100 amp service to pole barn

[3rdgendslmech]

Hey guys so I've got a quick question. Hopefully by June my barn is up and I'll be about ready to run electric to it. I've got a question and its not complicated at all.

I've got 200 amp service at my main panel in the house. I want 100 amp run to the barn. Here's my question....Do I run a 100 amp breaker off the main panel, with the appropriate sized wires for a 100ft run from the house to the barn, then put a smaller main in the barn.

Or...

Do I put a sub panel in the house, next to the main, then run the conduit and wire, then put another panel in the barn?

I'm not an electrician but option #1 seems like the easier, cheaper, and more logical thing to do. You can cut power to the barn from the house, and also cut the power inside the barn from the panel thats in the barn when you want to add circuits.

#2 Just seems like an extra panel and 100 amp breaker and money lost.

Can someone break this down for me...

 

[theoldwizard1]

I've got 200 amp service at my main panel in the house. I want 100 amp run to the barn. Here's my question....Do I run a 100 amp breaker off the main panel, with the appropriate sized wires for a 100ft run from the house to the barn, then put a smaller main in the barn.

The short answer is YES !

You need to re-think your power requirements in the barn. The cost of wire for 100A versus 90A can be SUBSTANTIAL ! 60A is very common for an "out building". This will likely meet your requirements (unless you plan on having 3 or more welders running at the same time) and will save you even more $$$ !

 

[exranger06]

Go with option 1. I don't understand why you'd even consider option 2; it's totally redundant. The only time you should go with option 2 is if you wanted to add more circuits in the house and there wasn't enough room in the main panel, so you add more circuits to the subpanel next to the main panel instead.

 

[pattenp]

Here's a diagram for info to add subpanel to barn.

View media item 16967

 

[Aceman]

Hey guys so I've got a quick question. Hopefully by June my barn is up and I'll be about ready to run electric to it. I've got a question and its not complicated at all.

I've got 200 amp service at my main panel in the house. I want 100 amp run to the barn. Here's my question....Do I run a 100 amp breaker off the main panel, with the appropriate sized wires for a 100ft run from the house to the barn, then put a smaller main in the barn.

Or...

Do I put a sub panel in the house, next to the main, then run the conduit and wire, then put another panel in the barn?

I'm not an electrician but option #1 seems like the easier, cheaper, and more logical thing to do. You can cut power to the barn from the house, and also cut the power inside the barn from the panel thats in the barn when you want to add circuits.

#2 Just seems like an extra panel and 100 amp breaker and money lost.

Can someone break this down for me...

Where's the load calc for the house and barn to determine if your sizing everything right?

 

[3rdgendslmech]

Thanks for the responses guys. The barn is 24x32x10 So far what I'm planning on running for sure is a Hobart 210MVP welder, either a quincy 60 gallon compressor, or a 80 gallon Kobalt compressor, both from lowes and 230 volts. Flood light above the 12x10 door on the gable and another on the entry door. Probably 3 outlets along each eave wall with a double outlet box by the work bench. Thinking about LED lights since right now there's no windows in the plans.
Currently on the fence about what type of heat I might want to add in the future. I've seen some pretty cheap fuel heaters being sold on craigslist. Honestly I'm good for about an hour or two when temps get below 32F after that a little heat sure helps.

 

[theoldwizard1]

... So far what I'm planning on running for sure is a Hobart 210MVP welder, either a quincy 60 gallon compressor, or a 80 gallon Kobalt compressor, both from lowes and 230 volts. Flood light above the 12x10 door on the gable and another on the entry door. Probably 3 outlets along each eave wall with a double outlet box by the work bench.

60A is way more than you need. Plenty of room for A/C, a lift and even a plasma cutter.

 

[wyliesdiesels]

Hey guys so I've got a quick question. Hopefully by June my barn is up and I'll be about ready to run electric to it. I've got a question and its not complicated at all.

I've got 200 amp service at my main panel in the house. I want 100 amp run to the barn. Here's my question....Do I run a 100 amp breaker off the main panel, with the appropriate sized wires for a 100ft run from the house to the barn, then put a smaller main in the barn.

Or...

Do I put a sub panel in the house, next to the main, then run the conduit and wire, then put another panel in the barn?

I'm not an electrician but option #1 seems like the easier, cheaper, and more logical thing to do. You can cut power to the barn from the house, and also cut the power inside the barn from the panel thats in the barn when you want to add circuits.

#2 Just seems like an extra panel and 100 amp breaker and money lost.

Can someone break this down for me...

Why would u add a subpanel next to the main?

Is your main panel full?

The short answer is YES !

You need to re-think your power requirements in the barn. The cost of wire for 100A versus 90A can be SUBSTANTIAL ! 60A is very common for an "out building". This will likely meet your requirements (unless you plan on having 3 or more welders running at the same time) and will save you even more $$$ !

Where did you come up with that?

#2 al MHF is $1.17/ft here

*3 runs of #1 AL xhhw is $1.35/ft
*plus 1 run of #6 al is .19 cents/ft
*for a total of $1.54/ft
thats only .37 cents difference. which isnt much...

Thanks for the responses guys. The barn is 24x32x10 So far what I'm planning on running for sure is a Hobart 210MVP welder, either a quincy 60 gallon compressor, or a 80 gallon Kobalt compressor, both from lowes and 230 volts. Flood light above the 12x10 door on the gable and another on the entry door. Probably 3 outlets along each eave wall with a double outlet box by the work bench. Thinking about LED lights since right now there's no windows in the plans.
Currently on the fence about what type of heat I might want to add in the future. I've seen some pretty cheap fuel heaters being sold on craigslist. Honestly I'm good for about an hour or two when temps get below 32F after that a little heat sure helps.

gallon ratings on compressors means nothing with regards to electrical load. You need to give the true HP rating of the motor from the nameplate to make a determination on load requirements...

 

[theoldwizard1]

Where did you come up with that?

#2 al MHF is $1.17/ft here

*3 runs of #1 AL xhhw is $1.35/ft
*plus 1 run of #6 al is .19 cents/ft
*for a total of $1.54/ft
thats only .37 cents difference. which isnt much...

Times 100' is $37. Okay, I am just a cheap SOB !