Garage Subpanel & 220v Help

[blitz]

Looking for a little help understanding my options, all of my wiring experience has been simple 110v runs.

I'm converting my attached garage into a woodworking shop; it currently has just a single 110V 15 amp outlet that also powers the lights. My original plan was to add 2 more 110v 20amp lines. I'll never have to run more than 2 machines at a time so I was going to run a 1.5HP dust collector off a dedicated line and the tools off a separate line.

I'm going to pick up a larger dust collector and I plan on upgrading my table saw in the near future and with those investments I have been wondering about 220v machinery.

- Main panel is 125 Amps.
- House has a gas stove, no AC
- I have 2 empty breaker spots.

As I understand it I can add either a single 220v line from those 2 empty spots (which wouldn't be enough to run a 2HP dust collector and a 3 HP table saw at the same time) or I can run a sub panel to the garage with those 2 spots instead?

With a 60 AMP subpanel I should be able to run two 220v lines as well as an extra 110v line, correct?

[BerserkerCatSplat]

Since you're running new wire to the garage, 100% run 220V to it with a subpanel. Heck, I have a spare 220V subpanel you can have for free, though it's a bit on the small side (allows up to 8 circuits). It's this one. (https://www.homedepot.ca/en/home/p.48-circuit-100a-120240v-loadcentre.1000406302.html) All you need to do is install a 60A/220v breaker in the main panel and run 6/3 NMD90 out to the shop subpanel, then install your 220 and 110 branch circuits from there.

With 60A service to the subpanel, you could easily install a pair of 220v circuits and a handful of 110V circuits as well. On my 60A/220V subpanel I've got 30A/220V, 50A/220v, 20A/110V, and 3x15A/110V circuits coming out of it. There's no rule saying your branch circuits need to be less total available amperage than the service - if you exceed 60A draw, it just trips the breaker. I've never done it.

[blitz]

Since you're running new wire to the garage, 100% run 220V to it with a subpanel. Heck, I have a spare 220V subpanel you can have for free, though it's a bit on the small side (allows up to 8 circuits). It's this one. (https://www.homedepot.ca/en/home/p.48-circuit-100a-120240v-loadcentre.1000406302.html) All you need to do is install a 60A/220v breaker in the main panel and run 6/3 NMD90 out to the shop subpanel, then install your 220 and 110 branch circuits from there.

With 60A service to the subpanel, you could easily install a pair of 220v circuits and a handful of 110V circuits as well. On my 60A/220V subpanel I've got 30A/220V, 50A/220v, 20A/110V, and 3x15A/110V circuits coming out of it. There's no rule saying your branch circuits need to be less total available amperage than the service - if you exceed 60A draw, it just trips the breaker. I've never done it.

Awesome, thanks man. I was hoping you'd pop in here to answer. Thanks for the offer on the panel, I'll figure out how many circuits I need and I'll let you know.

[BerserkerCatSplat]

No worries bud. Keep in mind you can leave your existing 110V circuit as-is, no need to run your existing circuit off the subpanel unless you want to.

As far as that subpanel goes, normally two 220V breakers would take up the whole thing, but Seimens makes some neat breakers that are a 220V circuit in the middle and two 110V circuits on the outside. (https://www.amazon.com/Siemens-Q21530CT-30-Amp-Circuit-Breaker/dp/B000VIWTE6/ref=sr_1_20?ie=UTF8&qid=1526081188&sr=8-20&keywords=siemens+circuit) I have an extra one that's a 40A/220V + 2x 15A/110V, for example. So you could do up to a pair of 220V circuits and four 110V circuits (4x15A or 4x20A or 2x15A + 2x20A)

[legendboy]

i'm sure i have some extra stablok breakers if your panel is federal. I have a ton of twist lock connectors too