Power to your workbench

[dougcoug]

I am curious to how you guys are getting enough outlets to the workbench area of your garage. I'm getting ready to place a pegboard above my workbench but I wanted to leave enough room for a powerstrip of some sort that I could place along the wall. I don't need too many outlets (6-8) but all basic powerstrips have the outlets so close together that it could reduce the number available sockets when things are plugged in. I looked at the Tripp Lite 6' power strip but who wants to spend $70 for a powerstrip.

 

[428]

I have a standard kitchen counter top with back splash on this bench. I cut out holes in the back splash and mounted receptacles in it. Probably have less than 5 bucks in it as I re-used old recep's I had around.
Gives me 6 outlets on the bench.

 

[sjsfire]

I used Wiremold surface mount boxes and conduit. Got 3 boxes of double recepticles along my workbench. Looks more "finished' that way

 

[74-77Camaro]

I looked at the Tripp Lite 6' power strip but who wants to spend $70 for a powerstrip.

You can similar items cheaper. Fry's Electronics has them for under $24.

http://shop4.outpost.com/product/4215624?site=sr:SEARCH:MAIN_RSLT_PG

I watch them at my local store hoping they will go on sale!

 

[PAToyota]

People tell me it is overkill, but I have four circuits with receptacles every four feet around the main floor of my garage - two circuits to each half and the circuits alternate one box to the next. Then I have a single 220V circuit for each half. Then there are the high amp 220V circuits for welder and plasma cutter. Plus the dedicated circuits for compressor and TIG welder...

 

[JohnZ]

I have pegboard on the wall above the backsplash on my main bench too, mounted on 1x2 furring strips; I have duplex outlets in the wall every 16", and cut the pegboard around each one - each outlet hole is also framed with furring strips.

 

[wythors]

I have a 36" one of these above my workbench.

 

[JohnHenrys48]

This is what I've done. sounds a little like what you've described. It's been a couple of years so I don't remember what I paid for the strips, but it was around $50 per. at Home Depot I think they are 60 inches long with an outlet about every 6 inches. I can get a better picture if you like.

Hope this helps.

Jim

 

[z28toz06]

Anyone have them on the front of the bench instead of the wall above the bench? It would seem safer having them off the bench instead of across the work surface.

 

[Rader Rods]

I just built a 24' bench across one wall, with pegboard (8') in the middle and shelves (8') on each sides. I put in duplex plugs on top every 6' and under the bench I added 4, spaced out. I intend to install some overhead lighting this weekend. There is a distant picture here, http://pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/raderrods/album?.dir=adf2re2&.src=ph
before I wired it up.

 

[428]

One thing I've seen on professional benches like our electrical shop at work.
Take a look at John Henry's bench. Where the board is in the front under the top, put recepts there. That's where we have them at work.
That way you don't have to drag your cord across the work bench and get it tangled up in your work. You can put in as many boxes as you like and have several things plugged in at once stored under the bench instead of laying them on the bench with the cord in the way.

If that makes any sense.

 

[dougcoug]

Thanks a bunch guys. You've really given me some great ideas to work with here.

 

[PAToyota]

My earlier post concerned the wall receptacles, but another thought about receptacles at workbenches...

My father did this on his workbench and I plan on using the idea too. His workbench is freestanding, so he wired it up with receptacles at the front legs so that the cords don't reach across the workbench surface and you don't have to crawl back under the bench to plug them in at the wall. He just has a cord coming out of the one electrical box mounted on the bench and you plug that into the wall. Then, at the box that it comes into, it runs through a standard lightswitch. This way he can flip the switch and anything plugged in at the bench is turned off.

Especially nice with things like a soldering iron that isn't "visibly" on or running but could create a serious problem if forgotten.

 

[JohnHenrys48]

One thing I've seen on professional benches like our electrical shop at work....If that makes any sense.

That makes sense to me. Not sure why I didn't do that. I try to keep the bench top clear of any work, just use it for current projects, and clear them off when I'm done. When the cord does become a bother I use an outlet farther down the bench. But placing them in front would have been a great feature.

 

[Charles (in GA)]

I have two identical freestanding workbenches, one about twenty years newer than the other. both are 8 ft long and 3 ft deep with 6 2x4 legs and 3/4 plywood on top. The older bench I put a 6 ft long wiremould outlet strip (3 prong) on the underside of the front of the bench, and a old two prong on the back of the bench. Both are wired together and have a cord and plug that plugs into the wall outlet.

On the newer bench I used three handy boxes with brackets made on them that allowed them to bolt to my workbench legs. All wired to a octogon box with a cover and cord to the wall.

Only reason for outlets on the back or above the workbench are for items like chargers and soldering irons. Otherwise you want the outlets on the front of the bench.

Charles