15 amp miter saw on 15amp breaker??

rusty1606 · Mar 14, 2013

hi guys! i do alot of creeping on these forums. love all the information! alot of smart guys on here. anyways..
i want to pick up a 15 amp radial arm saw. but my problem is my outlets are only tied to a 15 amp breaker. ive got a few lights attached to the plug im wanting to plug into.
does anyone have any problems using 15 amp tools on a 15 amp breaker? i know im pushing the limits here, but its not going to be running full on all the time. any insight and info would be appreciated!!

pattenp · Mar 14, 2013

The odds are if you have the lights on when the saw starts up the breaker is going to trip. Also being called a 15A saw and actually pulling 15A is a different story.

Teken · Mar 14, 2013

rusty1606 said:
hi guys! i do alot of creeping on these forums. love all the information! alot of smart guys on here. anyways..
i want to pick up a 15 amp radial arm saw. but my problem is my outlets are only tied to a 15 amp breaker. ive got a few lights attached to the plug im wanting to plug into.
does anyone have any problems using 15 amp tools on a 15 amp breaker? i know im pushing the limits here, but its not going to be running full on all the time. any insight and info would be appreciated!!

Since you're in Canada you should have at least one dedicated outlet not attached to anything.

Where is it?

Teken . . .

Zeke · Mar 14, 2013

You may need a delayed trip breaker for start up. Don't be surprised if the saw trips the breaker if you stick it or get it under a heavy load.

Check your wire gauge. You may find that you have 12 ga. wires. If ALL of the wiring from the panel is 12 ga., you can put a 20A breaker in there. If the wiring is in conduit, you can pull in what you need.

theoldwizard1 · Mar 14, 2013

pattenp said:
The odds are if you have the lights on when the saw starts up the breaker is going to trip.

Well, I'll disagree,

Also being called a 15A saw and actually pulling 15A is a different story.

And this is why ^^^^^ !

Just be sure the saw is fully up to speed before you start cutting. Always use a sharp blade. New saws always come with a cheap blade. Go buy a good carbide tipped blade.

pattenp · Mar 14, 2013

I should have said with the lights on and the saw at full load, if it pulls 15A, then the odds are the breaker will trip.

My understanding is saws that are sold using AMPs instead of HP is just another rating for selling and does not represent the continuous running amps of the saw.

theoldwizard1 said:
Wel I'll disagree,

And this is why ^^^^^ !

Just be sure the saw is fully up to speed before you start cutting. Always use a sharp blade. New saws always come with a cheap blade. Go buy a good carbide tipped blade.

James-W · Mar 14, 2013

I have a power miter saw that I bought many years ago. According to the user manual that came with it, the saw draws 12 amps when running. From time to time when I start the saw, it will trip a 20 amp breaker. It doesn't happen all the time, and it never happens while the saw is running. The only time it will trip the breaker is when the saw is started.

rlitman · Mar 14, 2013

theoldwizard1 said:
Just be sure the saw is fully up to speed before you start cutting. Always use a sharp blade. New saws always come with a cheap blade. Go buy a good carbide tipped blade.

Yes. Also, get a thin kerf blade.

BigGMC · Mar 15, 2013

pattenp said:
My understanding is saws that are sold using AMPs instead of HP is just another rating for selling and does not represent the continuous running amps of the saw.

True story.

Rusty -
Radial arm or miter saw? dont' hear much use of radial arm saws anymore.
I have run my Ridgid 12" compound mitre (rated at 15 amps) at many different outlet locations (none of which were dedicated, they were all feeding other things) with no nuisance tripping.

Inrush (starting) current will be large but in short duration, running current will be much less than the "rating". Circuit breakers are thermal devices, the overcurrent condition has to remain for a given time - how much time? depends on how much overcurrent. So unless your circuit is already heavily loaded or, the circuit breaker is old/weak, you should be fine. As mentioned, let the saw get to full speed before beginning cut.

15 amp miter saw on 15amp breaker??

rusty1606

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pattenp

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Teken

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Zeke

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theoldwizard1

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pattenp

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James-W

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rlitman

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BigGMC

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