Hi there so I have run the 220 sub panel to may lathe and future mill here is a question the motor I'm using is 120/220 at 220 it draws 7.6 amps I initially wanted to install 20 amp breaker on the sub panel but that might be too much? now I think 15 amp 220 will be more then adequate any help would be appreciated
Paul
I built my 120 square foot shop inside my garage. It is formed from 2 curtain walls and two load bearing walls. For power I installed a 60 amp sub-box which is fed by 220V with common. This means I have both 220V and 110V available.
I went crazy with outlets. I put two duplex outlets at each machine location and one in the ceiling (very handy for cord reel). A total of 10 branches were run.
After living with this arrangement for a few years, I see that I didn't go crazy enough. I should have run two branches to each machine location. Then I would have been able to switch any branch from 110V to 220V and still have 110V at that location. For example, my mill was running on 110V and has both power feed and DRO that run on 110V. Then I upgraded the mill motor to VFD which runs on 220V. I had this branch feeding both the mill and the outlet in the ceiling. So I had to swing the wire from the ceiling outlets to another branch. Not much fun since I live in Arizona and the work was done in the summer. It gets very hot up there.
With the branch now going only to the mill, it was easy to move a few breakers and get 220V on that branch. I just needed to add black sleeves to the white wires to indicate they were now hot leads and not returns. Of course, I also had to replace the duplex 110V outlet with a single 220V outlet but that was easy.
I did still have a 110V outlet 12" away so moved my power feed and DRO over there. Not terrible but not how I would have done it if I had thought of this upgrade.
If I upgrade my lathe to VFD, I'll have the same problem but will have to run a new branch. Plenty of room in the breaker box but not easy to snake the wire down the wall. It is packed with insulation.
All branches are sized to support 20 amp service. I do have a 220V outlet mounted on the outside wall that feeds my electric furnace or welder. It has an inside cut off switch so most of the time it is dead. I also have a 110V duplex outlet outside.
I also installed 1 KW of high effiency
fluorescent ights in the ceiling.
Originally every 110V outlet had its own GFI. I had to back down from this when I put an old treadmill motor on my drill press. It runs directly off the power line without isolation and that tripped the GFI on start up. I do not have GFI on my 220V branches. The GFIs were my idea and not required by code.
In case you are wondering, in Phoenix it is legal for a home owner to run their own power as long as it meets code, is inspected by the city, and is approved. I have the "green tag" to prove it