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Other topics for members => General Woodworking => Topic started by: OneWithWood on October 03, 2013, 12:12:08 PM

Title: What size breaker for possible future lathe?
Post by: OneWithWood on October 03, 2013, 12:12:08 PM
I am wiring my new shop addition.  I want to incorporate an outlet for a lathe I hope to own in the near future.  Problem is I don't know which lathe it might be.  If I put in a 240v-20a breaker will I have it covered?
Title: Re: What size breaker for possible future lathe?
Post by: Corley5 on October 03, 2013, 12:19:57 PM
Be sure the wire to the plug is heavy enough and you can size the breaker later  :)
Title: Re: What size breaker for possible future lathe?
Post by: warren46 on October 03, 2013, 12:52:14 PM
Since this is woodworking forum it is safe to believe that this will be a lathe for wood.  It is very unlikely that you will need more than 20 amp at 220 V to run such a lathe.

Warren
Title: Re: What size breaker for possible future lathe?
Post by: Ianab on October 03, 2013, 01:47:36 PM
Yeah, 2hp is a BIG wood lathe & 240 @ 20a would easily cover that. That circuit would supply almost 5,000w. Plenty of power for any small ww machine.
Title: Re: What size breaker for possible future lathe?
Post by: SPIKER on October 03, 2013, 10:02:56 PM
One possibility is to wire a 50amp outlet and put in plug so you can plug in welder etc, on the machine you plug into it can have it's own fuse then.   Basically a universal plug and on each machine you add to the shop the units are wired for self contained fuses..

Mark
Title: Re: What size breaker for possible future lathe?
Post by: scsmith42 on October 03, 2013, 10:41:18 PM
A 20A 240VAC breaker on 12/2 with ground wire will be sufficient for up to a 3 hp lathe.

A 5 HP lathe will require a 30A 240VAC breaker on a 10/2 with ground (or 10/3 with ground) wire.
Title: Re: What size breaker for possible future lathe?
Post by: OneWithWood on October 04, 2013, 07:15:48 AM
My initial thought was to wire it with 10/3 with ground and a 240v 20a breaker thinking I could always swap out the breaker and plug if I needed more.

I already have a 50a circuit wired with 6/3 with ground (if I remember correctly - I do remember it is very heavy and was very expensive) so I won't need to replicate that.

Thanks for all your input.  I knew I would get good advice quickly here.  :)
Title: Re: What size breaker for possible future lathe?
Post by: Burlkraft on October 04, 2013, 09:50:56 AM
My OneWay is 3hp. and I have a 240  20a breaker in there.

I've never kicked it as the lathe has an overload protection breaker too.