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Probably a silly question, but...

13K views 13 replies 12 participants last post by  Lonestar_78  
#1 · (Edited by Moderator)
Some time ago when I originally bought a table saw, I got a Ridgid jobsite saw. I don't remember the model, but at the time it worked perfectly for what I needed. I didn't know I was going to "fall in love" with woodworking.

After starting to use the harder woods, my surge protector would trip. So, I went and bought a new one, as the one I had was an old one I found in a drawer. The new one did better and didn't have much trouble from it. After a while, it started doing it more often. With that said, I was cutting more wood, so it was some what expected.

The other day and a few times since, just cutting 3/4" ply, the table saw is tripping the surge protector. Is this a table saw issue, or is this a surge protector/electrical issue? I also have a shop fan and a shop vac hooked up to the same surge protector and generally run all three at the same time.

Outside of getting a new table saw (which I am already working on), what can I do?

Thanks in advance,

Chris
 
#3 ·
So the table saw is plugged into a surge protector? If that's the case, dump the surge protector all together and just plug the saw into the wall, you don't really need one on a power tool like that and it sounds like your overloading it. Use a splitter if need be to plug your fan and vac in as well. Just be certain you aren't drawing too much current on the circut in question.
 
#4 ·
+1 on getting rid of the surge protector, I would assume it is a standard outlet and you have at least 2 plugs in the wall. At the very least get the saw direct to the wall and use the surge protector with the vac and fan.

as rockindavan said the surge protector could be wearing out.

It is still possible you have an issue with one of the items plugged in causing them to draw more amps than they used to. If you have access to a meter of some sort to test the amp draw you could test is and add them up.

I know I CAN run my TS and shopvac on 1 circuit if I have to, but no more than that. I avoid it though.
 
#6 ·
Yeah, sounds like you're pulling too much current on the circuit. If it trips when you're pushing the saw hard then you are probably making the motor work harder, thus pulling more current. Have you invested In a good quality blade for your saw? Can help reduce the workload on the motor.
 
#8 ·
Yep, the surge protector serves no real purpose. Plug into the wall…if too much amps are being pulled then the circuit breaker will trip. Generally, I cannot run my planer with any other tool on a 15 amp 110v circuit…which is typical of my 110v circuits. I have to run dust collection on another circuit.

A surge protector will trip long beforehand and will just get worse if you don't allow it to cool off. It serves no purpose in woodworking anyway unless it's just used to give you more outlets.
 
#9 ·
If you are using the blade that came with the machine?

Buy a decent one.

To many items on the surge.

Store the blade & surge protector in a safe place.

Fit the new blade and enjoy your TS

jamie
 
#11 ·
> Is this a table saw issue, or is this a surge protector/electrical issue?

A circuit breaker in a power strip is tripping. But the breaker box CB is not? Once you can explain why, then you have learned why that power strip (conventional or surge protector - no difference here) should not exist.

All power strips must have that circuit breaker for human safety reasons. Another function inside that strip (the surge protector) has no relationship to that tripping breaker. Surge protectors circuits never work by disconnecting.
 
#14 ·
Thank you all for the responses. It appears it was in fact just the table saw. I had the surge protector in place because I needed the expanded slots. I only have two plugs in my garage, which one is dedicated to the dryer and washer, the other is the one I use. It's in an odd location, so I have to run an extension cord stapled to the ceiling across the garage to the area where I need the power. From there, I have the surge protector plugged, then all the tools.

I didn't want to unplug the surge protector because it was tripping it, so I was worried the load would be too much for the plug by itself. I know nothing about electrical stuff and just didn't want to burn my house down, or something…haha.

Thank you all again. Oh, and I do have several good saw blades, most of which have recently been sharpened.