed a spec of 1.75HP for the Nova so maybe it's one of those exceptions that proves the rule.

I agree with Loring about the two highest-draw tools, but I'd qualify that by saying that the DC (which might well be one of those two) should probably be one of them since it will almost always be running when something else is running. My DC is 110V (HF, cannot be rewired) and will hiccup just ever-so-slightly when I start up a high-amperage tool that's on the same leg of the panel.

BTW and related to the above, I run my jointer and bandsaw on 220V, for the second reason I mentioned originally ... the panel is close to capacity, and every amp saved helps.

[lrogers]

The only thing I run on 220 is my jointer.

[monte]

My large air compressor is all I have on 220. All other large tools are on their own dedicated 20A 120 circuit.

[Stick]

My 2hp compressor and RAS run on 240V. So does my stick welder. The machine tools all run on 3 phase 600V, as does the big compressor. I would run the DP on 240V if I could, but alas, no such luck. I do have a reverser on it though. I wonder how many of us do? Why, you ask? For turning left hand drills of course, he types. Nothing I've ever found works better for removing broken bolts etc. Easy outs and the like too often break off and then you're really left with a mess. of course the part has to be small enough to get on the DP in the first place. LOL!