Hey folks. It looks like I'm actually going to be able to do the work necessary to add electricity to my garage this summer, meaning it will be usable as a shop. (Finally, a space where I can run a bandsaw!)
I'm looking for input on number of circuits. The background here is that I haven't had a space where I could use powered tools in something like five years, so 99% of what I'm doing now is hand tool work. I have a bandsaw, drill press, hollow chisel mortiser, and chop saw. The first three will be pretty much set up permanently, and the chop saw will come out for construction projects. I probably won't add any new power tools, except possibly a router table, in the next year, but I may add some machining tools (a milling machine and metal lathe) eventually. The garage currently has one circuit, of decaying 1940's era armored cable with no ground. That's getting ripped out, and a new subpanel will be installed with a run back to the main panel.
My plan at the moment is:
1) Two 20 amp circuits, with adjacent boxes at each drop point. That way I can plug a task light into circuit one, and the bandsaw into circuit two, or something like that. They'll get different colored faceplates and outlets.
2) One 15 amp circuit for lighting.
3) I'll prep for a single 240V circuit, with the expectation of wiring it if I get equipment that needs it.
4) I'll make sure there's room on the subpanel to do electric heat if I decide that's necessary.
I have an uncle who was an electrician to make sure I get wiring sizes right, but he doesn't run a wood shop and can't tell me what I've overlooked in that sense.
So: what am I forgetting?