two services or one

[4me2nou]

Hey guys, got the final on my builing last week 32x40. Still working on the electric have already gotten the rough in so good to go on service connect. My question is I will probably have to upgrade my service to my house from 200A to 300A all underground and then install a new exterior weatherproof service panel to feed the house(200A) and garage(100A). This is because of some possible issues with old wiring inside the house that I do not want to make an issue with the inspector, was told that if I stay outside it shouldn't come up. My other option is to run a new service directly to the garage buried of course. The utility charges commercial rates on this type of service with a minimum monthly ($20 or $25). I would only have to bury about 75' this way and just install the meter socket. The other way is about 125' buried and buy the enclosure. My unknown at this time is whether the existing buried wires will accomodate the 400A or if I will have to pay to upgrade their buried wires to the house. The service to the house is about 6yrs old I have lived here for 4.5yrs, the house itself if about 40yrs old completely electric. When I first inquired about seperate service last yr it was about $1400 initial with an $800 credit on account. Just looking for suggestions or opinions on my options. Thanks and if I do the seperate service I will probably run 200A for future need.

[PAToyota]

Make sure to ask about "demand charges" on a commercial account. Basically, they take your highest usage for the month and base the fee upon that - supposedly to guarantee you capacity.

That $20~$25 may be the minimum based on their expectation that you have a couple lightbulbs out there and maybe run a power drill or circular saw here and there. No idea of what your intentions are, but spending a weekend welding out there could send the demand charges through the roof.

I was already to go for the second commercial service to my shop when I built it until the whole demand charge thing was fully explained to me.

[Torque1st]

Commercial electric rates are way higher than residential in most areas.

[Junkman]

Basic meter charges are bound to go up as electrical distribution costs rise. Meter costs are designed to recover maintenance costs that they can't recover any other way.

[D KRAGER]

Just cause you want 100 amp in garage and 200 amp in the house don't mean you need a 300 amp service. I feed my house with 200 amp, installed a 100 amp sub breaker to feed the garage, then have my 100 amp breaker box in the garage. Unless you have a mansion for a house and plan on running lots of power tools, I would see no need to have a 300 amp service.....

[porschedude996TT]

Just cause you want 100 amp in garage and 200 amp in the house don't mean you need a 300 amp service. I feed my house with 200 amp, installed a 100 amp sub breaker to feed the garage, then have my 100 amp breaker box in the garage. Unless you have a mansion for a house and plan on running lots of power tools, I would see no need to have a 300 amp service.....

I second that. I just met two hours ago with the city with some changes to my existing build and he ask why I was only putting in a 60amp/240v service and I said 100amp/240 main with a 47 calc'ed load and and and... He said just put a 100amp/240v breaker in my 100amp/240v existing service panel and use #3awg copper and use a 100amp/inlet breaker in my new sub panel. Wow, just what I first wanted to due, but it didn't make sense at the time. So I am good to go with the 100amp/240v sub in the shop!

[Torque1st]

I have 100A service and it is OK except for the fact that I have to coordinate my use of several tools and appliances to keep from overloading the service. Therefore I am upgrading my service to 200A and using a 100A breaker in the main panel to feed a 200A sub panel in the garage. The 100A breaker in the main panel protects the feeder wires. The 200A breaker in the sub panel serves as a disconnect. The 200A panels have more slots available. I am planning on using a Siemens 40/40 Model G4040B1200CU for the main panel and a Siemens 30/40 Model G3040B1200CP for the sub panel. I have to refigure my circuits again but I may even be able to use two of the "contractor pack" 30/40 panels which come with an assortment of breakers.

[bugdust]

I have a 200a service to the house and a seperate 200A service to my shop. I dug the trench and ran the 3" conduit 275' from the powerhead to the metercan myself. The power company ran the wire (after the county inspected my work) and hooked up their end. I think the power company charged me $175 or so for new residential service hook-up. My shop bill runs about $50/month. I have a 7hp 60 gal compressor & a Lincoln 255c welder I use quite a bit, plus all the regular tools, fans, lights, fridge, etc.

[6768rogues]

I have 200 amps to the house and subfeed from that to 100 amps in the garage. Neither uses nearly that much electric even in the air conditioning season with both buildings being conditioned. Everything is properly breaker protected, and I never give a thought to how many things I run concurrently and I never trip a breaker.