Outlet for table saw and others

[Don1357]

My wood working is going on the second floor, the floor trusses are exposed so I have direct access to the flooring. Should I...

Put the power outlet on the floor to one side of the table cabinet.

Put the power outlet on the floor so the table is on top of it, covering it but potentially burying it on saw dust.

Drill a hole, mounting the outlet on the ceiling below, running the cable through the hole.

I don't think that once installed the table saw will move but then again, what I have thought on the past has come to haunt me...

 

[ez-duzit]

...power outlet on the floor...
Drill a hole, mounting the outlet on the ceiling below, running the cable through the hole...

You don't want the outlet in the floor because it will collect sawdust. Nor do you want a hole in the floor through which sawdust can fall.

 

[u2slow]

IMHO, not on the floor, for the sawdust reasons you cited.

If there's no convenient wall to land on, how about a post bracket with a short 2' stub post and an electrical outlet on the side? My father inlaw built a side/outfeed table sort of thing next to his saw. He mounted the receptacle on the side of it - below the work surface.

 

[Don1357]

You don't want the outlet in the floor because it will collect sawdust. Nor do you want a hole in the floor through which sawdust can fall.

The second one is easy enough to deal with. A fitted plate plus silicon sealant can make it dust proof. Heck I could drill just a hole the thickness of cable and wire the plug on the other side.

 

[u2slow]

The second one is easy enough to deal with. A fitted plate plus silicon sealant can make it dust proof. Heck I could drill just a hole the thickness of cable and wire the plug on the other side.

Sure it will work.

Code may have issues with cord running through structural members. There's also the lack of armour or other mechanical protection at the floor level. A hard shove of the saw could shear off a cord right at the floor.

 

[nadogail]

IMHO, a receptacle (outlet) on a post next to the saw seems to make a lot of sense to me. Please keep in mind that the wiring needs to be protected from physical damage.

Wiring in a shop gets banged into very frequently. Dust protection is also a good idea.

 

[Don1357]

Sure it will work.

Code may have issues with cord running through structural members. There's also the lack of armour or other mechanical protection at the floor level. A hard shove of the saw could shear off a cord right at the floor.

It would be through the 1" floor panel, not structural. Also we are talking about a 1970's Unisaw with full length table extension. It would take one hell of a shove to make it move half an inch.

So far I'm leaning toward mounting it next to the saw body, say on the side with the motor/table extension, and throwing a metal outdoor outlet cover on it like the one on this picture. That usually gets mounted horizontally but I see no reason why it would not work flush on the floor, maybe a bit more gasket to keep it even more dust proof.

 

[Don1357]

Hm... I could also terminate the cable coming through the sub floor with a female cable outlet... that way there would not be a box to catch dust. Again, being next to the fixed in place 400 pound table saw would offer a high degree of protection.

 

[yatg]

Ditch the cord and use conduit and or flex to hardwire the saw to a jbox under the saw.

 

[Don1357]

Ditch the cord and use conduit and or flex to hardwire the saw to a jbox under the saw.

I like the idea of being able to disconnect the saw for blade chances and the like. I'm paranoid that way. That's why I'm pondering between having the box under the floor (cleaner) vs. above floor (convenient).

 

[u2slow]

It would be through the 1" floor panel, not structural. Also we are talking about a 1970's Unisaw with full length table extension. It would take one hell of a shove to make it move half an inch.

By 'structure' I meant any permanent part of the building. While the saw may not move easily, something else heavy or wheeled could shear or crush a cord through a floor when it doesn't have mechanical protection.

There's a lot of ways to make this Code-compliant.

There's also a lot of ways to route a heavy-duty tri-tap extension cord to make your saw work, and plug in a couple other things.

 

[Norcal]

My table saw (Unisaw) is powered through a floor box and I have never had problems with it. Even on the rare times it is emptied out and the shop is hosed out, the OP’s floor is wood and the selection is not as varied as it is for concrete but a listed floor box is better than a hillbilly engineered set up.

 

[Don1357]

By 'structure' I meant any permanent part of the building. While the saw may not move easily, something else heavy or wheeled could shear or crush a cord through a floor when it doesn't have mechanical protection.

There's a lot of ways to make this Code-compliant.

There's also a lot of ways to route a heavy-duty tri-tap extension cord to make your saw work, and plug in a couple other things.

I don't know, it would have the protection of a 400-pound plus object that for all practical purposes is unmovable. I mean seriously; I have attempted to bump this thing to move it and it doesn't want to give an inch. Heck I could screw a wood cleat around the base at which point short of something levitating it I don't see it moving.

I do see your point of the shear forces of a cable sticking through a hole and while the likelihood of anything wheeled or heavy finding its way under the wings of the saw is quite remote, It is not an elegant solution.

Back to the floor mounted outlet, with a dust cover, next to the saw, where it is protected by the sheer mass of the saw itself.

 

[Don1357]

My table saw (Unisaw) is powered through a floor box and I have never had problems with it. Even on the rare times it is emptied out and the shop is hosed out, the OP’s floor is wood and the selection is not as varied as it is for concrete but a listed floor box is better than a hillbilly engineered set up.

There is such a thing as over thinking something like this. I did not invent floor mounted outlets, I just want to find one safe and suitable for my application.

 

[tre873]

I like the idea of being able to disconnect the saw for blade chances and the like. I'm paranoid that way. That's why I'm pondering between having the box under the floor (cleaner) vs. above floor (convenient).

You can wire it to a disconnect, they are reasonably priced and not hard to install.

 

[u2slow]

I do see your point of the shear forces of a cable sticking through a hole and while the likelihood of anything wheeled or heavy finding its way under the wings of the saw is quite remote, It is not an elegant solution.

Back to the floor mounted outlet, with a dust cover, next to the saw, where it is protected by the sheer mass of the saw itself.

Sounds like you've done your own 'risk assessment' and going to do what you want. Nothing wrong with that IMHO - usually how I operate.

The flavour of these forums often becomes Code-or-not trivia...

 

[ez-duzit]

...Back to the floor mounted outlet, with a dust cover...

The dust cover won't be much use with the saw plugged in.

 

[Don1357]

The dust cover won't be much use with the saw plugged in.

It would. With a gasket on it. As it is the dust cover closes shut with a small section for the cable It already has a gasket to keep the water out when mounted on a wall so it would be easy to put a gasket on the cable slot itself.

 

[Norcal]

It would. With a gasket on it. As it is the dust cover closes shut with a small section for the cable It already has a gasket to keep the water out when mounted on a wall so it would be easy to put a gasket on the cable slot itself.

The only gasket on those in use covers is between the box or wall & the cover the rest of it is designed to shed water in the vertical position.

 

[theoldwizard1]

If pendant outlets weren't so expensive, I would say use cord hanging from the ceiling.

You could also just install out boxes on the ceiling, but you might need longer power cords and a step stool to plug thing in.

 

[Showkey]

I like the idea of being able to disconnect the saw for blade chances and the like. I'm paranoid that way. That's why I'm pondering between having the box under the floor (cleaner) vs. above floor (convenient).

This ^^^^^^^^^^^

 

[Don1357]

The only gasket on those in use covers is between the box or wall & the cover the rest of it is designed to shed water in the vertical position.

That's why I'm saying I would put a gasket on the cable slot itself, to improve upon the design.

Everybody, I really appreciate the brainstorming. Please don't take it personally if I don't implement a particular suggestion. I still value your contribution to the process.

 

[bad_idea]

Ditch the cord and use conduit and or flex to hardwire the saw to a jbox under the saw.

You can wire it to a disconnect, they are reasonably priced and not hard to install.

These guys are on the right track. Hardwired with a disconnect switch at the unit. The cost difference will be negligible compared to an outlet and plug. Go look at your A/C unit outside, it has a disconnect switch beside it for the service technician. That disconnect is not to protect the equipment or house (it likely doesn't have a breaker in it, it's just a switch), its to protect the technician when he is working on it. Same principle here with your saw.

Having the plug of the tool go through the floor will make unplugging it for blade changes a real PITA - going up and down the stairs twice every time you change a blade?! Any plug in solution above the floor will be prone to dust intrusion. Don't care how well you gasket it, dust gets in - that's what dust does!