I just had my breaker box upgraded yesterday. I was recently gifted with a used 4 seater hottub and have been busy with a few projects surrounding that (one being my first ever concrete pour of a 7×7 slab. Thank God for good friends…). I needed a 220 installed and my old box was totally maxed.
I have lived in this house for 8 years now and had to undo a good amount of damage of one of the DIYers that lived here previously. I had replaced nearly all the light switches and electric sockets over time and noted that there was always a ground wire in the wiring. However, when the electrician replaced the box, he noticed that every single ground was disconnected at the breaker box. The pevious installer never bothered to tie any of them in. So for the last 8 years, none of my surge protectors were really working and I was at risk using all these relatively high amp machines with cast iron tables…Yikes!
For woodworkers who are establishing their shop in an older home where the history is not so well known, you might want to have an electriciian inspect the wiring. It really isn’t all that expensive (I paid about 700 for a complete box and breaker upgrade and a 220 installation) and can not only save your tools but potentially your life. Now I am firmly grounded, a little safer in the workshop, and have some sufficient space in the box to expand my future electrical needs.
David