How much currend does the machine draw.

[cestout]

I just got my second machine - well actually my fourth, but Sears took the first 2 back in lew of repairs. What I need to know is will a 30A breaker handle 2 machines and a 3/4hp DC. Two 30A circuits feed my shop. The saws and planers etc will be on the other circuit.
Thanks
Clint

[rossclark]

I run 2 machines and 2 shop vac on a 20 amp breaker no problem Ross

[unitedcases]

That's a lot for a 20 amp breaker, isn't it?

Sent from my Droid using Tapatalk 2.

[brdad]

I tested my machine a while back and posted the results. http://forum.carvewright.com/showthread.php?8520-CW-power-consumption

I also posted some consumption results on lithophanes: http://forum.carvewright.com/showthread.php?8860-Lithophane-sled-and-attempts-1-1.5-amp-2


I remember reading a few questions regarding how much power the CW uses. This morning while carving Jeff Birt's apple project, I hooked the CW up to my watt-hour meter to find out.

The project took about 1.5 hours to carve, but I had the machine on for another 15 minutes or so during setup and to square the board. The board was pine so it carved easily.

When the cut motor was not running, current draw was low, about 2 amps. On start up, the cut motor peaked at 10 amps momentarily, but dropped quickly to about 4.5 amps, whether it was carving wood or in the air. Once in a while the machine would bump up to 5 amps, but it was rare. I imagine it would be slightly higher when carving higher density woods, and will be sure to test it when I carve something harder.

And the most important number I like to know is how many kilowatt-hours the machine uses while carving a project - The CW used just under 0.5 kilowatt-hours of power to create the apple project. Here in Maine, with a price of about 12 cents per KWH, that calculates to about 6 cents of electricity to make the apple. Cheap enough!

[b.sumner47]

Be careful of a drawback turnning to many machines on a single line. I only run one at a time , if I need more than one ,then I use a different circut for each.


Capt Barry

[TerryT]

If it is an old building with Old, old breakers a 20 amp may only, acutally be able to handle 70 or 80 percent of that before breaking the circuit. I only run one CW and dust collector on one 20 amp and the second machine on a different 20 amp.

[liquidguitars]

I say 20 amp is fine as long as it not a long run, I run a air compresser and a CW at he same time..

[cestout]

Thanks for the Info. Sounds like the 30A should be ok with the 3/4hp DC. I will start them on at a time. The compressor is on the other circuit. On total consumption, the almost 250 hr project I just finished bumped my electric bill about $30 according to the family CFO, so that is what I charged Clint's Custom Carving. But that project bought my new machine and payed the family budget back what I spent woodworking so far this year.
Thanks
Clint

[CasinoDuck]

Correct me if I'm wrong. But, I don't think they make a 30amp 120v breaker. Now 240v? yes.

[TerryT]

I have a few. Imagine my surprise when I opened the door and found SAWDUST all over everything!
120/240 volt.

[CasinoDuck]

Wow, Thanks for the correction! I'll have a beer to learning something new today!

[brdad]

They do make a 30 amp single pole breaker, however the electrical code does not allow traditional outlets like the CW plugs into to be connected to that line. Doing so makes more power available to the outlet than is safe and creates a fire hazard, even if the wire is the correct size (#10 AWG for 30 amp) for the breaker. In order to be within code, the 30 amp circuit would have to be split up into two 15 or 20 amp circuits.

[SteveNelson46]

Clint

Like you, I have two 30 amp, 120 volt circuits in my shop and run my Carvewright and a 650 CFM dust collector on one of the cricuits. I have NEVER had any problems. I've even started my table saw or my sliding compound miter saw while carving and regularly start and stop a shop vac simultaneously on the same circuit without any problems . When I installed the circuits I pulled 3 number 10 wires through 3/4" conduit from the main, 200 amp circuit breaker outside of my house to each side of my shop (garage).

[CasinoDuck]

They do make a 30 amp single pole breaker, however the electrical code does not allow traditional outlets like the CW plugs into to be connected to that line. Doing so makes more power available to the outlet than is safe and creates a fire hazard, even if the wire is the correct size (#10 AWG for 30 amp) for the breaker. In order to be within code, the 30 amp circuit would have to be split up into two 15 or 20 amp circuits.

Now I don't think more "Power" would be available. I think it might be that at "30" amps for a breaker, if there were ever a short, (being that the CW pulls about 7 to 12 amps) it would take longer to "trip" the breaker. Hence, that being your fire hazard. NO?

[brdad]

Now I don't think more "Power" would be available. I think it might be that at "30" amps for a breaker, if there were ever a short, (being that the CW pulls about 7 to 12 amps) it would take longer to "trip" the breaker. Hence, that being your fire hazard. NO?

Yes, 30 amps would be available as opposed to 20 amps. Available meaning at the outlet, not that the CW would draw more power (under normal conditions) because of it. Assuming the CW is made with parts rated for use on a 20 (or maybe even 15) amp circuit, if there was a short or an overload, more current could be sent through the CW's internal wiring than what it is designed for.

Odds of it happening? probably slim. But many people got by many years by placing larger fuses in the old fuse boxes than they were supposed to, some even got by placing pennies behind them. But a few met with disastrous results.

One of the ways you could protect the CW if it were placed on a 30 amp circuit would be to add a 15 amp fuse at the outlet. Under a short circuit or overload condition the fuse would break much faster than even the correct breaker, let alone a 30 amp one.

[SteveNelson46]

brdad

You are correct! I guess I just didn't tell the whole story. At each of the outlets I also have two 20 amp mini-breaker plugs

[TerryT]

I think most GFCI's run 15 amp. I do have a couple of 50 amp 240v GFCI circuits in one of my panels. Most Home Depot outlets only rated at 15 or 20? So if something does draw 30 amps the outlet may not handle it?

[brdad]

GFCIs can be most any size, but most of the ones you see are 15 or 20 amp. You are actually allowed to have 15 amp outlets on a 20 amp circuit. I'd guess your 50 amp GFCI would run a pool or hot tub heater, or a pool pump, not outlets.

54163

[Digitalwoodshop]

Part of my Sony Factory Automation Classes they brought in the BUSS Fuse People and did some training and showed some Incredible Videos of Overloads.... A Fuse will react much quicker to a overload than a Circuit Breaker as that is just the function of how the Current is detected.....

Then you have Circuit Breaker companies that produce a faulty product and FAKE the Test Results and put the UL and other Certification on the DEFECTIVE PRODUCT.... I can see this as a "Missed" Episode of my Favorite NJ Show... with "Tony Soprano" saying... SHIP IT... Note the Picture in this story.... http://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/local/Federal-Pacific-Electric-Circuit-Breakers-Fire-Danger-I-Team-149541115.html

Here is a 2nd link with a Question and Answer Section.... So the Question is..... When you do a search on this topic and see many links to selling "Replacement Breakers" will you believe the Salesman.... "This is NEW, OLD Stock and is before the problems.... This is GOOD....." Do you believe him? Replacing the WHOLE Panel is best... http://inspectapedia.com/fpe/fpe.htm

Just the other day I hear a House Fire on the Scanner and many Fire Departments called with a second Tanker Fill Site established as this went on from 2:30 PM on the Hottest Day until 10 PM with it spreading to other houses.... A Quote in paper... "He said that He had just installed that Window AC upstairs that was now burning on the roof of the porch..." MY GUESS... Overloaded Up Stairs Wiring and a Hot Wire FIRE..... Due to the AC....

The Electrical Inspector that did my Shop New 200 Amp Service and the New House 200 Amp Panel, was the Son of the guy that taught me in 1975 before I went in the Navy. He said "Nice Work"....


AL