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+--- Thread: Rewire for 22v (/showthread.php?tid=113)
Rewire for 22v - Froglips - 07-14-2012 01:28 PM
I am wondering how one can determine if a power tool can be rewired for 220v. My new shop is turning out to be a bit more amperage limited than I had hoped. My electrician has told me that 220v equipment draws have the amps of 110v. I understand Ohm's Law so that makes sense but it does seem like I am getting something for nothing. Nevertheless, I wonder if any of my power tools could be switched over to 220v and how I would determine this.
Thanks!
RE: Rewire for 22v - RandyM68 - 07-14-2012 08:00 PM
There may be a way to do it with a voltage converter but I don't really know. It seems simple enough, but I never checked into it. I know you can get 6 and 12 volts out of 110, you can probably find a converter to get 110 out of a 220 plug. I doubt you will be able to re-wire the actual tool, though. Some motors are designed to run on either 110 or 220 by changing a couple of wires around, so you might get lucky, but I doubt it. You could also just put five horse motors on everything. That would be cool, but I don't think it would be very cheap.
RE: Rewire for 22v - Tom - 07-15-2012 08:56 AM
Some motors are set up to run both voltages if the motor isn't I'm not sure if you can do anything but get new motors and who can afford that. I can't believe the prices on a 110v 3/4 horse motor. What do they do make the windings out of gold? Just remember most likely you will not have all the saws turned on at once. If you can get away with just running one 220 motor at a time that should be ok. An electrician is probably looking at it as a worse case situation where you will have all of your 220 stuff going at the same time. He has got to look at it that way to cover his butt in case of fire or melting wires. How many pieces will you be running at one that takes 220? If all possible keep your machines at the higher voltage they are so much cheaper to run than a 110 under a load. Those motors can draw a lot of amps under a load and that makes the electric meter on your house turn much faster! And of course that means more money to operate.
RE: Rewire for 22v - RandyM68 - 07-15-2012 09:32 AM
If you are the only one working, you'll likely only be running one tool, and maybe a dust collector, at the same time. I know that I have way too much wired on one circuit, but I'm the only one working, and mostly, the tools are only running for a few minutes at a time.
Like Tom said, he's looking at worst case scenario on the amperage. The electrical code has a huge built in safety factor. I believe they rate the wiring at maybe 10% of actual overload, just to make sure.
Unless you have several people working with you at the same time, I doubt that you'd ever have a problem.
RE: Rewire for 22v - Froglips - 07-16-2012 03:22 PM
(07-15-2012 09:32 AM)RandyM68 Wrote: If you are the only one working, you'll likely only be running one tool, and maybe a dust collector, at the same time. I know that I have way too much wired on one circuit, but I'm the only one working, and mostly, the tools are only running for a few minutes at a time.
Like Tom said, he's looking at worst case scenario on the amperage. The electrical code has a huge built in safety factor. I believe they rate the wiring at maybe 10% of actual overload, just to make sure.
Unless you have several people working with you at the same time, I doubt that you'd ever have a problem.
Thanks everyone. I think my biggest issue won't be the total load at any time. I will be running at worst case concurrently the dust collector (3hp at 220v), an air compressor, a table saw, assorted chargers and lights. My challenge is that I wanted to have a 110v 20 amp circuit for the other power tools like band saw, planer, joiner, etc. and another separate breaker for plugs for hand tools and chargers. That looks to me like four 20 amp breakers and a 10 for lights which leaves 10 amps for the garage door openers and in floor heat recirculation pumps. I guess the table saw will have to share with all the other power tools.
RE: Rewire for 22v - razorsharp - 01-23-2013 12:55 PM
(07-16-2012 03:22 PM)Froglips Wrote:(07-15-2012 09:32 AM)RandyM68 Wrote: If you are the only one working, you'll likely only be running one tool, and maybe a dust collector, at the same time. I know that I have way too much wired on one circuit, but I'm the only one working, and mostly, the tools are only running for a few minutes at a time.
Like Tom said, he's looking at worst case scenario on the amperage. The electrical code has a huge built in safety factor. I believe they rate the wiring at maybe 10% of actual overload, just to make sure.
Unless you have several people working with you at the same time, I doubt that you'd ever have a problem.
Thanks everyone. I think my biggest issue won't be the total load at any time. I will be running at worst case concurrently the dust collector (3hp at 220v), an air compressor, a table saw, assorted chargers and lights. My challenge is that I wanted to have a 110v 20 amp circuit for the other power tools like band saw, planer, joiner, etc. and another separate breaker for plugs for hand tools and chargers. That looks to me like four 20 amp breakers and a 10 for lights which leaves 10 amps for the garage door openers and in floor heat recirculation pumps. I guess the table saw will have to share with all the other power tools.
The easiest way to see if a motor will run on 220v is to look at the little plate that lists the amp draw, motor type, service factor and the like. It will list the amps at each voltage the motor is able to run on. Many 120v tools will run on 220v with the correct modifications. It normally involves opening up the cover plate and connecting a set of numbered wires in a different order than they were, and changing the plug on the end of the cord. Sometimes a new switch is needed, but not normally. Most Delta equipment can be run on 220v, some Craftsman (especially the older stuff) can be adapted as well. Every tool I have that can be runs on 220v.
BJ