Hi! Just building my table for my Shapeoko 4 XXL and I am installing a new separate circuit from my subpanel in the shop. My question is placement of the outlet on the wall. Is there any advantage to putting the power outlets on the back right or left of the CNC? I just want to make sure that I get this set up in the best possible way. Thanks in advance!
Scott
The back left is where the router cord exits, and the power supply for the machine itself has a bit of cord length so is more flexible.
Hi Scott. When I first got my machine, I considered the same thing…what I didn’t realize then was that, like many others who own one of these, I wanted to wire up a “control panel” with switches for the Shapeoko, the router, the lights, a laser, your computer, the dust collector, etc. Once you jump down that rabbit hole, where you place the outlet is far less important!
LOL - thanks Gary! To tell you the truth, I’m down that rabbit hole already! Placed the outlet at back left as Will suggested. As soon as the rest of the shipment shows up I’ll start assembly.
I have an Ortur Pro laser now with an enclosure, lights, etc so I’m prepared to build the cnc enclosure eventually too!
Thanks so much for your reply!
Scott
Check with an electrician about placement. It may not be an issue for you but the city code for me is that if the plug is less than 6’ from the ground in the garage, the plug must be GFCI. I didn’t want mine on a GFCI circuit so I had my extra plugs installed above 6’.
Wondering why you dont want gfic. My whole shop is gfci except one recepticle. That one runs my jet variable speed lathe that sometimes trips the gfci.
sometime trips the GFCI
That’s pretty much it in a nutshell — false positives are the bane of using such.
I did install one such outlet to plug the computer/machine into and thus far it hasn’t had a false trip, but it’s gone the first time it does so.
My entire shop, except for my 220 equipment, runs on GFCI-protected circuits. They are chained through the first receptacle of each run. Maybe I’m just lucky, but not a single false positive in 20+ years. I like the peace of mind of knowing they’re there.
Hi Scott
I run my Shapeoko on two circuits. I have the vac on one circuit and the router and computer and any items such as power supply and chargers for things split on the two circuits. Each circuit is on a different power leg and from the wall. I go to power strips to connect the items. The power strips have long lead in wires to allow me to place the roll around table in the shop where I need it. Place the power strips in your table where it is easily accessed. By using power from two legs you eliminate any power surge from turning on the vac. Before setting up the two power strips I had the program stall once when I turned the vac on during a cut. the two circuits eliminated this issue.
Anthony
As Will mentioned, I didn’t want the gfci tripping in the middle of a job.
As for the vac, I am using BitRunner but I have it plugged into one of these Automatic Vac Switch
It has a delayed start of 1 sec on the vac and has a delayed shutoff of 3 seconds. Also you can easily run the vac without running the router.
May be a little off-topic but thought it was worth mentioning.
Not sure about the US but in UK and Europe the RCDs (GFCIs) work on the cumulative difference in current across the entire attached wiring & load. Where you have lots of circuits, each of which might have a small leakage this sums up to enough to make the RCD either trip immediately or be oversenstivite. It is common practice now to use combined circuit breaker and RCD on each smaller circuit which both constrains the affected system (refrigerators on separate circuits) and reduces the nuisance trip rate.
Liam
In US gfci is required any place that can be wet. Outside circuits, garages, sheds and kitchens and bathrooms. You can put a gfci breaker on for each circuit or the first recepeicle on each circuit. The gfci breakers are double wide so they take up precious room in your breaker box. The gfci recepticle solves that problem so breaker only takes up one space and not two.
My breaker box is full. I do have two spare breakers not used currently. Both are 120.
In living space bedrooms and living rooms and spaces with no water arc fault is required. Now they have combo gfci/arc breakers.
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