Which way would you do this?
I plan to install about 8-12 duplex 110 outlets and about 4 or so 220 single outlets in the new shop. All wiring run in 3/4" EMT, surface mounted, and along two adjoining walls. I know that I can run up to three circuits in the conduit (12 ga. /20a.).
A. If I run all the wiring from three circuits (110 and 220) I can run one line of EMT plus j-boxes for drops. This however would only allow me to have 2 110 circuits and all four or so 220 would be on one circuit.
B. But if I choose to split receptacles or to seperate boxes into more circuits, I will have to run twice as much conduit in order to have more circuits.
I am leaning toward more circuits as I have a >1/2-empty 100a. panel box, but am concerned about the EMT clutter, especially having to leapfrog the conduit in places (I don't want to buy a bender and learn to use it if I don't have to), and also the extra expense. I suspect I would run three 110's in one conduit and 2 or 3 220's in another conduit. Would you go to the trouble of running extra circuits or would you save the trouble and expense and run 2-110's and one 220 in one run of conduit?
I should note that the DC will have it's own circuit and breaker. I am a one-man shop so nothing running simultaneously except with the DC. Lighting is already installed on two seperate breakers, so that's not a factor. Only 220 tool right now is the jointer (besides the DC), but would like to have 220 TS and maybe 220 BS in the future, but again only one runing at one time.
Another question: If I were to run all three circuits in one run, can I use any color wire for the 220 hots? I would like to use blk/wht for the 110's, then maybe red/blue for the 220 hots, along with green for the ground. If I use only one ground for all three, will 12ga. be OK or does it have to be larger wire?