Keyed access to shop power?

[Brian LaShomb]

My woodshop is in the same room that the main panel for the house is in. I would like to have keyed access to cut power to the shop equipment for safety. Is the best way to do this to just run a subpanel? Seems silly being in the same room as the main panel, but adding something like a contactor is quite expensive, and I think that would be per circuit.

Has anyone done anything like this?

[Rod Sheridan]

Yup, did that for my friend.

His shop is wired as a multi-wire branch circuit with the exception of the cyclone and lighting.

I gave hime an enclosed contactor that he used for that.............Rod.

P.S. Ask around, someone will give you a used contactor for free or scrap value.

[Brian LaShomb]

Thanks Rod. Just found a reply from you on a similar thread on Canadian Woodworking forums related to the branch circuit idea. I'll quote it here for reference.


Run a 20 ampere multi-wire branch circuit.

Use 4" square boxes, then you can have 2 X 20A 120V and 1 X 20A 240V circuits in each box.

The most cost effective, flexible solution.............Rod

[Charles Lent]

A sub panel with a key locking door would be the way that I would go. The door on most new panels is even pre-punched to accept a lock assembly. Turn off the shop breakers and lock the door of the panel. You can add breakers for new equipment and not need to worry about the need to add locking hardware because it will already be there. A sub panel located next to a main panel is easy to install and frees up breaker spaces in the main panel too (be sure to plug open breaker spaces - plugs are available for this).

Charley

[Michael W. Clark]

Hi Brian,
Are you wanting to isolate the panel electrically for doing work in the panel or to keep others out of it when you are not in the shop?

If it is for doing work in the panel, I think you would want to lock the breaker in the main panel that feeds the subpanel (or turn off the breaker in the main panel and lock the main panel door). The reason I say this is that if you turn off the breaker in the subpanel, you are still hot where the feed comes into it. I may be wrong, but I think the clamping screws would also be hot. Certainly better than having the subpanel breaker on, but not necessarily 100% safe. I'm not an electrical expert, so those more knowledgable than me may need to correct or confirm this.

If you are only isolating the panel to keep others from turning on shop equipment, then the lockable subpanel door would work, or a lockable disconnect between the subpanel and the main panel.

I personally don't like flipping breakers as a disconnect, but I think based on some of the posts here, most breakers can probably take the frequency of being switched off/on a couple of times a day (if it is a code thing, ask a local electrician or inspector). If you were using a breaker as an off/on switch to start/stop a tool under load that may be a different story.

[Bruce Wrenn]

Breakers aren't allowed to be used as switches, meaning you shouldn't turn them off and on while under load. Disconnects and switches serve this purpose.

[Jason Roehl]

Breakers aren't allowed to be used as switches, meaning you shouldn't turn them off and on while under load. Disconnects and switches serve this purpose.

We've been down this road a few times on this forum. Some breakers are designed for exactly that purpose. Factories and gyms often have all their lights on breakers, with no switches. Besides, I think the OP is talking about locking down the power to the shop so that someone can't accidentally turn on a tablesaw or other power tool and hurt themselves.

[Jeff Erbele]

My woodshop is in the same room that the main panel for the house is in. I would like to have keyed access to cut power to the shop equipment for safety. Is the best way to do this to just run a subpanel? Seems silly being in the same room as the main panel, but adding something like a contactor is quite expensive, and I think that would be per circuit.

Has anyone done anything like this?

Maybe I am missing something but the solution seems simple and inexpensive.
The simplest is flip the shop breakers to off when your are done working in the shop. ...assuming unplugging the machines is not enough protection.
The next level is as simple as installing a lock on the main panel door.
An alternative is to lock out individual machines. Some provide a way to do that. Those that don't would have to be modified.

Who are you concerned about with these precautions? Age? It may matter in how you go about protecting them.

[Rollie Meyers]

My shop has 2 panels inside, one for shop power, & another for the lighting & back storage room power, & they both have main breakers, when I shut off the shop panel, all the receptacles are off, & the compressor too.

Shop panel, main is on the lower right (bolt on breakers so no breaker hold down required).


http://i197.photobucket.com/albums/aa308/RFM959/Picture762.jpg (http://s197.photobucket.com/user/RFM959/media/Picture762.jpg.html)

Inside view.

http://i197.photobucket.com/albums/aa308/RFM959/IMG_0240_zps6a7c4f8e.jpg (http://s197.photobucket.com/user/RFM959/media/IMG_0240_zps6a7c4f8e.jpg.html)

Lighting panel.

http://i197.photobucket.com/albums/aa308/RFM959/IMG_0155.jpg (http://s197.photobucket.com/user/RFM959/media/IMG_0155.jpg.html)

[Mike Cutler]

Rollie
That is a very neat panel.
Wish I could work in panels that neat. :(

To the OP
They make inexpensive, individual, breaker lockout devices that facilitate a lock. Whether you use this, or put in a disconnect, which is the most correct way, is up to you.