For years I dealt with the frustration of running every power tool in my shop off a single 15-amp circuit. The breaker would trip frequently, often right in the middle of a cut. So I upgraded my shop wiring by adding three 20-amp circuits. I color-coded the outlet covers to make the circuits easy to identify, leaving one white and spray-painting the other covers blue and green.

But I knew that running multiple tools (such as my planer and dust collector) on a single circuit could still trip a breaker. So next I wired outlets from all three circuits every few feet around the perimeter of the shop, so no matter where I’m standing I can reach at least two outlets. This has meant fewer extension cords, less unplugging and replugging, and lets me use multiple tools at once with no more tripped breakers.

Jim Richey

Dyami Plotke, Islip, NY

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