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I'm looking for insights and guidance.
Context.
My 3-bay garage is being used for a 1-bay garage and 2-bay woodworking shop, but I don;t yet have the shop set up. All of my existing tools are currently 110/120v. I anticipate getting a "new to me" table saw with 220v ([possibly 3-phase), but everything else will remain 110/120v - 14-inch bandsaw, 17-inch drill press, multiple routers & sanders, wood lathe, 12-inch planer, 6-inch joiner, portable air compressor, smaller hand tools, etc. I will virtually always be the only person working with tools in the shop, but there could be some rare occasions when one of my sons may be there working with me. That said, about the majority of times when multiple outlets will be runnings is for the lights and my dust collection/filtration systems in conjunction with one of the primary tools like table saw, band saw, joiner, planer, etc.
Current electrical supply.
The garage was built with the house 15 years ago with two garage door opener outlets in the 11' high ceiling, and a single outlet on the wall shared with the home. To supply my shop, I've had a licensed electrician install a 100 amp subpanel for me which is fed from my main house 200 amp panel (the extra cost was minimal to go with 100 amps as opposed to 60 amps). The new sub has either 12 or 20 slots, so I have ample room for what I need to run. The sub is also wired to supply either 110v or 220v for my new circuits.
THE GOAL:
I will be running individual 110v circuits for each of my primary tools (table saw, band saw, drill press, dust collector, portable air compressor, and wood lathe). I'll also run several additional circuits, some being dedicated to a single outlet, and most being run to several outlets per circuit plus a new lighting circuit for new overhead LED lighting strips.
I do not want to run a bunch of PVC or metal conduit for each of these runs throughout the garage. Getting inside the walls is not going to happen, either, so everything will be surface mount. I want the appearance to be neat, tidy, accessible for expansion/modification, easy to keep clean (no dust collection), and have the overall look be something which would not detract from home resale (it is a higher end home in a very nice neighborhood).
CURRENT PLAN (pun NOT intended):
I'm considering using a self-built boxed in chase around the upper perimeter of the garage (there is no crown molding) for the bulk of the circuit distribution, and then have multiple low-profile drop chases down from the this ceiling elevation chase to reachable receptacle/switch boxes. I'm considering maxes the chases from wood (i.e. 1x4's or 1x6's and 1x2's) with removable front panels. I would even be willing to consider using strips of sheet plastic (HDPE, LDPE, Lexan, polycarbonate, etc.) for the fronts of the chases.
Question.... What do you guys think about my self-built chase concept? Suggestions? Code issues/solutions? Does the chase enclosure need to be vented at all for heat dissipation?
Thanks ahead of time for sharing your thoughts and ideas.
Context.
My 3-bay garage is being used for a 1-bay garage and 2-bay woodworking shop, but I don;t yet have the shop set up. All of my existing tools are currently 110/120v. I anticipate getting a "new to me" table saw with 220v ([possibly 3-phase), but everything else will remain 110/120v - 14-inch bandsaw, 17-inch drill press, multiple routers & sanders, wood lathe, 12-inch planer, 6-inch joiner, portable air compressor, smaller hand tools, etc. I will virtually always be the only person working with tools in the shop, but there could be some rare occasions when one of my sons may be there working with me. That said, about the majority of times when multiple outlets will be runnings is for the lights and my dust collection/filtration systems in conjunction with one of the primary tools like table saw, band saw, joiner, planer, etc.
Current electrical supply.
The garage was built with the house 15 years ago with two garage door opener outlets in the 11' high ceiling, and a single outlet on the wall shared with the home. To supply my shop, I've had a licensed electrician install a 100 amp subpanel for me which is fed from my main house 200 amp panel (the extra cost was minimal to go with 100 amps as opposed to 60 amps). The new sub has either 12 or 20 slots, so I have ample room for what I need to run. The sub is also wired to supply either 110v or 220v for my new circuits.
THE GOAL:
I will be running individual 110v circuits for each of my primary tools (table saw, band saw, drill press, dust collector, portable air compressor, and wood lathe). I'll also run several additional circuits, some being dedicated to a single outlet, and most being run to several outlets per circuit plus a new lighting circuit for new overhead LED lighting strips.
I do not want to run a bunch of PVC or metal conduit for each of these runs throughout the garage. Getting inside the walls is not going to happen, either, so everything will be surface mount. I want the appearance to be neat, tidy, accessible for expansion/modification, easy to keep clean (no dust collection), and have the overall look be something which would not detract from home resale (it is a higher end home in a very nice neighborhood).
CURRENT PLAN (pun NOT intended):
I'm considering using a self-built boxed in chase around the upper perimeter of the garage (there is no crown molding) for the bulk of the circuit distribution, and then have multiple low-profile drop chases down from the this ceiling elevation chase to reachable receptacle/switch boxes. I'm considering maxes the chases from wood (i.e. 1x4's or 1x6's and 1x2's) with removable front panels. I would even be willing to consider using strips of sheet plastic (HDPE, LDPE, Lexan, polycarbonate, etc.) for the fronts of the chases.
Question.... What do you guys think about my self-built chase concept? Suggestions? Code issues/solutions? Does the chase enclosure need to be vented at all for heat dissipation?
Thanks ahead of time for sharing your thoughts and ideas.