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By the Arclight Dynamics team · Updated November 3, 2026 · 8 min read
Quick Answer: What Electrical Service Does a CNC Plasma Table Need?
The table itself is easy: the controller and computer run on a standard 120V, 15 to 20 amp circuit. The plasma cutter sets the real electrical requirement, and it depends on the model you choose. Hypertherm® systems run on 200 to 600V, single or three phase. The Powermax45 XP runs on single phase, the Powermax65 and 85 SYNC on single or three phase, and the Powermax105 SYNC, Powermax125, MAXPRO200 and XPR systems are three-phase only. The air compressor is the third load, typically a 5 to 10 HP motor on 230V single phase or three phase. Add up all three, confirm the phase and voltage your building actually has, and run a dedicated earth ground for the table. The most common late surprise in a plasma table purchase is a single-phase shop and a three-phase-only cutter, so settle this before you order.
In This Guide
What Are the Three Electrical Loads in a CNC Plasma System?
A CNC plasma system is three machines that share a wall: the table, the plasma cutter and the air compressor. Each has its own requirement, and only one of them is small.
| Component | Typical requirement | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| CNC plasma table (controller, motors, computer, THC) | 120V, 15 to 20 A | A standard dedicated circuit. Same for every Arclight table, Arc Pro or Arc Max |
| Plasma cutter | 200 to 600V; single or three phase by model | Sets the real requirement. 105 A and above are three-phase only |
| Air compressor | 230V single phase or three phase, 5 to 10 HP typical | Sized from the compressor's spec plate; its own circuit |
| Grounding | Dedicated earth ground | Recommended for every install; protects the electronics and the cut |
Confirm the exact voltage, phase and breaker size for your plasma cutter model against the Hypertherm specification before the electrician comes out.
What Power Does the CNC Table Itself Draw?
Every Arclight table, from the Arc Pro Ultra V3 4×4 to the Arc Max X 6×12, runs its controller, stepper or servo drives, torch height control and system computer on 110 to 120V at 15 to 20 amps. That is a normal outlet on a dedicated circuit, and it is why the table is never the electrical problem. Give it its own breaker so a compressor cycling on the same circuit cannot drop the controller mid-cut, and plug the computer and monitor into the same clean circuit. A simple surge protector or UPS on the computer is inexpensive insurance in a shop where welders and compressors share the panel.
What Electrical Service Does the Plasma Cutter Need?
The plasma cutter is sold separately from the table, and its electrical requirement is tied directly to how thick you want to cut. Amperage sets cut capacity, and higher amperage systems need more power and, past 85 amps, three-phase power. Here is the Hypertherm lineup Arclight pairs with its tables.
| Hypertherm® system | Amperage | Pierce / cut or severance (mild steel) | Input power |
|---|---|---|---|
| Powermax45 XP | 45 A | 1/2 in / 1 in | Single phase |
| Powermax65 SYNC | 65 A | 5/8 in / 1 in | Single or three phase |
| Powermax85 SYNC | 85 A | 3/4 in / 1-1/4 in | Single or three phase |
| Powermax105 SYNC | 105 A | 7/8 in / 1-1/2 in | Three phase only (200 to 600V) |
| Powermax125 | 125 A | 1 in / 1-1/2 in | Three phase only (480 to 600V) |
| MAXPRO200 | 200 A | 1-1/4 in / 2 in | Three phase only (200 to 600V) |
| XPR170 (Arc Max X) | 170 A | 1-3/8 in air shield / 2-3/8 in severance | Three phase |
| XPR300 (Arc Max X) | 300 A | 1-3/4 in O2 / 3-1/8 in severance | Three phase |
Capacities are Hypertherm mild-steel ratings. Pierce capacity is what the system starts a hole in unassisted; severance is the maximum it will part from an edge.
Read the table from the thickness you cut daily. If 1/2-inch plate is the heaviest regular job, a Powermax65 or 85 SYNC on single-phase 230V does it, and most shops already have that service. If you need 7/8-inch pierce or better, you are into the Powermax105 SYNC and above, and you need three-phase power. Our plasma cutter guide matches each system to the Arclight table it pairs with.
Do You Need Three-Phase Power for a CNC Plasma Table?
Not for the table, and not for cutting up to about 3/4-inch plate. You need three-phase power when the plasma cutter you want is three-phase only, which on the Hypertherm lineup starts at 105 amps. Shops cutting sheet and plate to 3/4 inch run on single phase; shops that want 1-inch pierce and up need three phase or a way to make it. The Arc Max X is three-phase from the start, and its Hypertherm XPR also needs a process-gas supply, which Arclight specifies with the quote.
If your building has only single-phase service and you want a three-phase cutter, you have three options. Ask the utility about bringing three phase to the building, which can be simple or impossible depending on the street. Install a rotary phase converter sized for the cutter’s load, which is the common answer in rural shops; confirm the converter’s rating against the cutter’s specification and with Arclight before you buy. Or choose a Powermax85 SYNC now and plan the three-phase upgrade with the next building. Tell us which situation you are in when you request a quote, because the cutter choice depends on it.
How Much Power Does the Air Compressor Add?
More than most buyers plan for. A CNC plasma table needs a minimum of 15 CFM at 90 PSI, which in practice is a two-stage compressor with a 5 HP motor, and Arclight also sells 7.5 and 10 HP units for shops that run the table most of the day. A 5 HP compressor motor draws roughly 28 amps on 230V single phase at full load, and a 10 HP unit about 50 amps. Arclight quotes the compressor and dryer package to match the service you have. Put the compressor on its own circuit, and if it lives in a side room, plan the run back to the table. Our air compressor guide covers sizing in detail.
Why Does a CNC Plasma Table Need a Dedicated Earth Ground?
Because a plasma arc is an electrical event happening a few inches from a computer. The arc generates high-frequency electrical noise, and the torch height control works by reading arc voltage. Without a solid ground path, that noise finds its way into the controller, the THC and the computer, and shows up as random faults, lost steps, THC that hunts, or a controller that reboots. Arclight recommends a dedicated earth ground for the table on every install. Have your electrician install it to local code and to Hypertherm’s grounding guidance for the cutter; it is a small job on install day that prevents weeks of chasing phantom problems.
Before the electrician arrives
- Confirm the plasma cutter model and its voltage, phase and breaker size from the Hypertherm specification
- One dedicated 120V, 20 A circuit for the table and computer
- The cutter’s circuit at the right voltage and phase
- The compressor’s circuit
- A dedicated earth ground at the table
- Receptacles within cord reach of where the cabinet and cutter will actually sit
Ask for the electrical requirements for your exact system with your quote.
CNC Plasma Table Electrical Requirements: Frequently Asked Questions
What voltage does a CNC plasma table run on?
The table’s controller, motors and computer run on a standard 110 to 120V circuit at 15 to 20 amps. The plasma cutter is separate and runs on 200 to 600V, single or three phase depending on the model.
Can I run a CNC plasma table on single-phase power?
Yes. The table always runs on 120V single phase, and Hypertherm Powermax45, 65 and 85 systems run on single-phase power too. You only need three-phase service for cutters of 105 amps and above.
Which plasma cutters are three-phase only?
On the Hypertherm lineup Arclight pairs with its tables: the Powermax105 SYNC, Powermax125, MAXPRO200, and the XPR170 and XPR300 on the Arc Max X.
Can I use a phase converter for a three-phase plasma cutter?
Many rural shops do. A rotary phase converter sized for the cutter’s full load is the common approach when the utility cannot bring three phase to the building. Confirm the converter’s rating against the cutter’s specification.
Does the air compressor need its own circuit?
Yes. A 5 to 10 HP compressor is a large motor load and should be on its own breaker, in single phase or three phase to match your service. Arclight quotes the compressor to match.
Why does Arclight recommend a dedicated earth ground?
The plasma arc creates electrical noise, and the torch height control reads arc voltage. A dedicated earth ground at the table keeps that noise out of the controller and computer and prevents random faults and THC problems.
Keep Researching
- Choosing a CNC Plasma Table: The Complete Buyer’s Guide. Air and electrical are decision seven of eight.
- What Plasma Cutter Do You Need for a CNC Table?. The cutter sets the electrical requirement.
- What Size Air Compressor Does a CNC Plasma Table Need?. The third load on the panel.
- How Much Shop Space Does a CNC Plasma Table Need?. Where everything sits.
- What Can a CNC Plasma Table Cut? Thickness by Metal. Thickness drives amperage, and amperage drives power.
- Why Is My Plasma Table Cutting Badly? 7 Causes of Bad Cuts. Grounding and air are two of the seven.
Tell Us Your Service. We'll Spec the Cutter to Match.
Single phase or three phase, 230 or 480 volts, we’ll pair the Hypertherm system to the power you have and the plate you cut, and send the electrical requirements for the whole system with your quote.
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