200 amp service

[Charles (in GA)]

The shop is going to be 50x40x16. Lighting is 12- 400w mercury high bay lighting (bought for $10/fixture, with two extra cases of bulbs). 5hp compresser (220v-28amps?), Mig welder (220v-20amp draw), plans for a hyertherm45 plasma cutter, miscellaneous power saws/drills/grinders (max 15amp each), radio, exterior LED flood lighting, circulator pump for heating, OHD openers, beer fridge.

I think the 200amp main service with a 100amp subpanel should be enough, but again I am just guessing. Truth be told, a little nervous about spending this kind of money and getting it wrong or regretting it later.

Any and all input is graciously accepted!

Lee

You are going to hate that Mercury lighting. Pale blue and horrible to work under. If it were Metal Halide, that would be great, a true white light. Mercury lighting is virtually obsolete nowdays.

MH 400 watt lights draw about 480 watts each, 4 amps at 120v. I assume Mercury is about the same.

As I noted, you have to plan on the heat, the compressor, plasma cutter and the lighting to run at the same time, other than that, I suspect everything else is intermittent and not simultaneous.

Charles

 

[wyliesdiesels]

What kind of heat are u gonna be using- gas or electric? IMHO, even with all your lights on and the compressor and plasma running @ the same time, I think 100a will be plenty!

If you are really concerned about making sure you have enough juice, u could use a load calculator which can be found online...

 

[sfd524]

Wylie, thanks for chiming in. I keep leaning towards the 200 main service with feed through lugs to the house and a 100amp feeder to the pole barn. I really think it is enough, just have to much time to think about! I could talk myself out of a winning lotto ticket!

Again thank you all for the input.

Lee

 

[LuckyRugger]

I use to work for a utility company designing services, every company is different based on the state regulations. My view is based on Michigan regulations and rules. The cost to go underground is your choice, you could probably go overhead back closer to your meter for a much lower cost and just have an underground service not underground primary. It's much cheaper to go underground the during the initial installation, because it will cost 2X+ to switch it in the future. You have to keep in mind this is a one-time cost, since the utility company owns and maintains up to your meter. They also have to guarantee your voltage to your meter (120V +/- 5%). The most important thing is to size your wires based on your largest motor LRA, usually A/C, Welder, or Air Compressor. This is how the utility companies size their conductors and transformers, they have to make sure the voltage doesn't drop when those motors start up. When you size your wire to your pole barn, size it based on the size of your panel. When ever I run my own wire I always run copper and put it in conduit, for safety reasons. Miss Dig will not locate private wires. You could also have the transformer installed between your house and pole barn, then have a separate meter installed on your pole barn. I have a 100AMP in my house and pole barn, I installed square-d QO 32 space panels. The utility goes by a national code up to your meter, then after that the code changes to local. Your wiring from your meter to your panel and beyond are all based on your main breaker sizes. I have my meter installed on my pole barn since that's where my largest motor is, and I back feed my house from that panel. Another benefit from back feeding from another panel is that if you hook up a generator you can energize both panels without having to pull your meter (which is dangerous and illegal). So, I have my back-up generator at my pole barn, and all I have to do is flip my main breaker, kick on the generator and my barn and house have power.

My advice is to do it right the first time, even if it cost more up front, in the long run it will probably pay for itself.

 

[sfd524]

A bit of a long over due update. When I spoke with the planner almost a year ago he said it would be no problem to run this line back to the home site before the house was started as I am paying total cost up front and there is no 100' allowance (that was granted to existing house many years ago). Then the paperwork showed up, must have "two of the following three items - well, septic, foundation" I called the planner and he said they might be able to work around that, maybe. I asked if they would do it if there was barn back there and he said yes. So I spent this summer building the barn. I wound up building a 50x40x12 monitor style barn.


The second floor will be a wood shop for cabinet making and the first floor will be for equipment maintenance.

Wood shop-

T5 lighting
220v 13amp table saw
120v 15amp mitre saw and misc. tools
220v 9amp dust collector
110v 2.6amp air cleaner

the air cleaner, dust collector, and one saw could be running at the same time.

Equipment maintenance-

T5 lighting
230v 5hp compressor (25amp?)
230v 20amp mig welder
230v 30amp plasma cutter
misc. 110v tools

I would like to put the meter right on the barn then once the house is built run 200amp, or 150 amp, to the house from the barn. I think 100 amp into the barn itself would be plenty but could use some input from those that are more versed in the world of electricity. Does this make sense to anyone? One final question, is a 200amp meter adequate to do this or should I consider a 320(400) service?

Thanks, I hope this is clear enough to understand.

 

[macdabs]

I ran a 400 amp service with two disconnects one for my shop and one for my house. One thing about electrical service installation is it never goes down in price. I used a Midwest 400 amp meter with two taps ,one for each disconnect (or you can just feed your breaker panel). The disconnects I added will raise the price of your material list, but give you the ability to disconnect one of the 200 amp feeds when your building or working on the breaker panel.

My original plans were to have a meter board . Our POCO pays for the feeder line from the transformer to the house so the meter is on my house. I prefer a meter board if you have out buildings and shops. Gives you a central place on your property for power to run from.

Mac

 

[theoldwizard1]

So I spent this summer building the barn. I wound up building a 50x40x12 monitor style barn.

The second floor will be a wood shop for cabinet making and the first floor will be for equipment maintenance.

WOW ! Beautiful !!

 

[sfd524]

I ran a 400 amp service with two disconnects one for my shop and one for my house. One thing about electrical service installation is it never goes down in price. I used a Midwest 400 amp meter with two taps ,one for each disconnect (or you can just feed your breaker panel). The disconnects I added will raise the price of your material list, but give you the ability to disconnect one of the 200 amp feeds when your building or working on the breaker panel.

My original plans were to have a meter board . Our POCO pays for the feeder line from the transformer to the house so the meter is on my house. I prefer a meter board if you have out buildings and shops. Gives you a central place on your property for power to run from.

Mac

I am not convinced that I would need that much juice, but I don't want to be shorting myself by going with just a 200amp service. I got the number of a local electrician near the property and will give him a call.

 

[sfd524]

WOW ! Beautiful !!

Thank you sir. I like it too!

 

[fwillison]

I'm interested in what you do.
I'm building a shop 300 ft back from the road (I'll build a house later) and utility will only run it to 150 ft, the remaining is on me. I'm thinking of setting a pole with 400 amp service at 150 ft, then running 200 amps to my shop. That will leave 200 amps to go to my house from the pole when I build it.
At least that's how I think it works...

 

[sfd524]

I'm interested in what you do.
I'm building a shop 300 ft back from the road (I'll build a house later) and utility will only run it to 150 ft, the remaining is on me. I'm thinking of setting a pole with 400 amp service at 150 ft, then running 200 amps to my shop. That will leave 200 amps to go to my house from the pole when I build it.
At least that's how I think it works...

I am going to try and talk with the Power Co. and electrician this week and will let you know.