Shop 240 volt wiring

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MRDucks2

MRDucks2

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Bristow, IN
Quick and easy (OK, call it 220 if it makes you feel better):
When wiring 240 volt for your woodworking/hobby shop did you go 2 wire or 3 wire?
I am installing 2 different circuits of 240 so I guess I could do 1 of each, but amongst our tools it seems 2 wire is pretty standard.

If you do not get the basis of the question, that's OK, don't feel obligated to try and clarify.

Thanks for the feedback!
 
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Most 240 volt motors are 3 wire, 2 hots and a ground. You can probably use either 10-2 for 30 amp or 12-2 for 20 amp. You just have to mark the white wire with red electrical tape at both ends to indicate it is hot.
 
It depends completely on what tools you are using, what their requirements are and what plugs they have.

240V tools with a 3 prong plug are 2 hots and a ground, but with 4 prongs are 2 hots, a neutral and a ground. Some 240V tools/appliances have a 120V component and they need the neutral since either of the 2 hots to neutral is 120V. It is unsafe and against code to use the ground for this purpose. If it were me, I'd get the 3 conductor (3+bare ground) and run that. Then you are covered. If your tools/appliance outlet doesn't need the neutral, put a wire nut on it and leave it in the box behind the outlet. Someday you may be glad you did it this way.

Disclaimer: I am NOT an electrician, I never played one on TV and I did not stay at a Holiday Inn Express last night.
 
I am an electrician and played one for 43 years. I will agree with Dave on this pull the 3 wire for future use if not needed now. Never know what happens down the road but you will be covered. Make sure you use the correct size wire though. You can go larger but not smaller as long as you use proper sized breaker.
 
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