Hard wired tools (e.g. mill) where circuitry is behind sheetrock

[67King]

Installed a 90 Amp sub panel several years ago. Powered a small mill, bandsaw, welder, lift, and air compressor. i've added circuits as I have needed them, using either AC or PVC conduit, depending on the size of the cable. It is pretty piecemeal, and starting to look bad, aesthetically.

Right now, the panel is kind of close to a sink (moved the sink after I installed the panel). The big driver here, though, is that I need to run a circuit to charge an EV. So either the 14-50, or the Tesla wall charger thing. Regardless, it will be probably 6/3 wiring, so pretty big. And unfortunately, it will need to go on the opposite wall as the sub panel. By far the easiest thing to do will be to run across the ceiling. Which seems to typically mean behind the sheetrock. So I figure if I go that route, I might just push all the wiring behind the sheetrock.

On the lift, bandsaw, and welder, not a problem, those have recepticals. The air compressor is actually a fair distance away, goes through a couple of walls, etc., so I can handle that. But I'm not sure about the mill. When tools are hard wired and the cable is behind the wall, what do people usually do there? Do you just have an open box, and have cable terminated, and then splice into the cable there? Or do you put a receptical on it? Or something different?

Or am I entirely nuts for wanting to move stuff behind the walls? I figure I won't have to go through any vertical studs, just the top, and drop down the cable from the ceiling. Joists are trussed, so I have a foot or so of space in the cieling to work with, so it will be relatively easy.

 

[alfredeneuman]

When tools are hard wired and the cable is behind the wall, what do people usually do there? Do you just have an open box, and have cable terminated, and then splice into the cable there? Or do you put a receptical on it? Or something different?

The easiest way to do it use an extension box on it, and convert into a surface mounted box.
Something like this:https://www.garvinindustries.com/el...MIlaS7xOyY4gIVA_5kCh2ZuwWMEAQYAiABEgKOJ_D_BwE
It will mount to any single or 2 gang switch box or switch ring (to use on a 2 gang box just rotate it 90°)
There available in 4" square boxes too.

 

[BillK]

Or am I entirely nuts for wanting to move stuff behind the walls?

I think so. If anything spend your time and make the present setup look nicer if thats what you want. The minute you put that stuff in the wall you will decide you need another machine or need to move one of the ones you already have. Then what ??

 

[rsanter]

All of my machine equipment plugs in, I don’t hard wire any of them.
I can only use one machine at a time so I often plug and unplug as needed

 

[67King]

Thanks for the responses. Good point about potentially adding, though I don't have room for more equipment!!!! Anyway, I have discovered something that kind of changes my approach. I thought I ran 90 Amps.....but I only ran 50. So I only have 6/3 NM going there.

I need to add another 50 Amp circuit. Or maybe more, I think the car I'm buying is limited to under 50 Amps, but Tesla seems to recommend running 100 Amp, though they have it set up so two cars can charge together, and it will kind of trade off. I know that wihtouth their charger, they are limited to 30 Amps.

Anyway, tangential. I have two options here. One is to upgrade the 6/3 to a heavier gauge (I think 3/3 - will want to stay NM because it is all inside, but I'm running through some walls and joist areas where I can't really run conduit). The other is that instead of upgrading my existing panel to 100 Amp, I could just pull the circuit for the charger straight off the panel in teh basement. That would mean I'd be buying about 100' of 6/3, rather than 50' of 3/3 (and re-using the 6/3 that is already there). I'm inclined to guess 100' of 6/3 will be cheaper. But, won't there be slight losses with any added circuit and panel? The more I think about it, the more I think that makes the most sense.

Opinions?

 

[wyliesdiesels]

Thanks for the responses. Good point about potentially adding, though I don't have room for more equipment!!!! Anyway, I have discovered something that kind of changes my approach. I thought I ran 90 Amps.....but I only ran 50. So I only have 6/3 NM going there.

I need to add another 50 Amp circuit. Or maybe more, I think the car I'm buying is limited to under 50 Amps, but Tesla seems to recommend running 100 Amp, though they have it set up so two cars can charge together, and it will kind of trade off. I know that wihtouth their charger, they are limited to 30 Amps.

Anyway, tangential. I have two options here. One is to upgrade the 6/3 to a heavier gauge (I think 3/3 - will want to stay NM because it is all inside, but I'm running through some walls and joist areas where I can't really run conduit). The other is that instead of upgrading my existing panel to 100 Amp, I could just pull the circuit for the charger straight off the panel in teh basement. That would mean I'd be buying about 100' of 6/3, rather than 50' of 3/3 (and re-using the 6/3 that is already there). I'm inclined to guess 100' of 6/3 will be cheaper. But, won't there be slight losses with any added circuit and panel? The more I think about it, the more I think that makes the most sense.

Opinions?

where is this?

In an attached or detached garage?

 

[alfredeneuman]

Wylie

will want to stay NM because it is all inside,

 

[67King]

where is this?

In an attached or detached garage?

Attached. Kind of a split level like layout. Panel in small unfinished part of basement, cable goes from panel up to floor joists from above (basement ceiling, but again unfinished), across to garage, and through the wall there, coming out where the sheetrock meets the cinder block on the interior of the garage.