I'm about to wire a small woodshop, a retiree is making cabinetry, etc. The place will be open, no sheetrock.
I am questioning wheather to use pvc drops ,pvc boxes,pvc covers or emt drops and w/p boxes & covers here.

any advice appreciated, thanx

~Steve

I would go for the EMT over the PVC and you should consider enclosures that are dust tight.

Here we call them Plenum boxes. They have no holes in them and the covers have gasket material glued to one side.

very interesting Pearlfish...... slang aside, is there a proper 'parts' name for these ?

I've found that PVC boxes and especially the covers are prohibitively expensive for anything but the most understanding agricultural work.

Yes, please more info on the plenum boxes!

[This message has been edited by sparky66wv (edited 11-04-2002).]

Sparkey, Appleton lists their 4" box as "4SPD Plenum Box" 2 1/8" deep, and the cover as "8465P Plenum box cover". If you need it in 4 11/16" they are "4SP-JD Plenum box" and "8487P cover".

ok, i'm at the Appleton site, but i'm having trouble locating that exact #'s reference there.....

~PS,
it is my intention to run nm exposed @ 9' on rafters and 'pipe down' , barring any objections here

Steve, being an amature wood worker, I know in my shop (basement) I lean things up against every wall at times. I would lean towards the metal, and dust tight boxes.

Also, if by some chance you may be asked to run the dust collection pipes, there is some concern over static started fires in PVC systems.

If you are asked, let me know and I will try to find an article for you.

Roger

More please!

*fears litigation from future fires from statically charged PVC installations*

Sparky66, this is not the article I was talking about, but I'm at work and don't have it here. This is one I came across on a forum a while back though. http://www.forums.woodnet.net/ubb/Forum2/HTML/000418.html

Roger

Here is the URL for the Plenum boxes on the Appleton site; they are listed in section OB/SB-1.
http://www.appletonelec.com/pdf/SquareArmored.pdf

I have catalog 005 and they are on page 25 in the blue OB/SB-1 section.

I hope this helps.

The static with dust collection issue comes up from time to time.

It seems that no one is able to demonstrate that the problem exists.

One needs enough charged dust to prpagate a flame. That is very difficult to obtain.

I believe that "Fine Woodworking" or "Fine Homebuilding" magazine addressed the issue of static in PVC dust collection systems. The final answer was that the NFPA did not consider the issue to be a risk until you reached CFM levels far above anything a household shop would be able to generate.
As for the wiring, not only do I lean toward EMT (solvent resistance, won't sag over time), but I suggest the use of minerlac hangers (as opposed to bending offsets), and supporting the pipe twice as much as usual.
The clearance that the hangers will give the pipe will prevent dust from collecting there. The additional hangers are for supporting the rags, clamps, etc. that are sure to be hung from the EMT.
Another suggestion: make liberal use of "drop cords." These are cord caps hung from a box on the ceiling, using the rubber-grommet strain relief bushings and short lengths of SO cord.

Pearlfish,
thanks for the pdf link, i'll check it out with my supplier vs. pvc.

As to 'dust collection', i've wired spark detection units in industry , but this is a small residential glorified vacuum cleaner deal here.
My confusion is over area classification if a dust collection system exists, apparently there will be a HEPA air filter system also.

My Dad recently installed a Grizzly Dust Collection System for his basement woodshop. Specs for the installation included running a bare copper wire wrapped externally around the 4 in. (?) ribbed flexible plastic conduits wherever they ran. I couldn't find any info at the site on this though.

It's been brought up John, are there reasons or should i say preferances as to cieling receptacles vs. a cord drop ?

I like the "ceiling drop" in many applications because this is a way of getting power to the middle of the room without running a cord on the floor- where you can trip over it. A "drop" over a table also lets you move around the table at will, without getting tangled up. With the plugs at about 75", they're easy to reach without being at 'head bumping' level.
It's simply a design choice.

cord drops would be a prudent choice in this 24x36 open shop.

i suppose that the issue of dust invasion, vs. box/device, becomes somewhat less a concern also?

I have a vision
inspector is going into a wood shop to inspect for wireing violations trips over a pile of wood and hanges himself on a cord drop that has a twist loc and wont release

Instance red tag LOL