Resources
Power Guide
A power guide for local workshops, covering supply requirements, breakers, earthing and machine protection.
How a Power Guide helps before delivery
The Power Guide sets out the local workshop power points that matter before installation. It covers supply requirements, breakers, earthing and machine protection for CNC routers and CO₂ lasers.
Before delivery, match the machine to the workshop supply that is actually on site. A CNC router, CO₂ laser, or profile cell may need dedicated protection, correct earthing, and enough clearance for an isolator and cable run. In Somerset West and across the Cape, supply condition, board space, and shutdown planning matter as much as machine footprint.
Note the distribution board rating and the intended machine position before final planning. Those notes identify breaker space, isolator placement, and whether the power route crosses a doorway, bench, or extraction line. For many workshops, that check prevents last-minute extension leads and unsafe temporary connections.
Checks to complete before install
Verify the workshop power details ahead of handover. Check the supply type, breaker sizing, earthing, plug or isolator location, and cable access to the machine position. That keeps the power side ready for a CNC router, CO₂ laser, or profile cell on installation day.
Check the machine specification against the site details and send any unclear points through our contact form. Include the model name, workshop town, and a photo of the board or proposed machine area if power points still need confirmation. Check the machine details against the available supply before an electrician starts any changes.
- Supply type checked against machine requirements
- Breaker and isolator positions identified clearly
- Board photos ready for planning review
Power points that matter locally
Workshop power in South Africa is rarely a blank slate. Some sites have older boards, limited spare ways, mixed plug standards, or previous machine circuits that need checking before a new CNC router or CO₂ laser is connected. If the machine is going into an operating shop, plan around existing extraction, compressor supply, and safe isolation for maintenance.
Load-shedding and voltage issues affect how protection and restart planning should be handled. Coastal conditions around Somerset West and Cape Town can also make enclosure condition, connections, and general electrical housekeeping worth checking closely. Keep cable routes away from heat, water, and heavy foot traffic where sheets, offcuts, and trolleys move through the workshop.
Operated by Astros Marketing (Pty) Ltd from 2 Makro Place, Sunnyrock 1401.
Power details to gather
Check supply type, breaker size, plug or isolator position, cable route, and earthing before your CNC router, CO₂ laser, or profile cell arrives.
Keep the machine name, intended workshop position, and available power information close by. Useful details include the main supply type, existing breaker allocation, earthing point, and whether the machine will use a plug or fixed isolator. Add photos of the board and machine area if the site layout is still being decided.