Dangerous or not?

[notquitegto]

My old man just put up a huge pole barn and has set up a wood shop inside of it.

I came out to take a look at the progress and he had just finished wiring the woodshop. Here's what he did: He has ten two-space boxes around the room. In each box he has wired a 15A 110 receptacle and a 30A 220v receptacle. One 15A breaker for the 110's, one 30A breaker for the 220's. Oh yeah, he also ran 14 gauge for 110 outlets and 12 gauge for the 220.

I know I overdid it safety-wise in my own attached garage and I'm certainly no expert, but this does not sound like the safest set up to me...

Mike

 

[oleguy]

not safe.code requires #10 for a 30 amp ckt.14 ga is fine on a 15 amp.# 12 is for 20 amp.

 

[Mike83]

I would have run 12ga for the the 110V and used 20amp breakers and 10ga (at least) for the 220V with a 30amp breaker. The 12ga wire will be the weak link if it has such a high cap breaker.

 

[notquitegto]

That's kinda what I was thinking. I know I run #10 minimum for a 220 circuit. #12 for any outlets.

I had thought you weren't supposed to run a series of 220's off one circuit. I thought they should have a designated line for each. However, I could see that be a problem if you have 220 warehouse lights for instance. I'm still learning...

Mike

 

[sberry]

14/15 circuits are for lights, for shop recepts 12/20 for 120V. There are some cases where 12/30 are acceptable but it is based on the connected equipment and calculated load and they are dedicated. If you have a general use 30A circuit (where there is the possibility of more than one thing in use at a time then it would require a 10 wire. There are cases for general 240 circuits in a wood shop but need some calculations.

 

[sberry]

I know I run #10 minimum for a 220 circuit.

Depends on the demands of the circuit, lots of 14/240 circuits in the world.

 

[SurgePGH]

Running 12 Ga for the recepticles is fine as long as you have a 20 Amp recepticle. The draw back to running a 12 Ga wiring and 15 amp receps is if some one is ever in the panel and doing some re-wiring. The electrician sees the 12 gauge wire, throws a 20 amp breaker on it and the recep is only rated at 15 amps... Keep it even across the board. 15 amp recep = 14 Gauge wire = 15 amp breaker. The 30 amp circuit is gonna require 10 gauge wire.

First post on GJ.COM, This is probably one of the greatest group of guys I have ever run in to in any forum. Keep up the great work.

 

[mrb]

Running 12 Ga for the recepticles is fine as long as you have a 20 Amp recepticle. The draw back to running a 12 Ga wiring and 15 amp receps is if some one is ever in the panel and doing some re-wiring. The electrician sees the 12 gauge wire, throws a 20 amp breaker on it and the recep is only rated at 15 amps... Keep it even across the board. 15 amp recep = 14 Gauge wire = 15 amp breaker. The 30 amp circuit is gonna require 10 gauge wire.

First post on GJ.COM, This is probably one of the greatest group of guys I have ever run in to in any forum. Keep up the great work.

actually 15 amp receptacles are fine on a 20 amp circuit. The exception being a single receptacle (not a duplex, but a single outlet) would have to be a 20amp for a 20 amp circuit.