Replies

1. 
   PeteBradley | Apr 12, 2007 05:29am | #1

   Those ratings are 240V. A double breaker at 30A would handle either. The wire needs to be properly sized also. Probably 10 gauge wire will be sufficient, but check your situation and code book to be sure.

   Pete

2. 
   wbfinewoodworking | Apr 12, 2007 07:09am | #2

   The 3hp needs a 20 amp breaker and the 5hp, which I just bought, needs a 30 amp. You're going to love this saw.

1. 
   SARGEgrinder47 | Apr 12, 2007 04:23pm | #3

   As stated, 20A for the 3 HP and 30A for the 5 HP. But... I will add that either way you go, run 10 gauge wire which is the proper wire to handle 30 Amps.

   Even if you go with the 3 HP and only need a 20A circuit, you already have the proper wire in place if you do get a 5 HP machine later. All you would have to do then is change to a 30A breaker and outlet which can be done in under 20 minutes. And second-fold.. the larger wire will reduce resistance on a long run through your shop.

   Regards...

   Sarge.. jt

1. 
   wbfinewoodworking | Apr 12, 2007 04:40pm | #4

   Sarge is correct, however, according to my electrician the difference in the price of wire between what is need for a 20 amp line and a 30 amp line can get very expensive, based on the length of the run, due to the current high price of copper.

   Since I already had some unused conduit and told the electrician to route the wire differently than he had planned, I was able to save on the length of the run and materials needed on my job, so my electrician was able to pull 10 guage wire for the same price he quoted me for whatever wire he was planning to use for a 20 amp curcuit. Fortunately I have a great electrician who tries to save me the most money and doesn't mind my changes in the job as it's being installed. Instead of charging less, most electricians charge more for any changes.

   Because I was able to get a 30 amp circuit I upgraded to the 5 hp SawStop. Wow, what power. My old 1979 Craftsman was only 1 hp.

    

   Edited 4/12/2007 9:41 am ET by basset-hound

1. 
   SARGEgrinder47 | Apr 12, 2007 05:14pm | #5

   Morning basset-hound...

   It may be cheaper now to run the 12 gauge wire because of the price of copper, but it won't be if you have to back-track with a 10 gauge latter to up-grade to a higher amp 5 HP. Just had this scenario as I added a 5 HP 20" planer. I had laid the 10 gauge on the first 20 A line and all was well!

   And even though I run my own lines, those that don't can tack on the added price of bringing the electrician back out to supplement his mortgage payment by paying to run a new line from ground zero with 10 gauge at that time.

   So.... sort of a pay me now or pay me again latter thing. As they say in NASCAR and could be applied herewith a substitution of only one word:

   Just one of them wiring deals.... ha.. ha...

   Regards...

   Sarge.. jt

   Edited 4/12/2007 10:15 am ET by SARGEgrinder47

1. 
   wbfinewoodworking | Apr 12, 2007 08:36pm | #10

   I forgot to mention that I also saved at least an hour and a half by changing the project's direction (shorter run) and using the conduit and box that I already had installed in my garage. The total savings was enough for the upgrade in wire guage etc. I don't remember the exact amount, but it was around $500.  Yes, the SawStop was big $$$, but I'm only going to be in this house for another two years. I didn't want to spend an extra $500 on electrical if I didn't need to at the time. I figure when I sell the house the fact that the garage has a 220 circuit and the two 15 amp 110 circuits that were installed would help sell the house, so that's why I was willing to spend the money for the electrical work on this house. having a 30 amp circuit is just "icing on the cake." It also allowed me to spend the extra $200 on the 5 hp SawStop.

2. 
   SARGEgrinder47 | Apr 13, 2007 07:47am | #12

   I got mine paid for basset and probably stuck with it. It makes sense that you don't want to put too much into the house if you know you are selling it for an up-grade.

   I have seen people add an in-ground pool, etc. into a house they paid too much for to begin with. When they got ready to sell, they discovered that their expensive up-grades put them well above the market price of existing houses in their neighbor-hood and couldn't get what they needed to cover what they paid originally and the additions. They basically ended up giving the additions away to just get it sold and move on.

   Regard...

   Sarge.. jt

    

2. 
   mudman | Apr 12, 2007 05:29pm | #6

   As much as a Saw Stop costs...... I think that the cost of 10 ga, vs. 12 ga would be a minor issue. If the run is long enough to make that difference add up to a signifigant amount then it is probably long enough to want to use 10 ga.

   Having said that my 3 horse Unisaw is on 12 ga , with a 30 or 40 foot run. I know that I wont be buying a 5 horse saw.Pardon my spelling,

   Mike

   Make sure that your next project is beyond your skill and requires tools you don't have. You won't regret it.

1. 
   SARGEgrinder47 | Apr 12, 2007 06:08pm | #7

   Morning mudman...

   "Having said that my 3 horse Unisaw is on 12 ga , with a 30 or 40 foot run. I know that I wont be buying a 5 horse saw".... mudman

   And I knew when I ran my first 20A 220v line I would not be adding a 5 HP planer. But..... I did!

   And I knew when I ran my first 20A 220v line that I would never need a second 220V line in my now full main panel and have to add a sub-panel to get it. I was not under any circumstances going to add a Cyclone that would run at the same time and be forced into adding the now laid second 220v line and sub-panel. But..... I did!

   Pay me now or pay me latter. ha.. ha... :>)

   Regards...

   Sarge.. jt

2. 
   MikeHennessy | Apr 12, 2007 07:35pm | #8

   Ah, but if you hadn't run all that big copper to begin with, you probably WOULDN'T have gotten that planer and WOULDN'T have gotten that cyclone. Now THAT would have been a BIG savings! Prolly enough to buy a couple of decent hand tools!  ;-)

   Mike HennessyPittsburgh, PA

3. 
   SARGEgrinder47 | Apr 12, 2007 08:12pm | #9

   Hey Mike..

   At my age... why save? Ya can't take it with ya! ha.. ha...

   Already got the decent hand tools anyway and long before anyone ever saw a 20" planer in a setting outside of commercial.

   Regards...

   Sarge.. jt

    

4. 
   mudman | Apr 13, 2007 02:11am | #11

   Good point. However I know that I will be buying a lot of things before I get a 5 horse saw, like a CNC machine!

   The only use I have seen for a 5 horse saw is if you are ripping production quantities with a power feeder. For the Planer I wired for 5 horse.... which is funny considering that there is a Ridgid benchtop planer plugged into it. He heh.

   I DO wish I could get a Saw Stop. That is a very impressive saw.

   MikePardon my spelling,

   Mike

   Make sure that your next project is beyond your skill and requires tools you don't have. You won't regret it.

5. 
   SARGEgrinder47 | Apr 13, 2007 07:57am | #13

   Morning Mike...

   I agree about a 5 HP TS. I do need the larger planer and jointer though as I have a lot of acquaintances with property that down trees and take to mill. They pay me to surface for them or give me a board foot for every board foot I surface.

   That supplements my tool funds and and I can avoid paying higher prices for hard-wood at the local hard-wood dealer. So... even though I am non commercial, I on occasion might be considered semi-commercial in certain arenas of this hobby or whatever we chose to call it. I sometimes build work-benches that are sold also, but not on a straight-up commercial basis but request of friends and acquaintances only.

   To me commercial relates to dead-lines and at 59 and within reach of retirement that's the last word I want to hear! ha.. ha...

   Regards...

   Sarge.. jt