Thread: Adding power to a workbench

Talk to a sparky, if done diy and heaven forbid if any thing happens you will probably not be covered by insurance etc.

Originally Posted by highelve0065

So im currently planning an assembly table/outfeed table/workbench and i want to add power to it as im sick of running an extension cord around my workspace.

I have two options, use a bunch of power boards connected in a string so i have power outlets on 3 sides of the table. Or wire in some standard outlets with an inlet that o could plug an extension lead into.

I would run an extension cord to the bench and attach an expander board (call that one the middle one) to the extension cord and then piggy back expansion boards either side of the bench. If you overload the first (or any) power board it will simply trip out.

Unless you are a non-standard homo-bio form ie someone with more than two hands/arms you will only be able to ever use one power tool at a time anyway.

One situation that might trip more often would be if you run a HD power tool and a shop vac then the middle on might trip.

The are may ways to handle electrical cables.
The neatest ones I have seen are OH cables dangling from flying foxes stretched across the ceiling.
My shed ceiling is too low for a flying fox but that also means I have OH power points within reach on the main roof trusses than run down the centres of my shed.

You dont have to read the rest but FWIW I don't think you can ever have too many power points

Along one truss on the main section of my shed I have 5 double GPOs and 3 of these have 4 way adapters attached to them so I have total of 19 OH GPO OH outlets available.
Many of these have devices permanently plugged into them including
3 spot lights. A CO sensor, 2 exhaust fans, my metal mill, 3 angle grinders, and a dremel, but that still leaves 9 free GPOs.

In the other section of my shed there are 6 double GPOs at OH level above my main WW bench.
These have two spotlights and my DC pressure sensor attached permanently leaving another 9 outlets freely available.

Around the walls there are 7 double GPO and 6 of these have expander boards attached.
One has a 10 way expander board that have permanently connected to then, my 4 charging stations, radio, 2 balances, electrolysis PS, USB charger.
My 5 x 10A machines (MW lathe, WW lathe, MW BS, and DP, grinders) are permanently plugged into these so I don't have to constantly swap out power plugs

I have 6 x 15A circuits, DC OR Welder/Plasma cutter, Compressor, AC, Bandsaw or Belt sander, and 2 that pass through an under floor duct
One is dedicated to my TS / router while the other goes to a 6 way expander board on top of the WW bench and typically has 2 spotlights permanently plugged into it.
This is the one I use to test motors
I prefer to have this expander board loose on top of the bench where I can reach the expander board switches than on the sides of the bench where I may not be able to reach the switches.
OTOH I can understand that if you are making a lot of saw dust on the bench then having the adapters on the sides is probably better.

I often have multiple things happening at the same time from the same adapter , eg testing a motor and cooking some metal bluing parts in an electric frypan and using a power tool. I do have ammeters to inform me if I am likely to go over current but sometimes I forget to use them and the expander boards trip. If that happens again I switch one of the appliances to a different expander board or different circuit.

Clear as mud.

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I have 1 double each end of the bench and 1 lead supplies that which just plugs into a gpo on the nearest wall. As said, unless your a trained octopus, you can only use 1 tool at a time with exception of maybe a shop vac with hose connected to the tool in use.
Suspended sockets from roof/ceiling is also excellent and on a flying fox above the centre of the bench

I had my sparkie put in three suspended power points when I had to have a new ceiling. When the space is empty, it is difficult to judge exactly where you need them so could easily use a couple more but they are better than leads on the floor.

I don’t like powerboards mounted, I prefer proper outlets as they are sturdier and neater and switched. But be careful where you run cables etc to ensure they never get cut or drilled into.

I had a power board on each side of my work bench - real PIA as they got in the way constantly - clamping, planing boards on edge, much assembly work, etc.

So I moved the power boards to the bench ends - better, but still a PIA.

So I moved the power boards to the underside of the bench top - out of the way, but a real PIA to insert a plug into a power board, even awkward to unplug.

And all the above stil left a single extension cord on the floor.

Next, I moved the power boards to the shed walls, and mounted them at heights between 1 and 1.2 metres. This was better, but sometimes stil too close when workbench near wall or large work in progress on bench.

So I moved the power boards up the walls to a height of 1.5 metres. This is best yet, but I still have to run short extension leads across floor to WHe I am working.

Future plan is to go overhead - either suspended or flying fox - similar to that presented by BobL and Tom above.


Cheers

Graeme