In my past life, I was an architect and worked with a lot of manufacturing
plants and offices for a period of time.

Never put anything in a concrete floor unless absolutely unavoidable and
then still had problems:

1. Water and mess getting into the outlets. Solution, put them up on
pedestals above the floor line. Leads to problem 2.

2. No matter how carefully you located the outlet so it is covered by the
machine and not a hazard, the machine will be moved later just enough (8" or
so) to expose outlet and make it a tripping hazard. Same is true for
outlets under the desk.

3. It is almost impossible to add circuits and or make conduit bigger,
without jackhammering the concrete.

A trench in the floor is a PITA. A covered trench in the floor is a
slightly smaller PITA.

Take a look in a McDonald's kitchen. It's all drop cords, with twist lock
plugs.

If I rewired my shop, I'd do it like a theater lighting bridge.

I'd run a couple of conduits on the ceiling the length of the shop spaced
about 8' to 10' apart, with several circuits in them. About every 6-8' put
a 4-plex outlet for each circuit. Also have some screw eyes or something
similar to support cords.

To connect a machine, run a heavy duty cord up from the machine to the
nearest outlet, coil the extra cord, and hang it from the ceiling.
Obviously, locate the cords to they don't get caught in operations. When
its time to move, unplug and repeat the process.

Now you've got so much advice, I'm sure you are more confused than you were
before you posted.

Good on you for building a new shop!

Old Guy


wrote in message
...
Building a new shop, 24 x 24. Floor will be concrete. How practical is
it to put electrical outlets in the floor for stationary machines, TS,
bandsaw, etc? If not in the floor how would one recommend getting
power to machines set in the middle of the shop. Are extension cords
practical for both 110 and 220?