Thread: SAWSTOP PCS Circuit requirements for installation, what are they?

I had exactly the same issue when I built my new workshop last year. I had 5 separate 20 amp circuits installed and could not get the saw to start on any of them.
Ended up having to get the sparky back and get him on the phone to sawstop support. They recommended a specific brand of breaker, which fixed the problem.
Cost me quite a bit to fix in the end and it certainly did surprise me that this was not mentioned in the manual at all or online anywhere that I could find.

The brand of breaker should not matter - more likely it will be a breaker (D type) that allows for higher start up currents.

The sparky tried up to a 30amp breaker in the same brand as he originally used and it was still tripping.
The sawstop support guy said that the brand they recommend can take a higher inrush current than usual and the sparky measured the start up current at nearly 50 amps!

Originally Posted by CADScott

The sparky tried up to a 30amp breaker in the same brand as he originally used and it was still tripping.
The sawstop support guy said that the brand they recommend can take a higher inrush current than usual and the sparky measured the start up current at nearly 50 amps!

Just increasing the breaker current won't always do it, AND can be dangerous because this can start a fire especially if the wiring is not rated for 30A.

A C type breaker should be able to handle ~6x its rated current for about a second, whereas a D Type breaker will handle about 12x its rated current.

I had the same problem with my DC which gets to 65A on start up. All I did was change the breaker type - same (budget) brand of breaker was used.

Interesting. I'll get scoffed at but for the first few months I had my sawstop PCS I ran off of a standard 10A circuit never tripped it once. Even on 60mm thick stock.

Originally Posted by hurcorh

Interesting. I'll get scoffed at but for the first few months I had my sawstop PCS I ran off of a standard 10A circuit never tripped it once. Even on 60mm thick stock.

How on earth did you get the plug into the socket? Or don't I want to know? (I'm assuming your PCS has a 15 amp plug on the end, I'm sure mine does?)

It just plugged into my extension cord without force. Yep 15A plug.

Originally Posted by hurcorh

Interesting. I'll get scoffed at but for the first few months I had my sawstop PCS I ran off of a standard 10A circuit never tripped it once. Even on 60mm thick stock.

10A GPO circuits usually have a 16A or 20A breaker on them and if it was a D type breaker its no wonder the SS ran on that circuit. The breaker rating is really only there to protect the wiring. Legally you can have multiple 10A or less devices running on the same circuit but if they are 15A or more you are supposed to have them on a dedicated circuit and breaker. On 60 mm stock it wont draw more than about 12A.

Hi All,

Circuit has been upgraded to a breaker with "motor start" capability and a new safety breaker also added to the circuit.
Now, it all runs fine with no trip outs.
So its just a matter of being careful with the circuit because a motor draws a lot to get started and then you are right to go!.
Just wish SawStop had put in the manual so I could have ordered the right stuff first time around!!

Just been pointed here from my own post. Wish I'd seen this about 6 weeks ago when sparky was installing new circuits - he put in a 16A C Curve breaker and about 30% of the time it trips on startup. I'm thinking saw is duff and something seriously wrong then I start reading about D curves for motors. Supplier and Sawstop probably should have interest in noting this for people buying their products but maybe they assume we will already know.