My new shop has 10’ ceilings. My table saw will have the plug in the ceiling but I’m wondering about the lathe plug. Looking for recommendations.
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Ceiling or wall plug?
- Thread starter Webb Willmott
- Start date
I use a ceiling fixture. I do not want my lathe to be close to a wall. Also you may want to bring dust collection, compressed air, and vacuum connection to the lathe. These will best be distributed at ceiling level.
Will your lathe be positioned out in the middle of the room? I keep mine next to a wall so a wall receptacle was a no-brainer. Dust collection and compressed air is also on the wall or the end of the wall.
For random tool use I did install some ceiling receptacles with 110v retractable reels.
JKJ
For random tool use I did install some ceiling receptacles with 110v retractable reels.
JKJ
It’s nice to be able to disconnect the power connection with a thunderstorm on the way to protect the VFD. Personally I wouldn’t want any connections on the ceiling. I’m not the greatest on ladders anymore!
The plug will be switched.
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If you use ceiling mounts you can have a drop of cord to plug into any level you want. This i how I have the lathe set up and if I ever want to move it that is an easy job. Everything else worked for either wall outlet or power strip on neighboring bench or Dust Closet.
I have both wall and ceiling outlets. The lights are all powered by the ceiling fixtures and all the lathes were powered by wall fixtures. Yes they were tripping dangers but all participants were well aware and we never had a problem. The Powermatic has one of those drive over tunnels the cord runs under.
As you can see in the picture I posted in your other thread (lathe placement), my lathe is on a wall receptacle. When I built the shop last year, I ran a 2" Sched 40 PVC conduit in the floor to the middle of the shop. I have 2 240 20A circuits and 1 120v 20A circuit going to the center on the floor. One 240 runs my table saw, the other runs my bandsaw. Then the 120 runs my small bandsaw and the outlet strips mounted underneath the bench tops. The only ceiling receptacles I have are for my lights and the air filter (which is mounted on the ceiling joists). I personally don't like wires hanging down from the ceiling - but that's just a personal preference. If you do have ceiling receptacles, make sure they are locking so your plug doesn't come undone over time (from the weight of the wire).
If you’re still in the planning phase I highly recommend running power and dust collection to the table saw under the floor, much nicer than having drops you have to work around. I did this for TS and planer that sit relatively in the center of my shop.
My ceiling is only 9ft but I have a ceiling outlet for a air filter, and a spring wound power cord.
I have twenty-some 120v outlets around my 18ft x 25ft shop on the walls both at 14” height for stationary tools and at 4ft height for plug access, these are wired on ~4 20A breakers, interleaved so outlets near each other are on different breakers.
I also have dedicated 240v outlets placed on all walls at 14” height for power tools beside the floor 240’s for TS and planer (BS, DC, lathe) with a couple extra should I want to move things around.
My lathe sits near the wall between a window and a corner. This gives me light, and views as well as access to two walls to hang tools on as well as run power, air, and DC from.
Since my back is to the door of my shop I also have a sign outside, and have trained my wife well, to knock before entering and if I haven’t noticed to flash the overhead lightswitch on the wall just inside the door. Being surprised while concentrating on a turning is no fun.
Lastly, just like outlets and clamps, you can never have too much light in a shop; especially as we get older
My ceiling is only 9ft but I have a ceiling outlet for a air filter, and a spring wound power cord.
I have twenty-some 120v outlets around my 18ft x 25ft shop on the walls both at 14” height for stationary tools and at 4ft height for plug access, these are wired on ~4 20A breakers, interleaved so outlets near each other are on different breakers.
I also have dedicated 240v outlets placed on all walls at 14” height for power tools beside the floor 240’s for TS and planer (BS, DC, lathe) with a couple extra should I want to move things around.
My lathe sits near the wall between a window and a corner. This gives me light, and views as well as access to two walls to hang tools on as well as run power, air, and DC from.
Since my back is to the door of my shop I also have a sign outside, and have trained my wife well, to knock before entering and if I haven’t noticed to flash the overhead lightswitch on the wall just inside the door. Being surprised while concentrating on a turning is no fun.
Lastly, just like outlets and clamps, you can never have too much light in a shop; especially as we get older
Roger Wiegand
Beta Tester
All my outlets are at waist or above bench height so I don't have to bend over to use them, except for things that are not near walls, those are on the floor (I used "tombstones" rather than floor outlets to help keep them from filling up with dust) . I'd avoid wiring drops from the ceiling if at all possible. Having to get a ladder to plug and unplug is a pain, having unnecessary obstructions hanging in the space over your tools is even worse.
Dave Landers
Beta Tester
My lathe is plugged into the wall - the headstock is next to a wall, so the power cords (lathe and 115v for lights, accessories) have about a foot or so gap to cross to the wall. All my outlets are above bench height. I do have a few ceiling outlets used for the hanging air filter, bluetooth speaker, and one pull-down extension cord.
In a previous shop, my lathe was more in the middle of the floor, so I put in a twist-lock outlet in the ceiling, right above the back corner of the headstock, so the cord was never in the way. That worked out pretty well. Had the similar arrangement at the bandsaws, with the drops behind the column.
So it's dependent on personal preference and how you plan to set up your shop. Ceiling drops can be great for getting cords off the floor, but if they're not positioned right relative to the machines, the hanging cord will be in the way way worse than something across the floor.
In a previous shop, my lathe was more in the middle of the floor, so I put in a twist-lock outlet in the ceiling, right above the back corner of the headstock, so the cord was never in the way. That worked out pretty well. Had the similar arrangement at the bandsaws, with the drops behind the column.
So it's dependent on personal preference and how you plan to set up your shop. Ceiling drops can be great for getting cords off the floor, but if they're not positioned right relative to the machines, the hanging cord will be in the way way worse than something across the floor.
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My lathe room is a concrete floor, so no in the floor plugs. My old shop was a pole barn, so no problem running conduit down the walls and plugs that way. I got a PM 24 inch planer, and it needs a 50 amp circuit. It had to be run through the attic and is a drop down. Some day, I will get it off the pallets it is on and onto a base I am half way through making. Not excited about the drop down, but it was the only option.
robo hippy
robo hippy
All my tools in the center of t shop ae wired to ceiling outlets, in every case there is an extension cord from the ceiling to the tool so i can unplug them when needed. But my lathe isn't one of those tools, while it isn't against the wall it still gets plugged into a wall out;et.