100 amp Shop feeder plans critique please

[plout99]

Looking for critiques of my shop feeder plan. The shop is 220 feet from the house panel. House panel GE is 200 amp, maximum breaker size for the main panel is 125 amp. I plan to use a 100 amp breaker with 1/0 xhhw-2 for both hot feeds then number 2 for neutral and ground, all in aluminum. 2 inch conduit buried for the feeder running panel to panel. Plan to use lug kits to attach the 2 to the neutral and ground bars. 2 ground rods driven for the shop panel. Shop panel Square D will have a 100 main breaker. Voltage drop runs 3% to 4.5% depending on the calculator used so I am at and over the NEC guideline depending. Anything I am forgetting?

Do I need 100 amps, at times yes. My compressor is 30 amps/7.5 hp I also have a 4 element powder coat oven that is close to 50 amps. Currently I can’t run the powder oven and compressor/ blasting cabinet at the same time. I want that ability, also have a 5 hp table saw, 2 hp dust collector, arc and mig welders. Those are the big draw items. With my son and I both in the shop I could exceed 100 possibly but I have to draw the line somewhere. The utility will drop a new service fairly reasonable ($3200) a but I will have a $42 a month service fee just for the meter and there are times I might not be in the shop for a week or two.

The shop is hobby use only so I can limit the amp draw if I have too. I know a 100 amp is more than enough if I don’t run the powder oven and compressor/ blasting cabinet at the same time just want that capability so a 100 amp seems to be a good comprise for everything I want to do.

 

[fastevo9]

i personally spring for copper but nothing wrong with your setup. regarding the square d panel make sure to use the QO series. The homeline series is junk.

 

[wyliesdiesels]

I havent calced the VD but dont forget to isolate the neutral bus in the subpanel

 

[Norcal]

While I am not a fan of GE, why not keep everything the same?

 

[alfredeneuman]

regarding the square d panel make sure to use the QO series. The homeline series is junk.

The internal workings of a Homeline breaker are exactly the same as the QO (without the trip indicator)

 

[Aceman]

The internal workings of a Homeline breaker are exactly the same as the QO (without the trip indicator)

I don't like the Homeline(and others) just for the fact they use aluminum bus.

 

[yatg]

A panel with a built in 100A disconnect is going to be limited on spaces. If you're set on QO, look at a QO140M200 panel with 40 spaces. $100 and change on ebay.

 

[jeepxj]

if you're using the lug kit how much more expensive would it be to size the feeder to the shop for 200a just in case you want to upgrade later?

 

[mike93lx]

if you're using the lug kit how much more expensive would it be to size the feeder to the shop for 200a just in case you want to upgrade later?

350MCM.

$0.69/ft for 2/0
$1.62/ft for 350MCM.

So $450ish, plus upsizing neutral and maybe ground. Not peanuts, but not terrible if there are concerns about 100a.

I would hate to max out at the get go.

 

[MattT]

So $450ish, plus upsizing neutral and maybe ground.

And larger conduit. Sounds like the OP already has power out there so I'm wondering if the 2" pipe is existing.

I'd definitely step up from 1/0 to 2/0 though. Price difference will be trivial and it should work with 2" pipe. Could probably breaker that at 125A though he'd need to run volt drop just to confirm.

 

[mike93lx]

And larger conduit. Sounds like the OP already has power out there so I'm wondering if the 2" pipe is existing.

I'd definitely step up from 1/0 to 2/0 though. Price difference will be trivial and it should work with 2" pipe. Could probably breaker that at 125A though he'd need to run volt drop just to confirm.

Yeah, I didn't check the fill. You'd need at least 2.5" at that sizing (assuming a pair of 2/0 for neutral and ground).

Agree on using 2/0 though. 100a at 220' keep VD at just a hair under 3%

 

[jeepxj]

Sounds to me like we just talked ourselves into telling him to put in 3 - 5" runs just in case.

 

[plout99]

While I am not a fan of GE, why not keep everything the same?

Normally I would, Dad had a new square D QO panel for a project and ended up not using it so free is good.

 

[plout99]

And larger conduit. Sounds like the OP already has power out there so I'm wondering if the 2" pipe is existing.

I'd definitely step up from 1/0 to 2/0 though. Price difference will be trivial and it should work with 2" pipe. Could probably breaker that at 125A though he'd need to run volt drop just to confirm.

I don’t have power unless you count the extension cords this will be all new install.

 

[plout99]

And larger conduit. Sounds like the OP already has power out there so I'm wondering if the 2" pipe is existing.

I'd definitely step up from 1/0 to 2/0 though. Price difference will be trivial and it should work with 2" pipe. Could probably breaker that at 125A though he'd need to run volt drop just to confirm.

The price difference is trivial and I can upsize the conduit since it’s a new install, now I have more things to think about.

 

[plout99]

Yeah, I didn't check the fill. You'd need at least 2.5" at that sizing (assuming a pair of 2/0 for neutral and ground).

Agree on using 2/0 though. 100a at 220' keep VD at just a hair under 3%

Fill for 2 inch is 6 wires for 1/0 I will have to look at 2/0. Is there anything in the NEC that prohibits using schedule 80 pvc for electrical conduit? Son is a commercial plumber and can get 4” leftovers for free, probably enough for the whole run.

 

[Aceman]

Fill for 2 inch is 6 wires for 1/0 I will have to look at 2/0. Is there anything in the NEC that prohibits using schedule 80 pvc for electrical conduit? Son is a commercial plumber and can get 4” leftovers for free, probably enough for the whole run.

So your question is whether it's okay to use sch 80 pvc water pipe instead of conduit?

 

[Norcal]

Water pipe is not a NEC recognized conduit. Due to a bad experience in the past with a cheapskate doctor using water pipe for a conduit & I cut it not knowing it was electrical have gotten a rather bad attitude about doing it that way, do it right or don’t do it at all.

 

[plout99]

So your question is whether it's okay to use sch 80 pvc water pipe instead of conduit?

I realized after I posted that question that pvc water pipe wouldn’t be UL listed.

 

[sberry]

The 100 will be fine, if he has to limit the oven a little its not a deal and the full load is so rare the v drop is about irrelevent. I have hooked 2 dozen garages to 60, some with all that stuff minus the oven,,,, NEVER had one call back about a trip. Got a bud ran a welding shop 40 yrs from 100, did it a year from 60 minus the air comp and used 50A machine and way before the advent of led lights with 100 at the main, 3 hp well to boot along with a gob of stuff as a dozen people living on it, not 1 trip.