200 amp service

[SHELLFISH]

I'm in the process of building a new 2.5 car garage; two stories.
There will be 200 amp service running to the garage.
Just curious: I have a Lincoln 225 amp arc welder.
Will the 200 amp service supply the 225 amp welder? Thanks!

 

[79firebird]

yes as that power is made from the transformer. It only needs a 50 amp braker for it acording to the manual

 

[SHELLFISH]

Thank you!

 

[sideways]

I'm building a workshop and will need a new service because its too far from my house to run a line. The Power company will need to run it about 325ft underground and my electrician told my to buy a 200A panel box. From what I've learned from other posts, it seems like 100A service will more than satisfy my needs. It will be a single person workshop (me) and I won't have much more than electric hand tools, plus a Lincoln 225 50A welder. Should I buy a 200A panel versus a 100A panel? Is there an advantage that's worth the price difference of about $60 ?

 

[JimDon]

get the 200 amp box and don't look back. Even with a garage workshop, you'll be surprised how quickly things will fill up. Put your lights on a separate circuit from the receps. Put a dedicated 240 for the welder. You can also have a dedicated 240 and put in a nice big compressor. You'll be able to run your compressor and welder at the same time. The possibilities are endless. For another $60 it is a no-brainer. Trust your sparky on this one. You can also have a little fridge in there, and if you really spend a lot of time, how about your own microwave.
Enjoy
JimDon

 

[thrifty bill]

Probably don't need that much, but for $60, it is a no brainer. Very costly to add more later if you ever need it. I would go with the 200AMP and never look back.

 

[mrb]

see what the cost difference is from the utility. They may charge hundreds more to connect a 200a service vs a 100a service. 200a service has nothing to do with how many breakers you can put in -you can put in a large panel with either size service.

 

[smithbd2]

I put a 200 amp in mine so I would never have a need to upgrade it. Like others have said, it would cost a lot more later.
On the other hand, you need to figure in the cost of using bigger wire for the 200 amp panel. At 325 ft the wire cost diffrence will be a lot more than $60.
Plus the conduit will be larger, unless the elec dept uses direct burial.
Also my electric utility will only run underground 80'. I think they would have to set a transformer on the ground to go more than 80'. (we live out in the country) It will not hurt to get their engineer to come out and advise you on what to do before you start digging.
Hope this helps.

 

[theoldwizard1]

see what the cost difference is from the utility. They may charge hundreds more to connect a 200a service vs a 100a service. 200a service has nothing to do with how many breakers you can put in -you can put in a large panel with either size service.

That is assuming you are running new service from "the pole" (logical assumption for that size).

If he is NOT planning on running new service, maybe he SHOULD look into it !

Your are correct. 100A is probably more than adequate for any "home" garage. Even a welders and a good sized compressor won't pull 100A. Just buy a box that hold about twice as many breakers as you think you will ever use.

If he is running the garage as a "sub" off the house main, he will have a heart attack when he checks the price difference between cable for a 100A versus 200A "sub".

 

[Rosco]

whatever the cost difference is, it will be worth it. My electric company charged me a flat rate, and most of it was for burying the wire. They charge a minimum usage per month and that is where their money comes in. My electrician charged the same price (except for the box itself) and also "highly encouraged" the 200A panel.

Now that I am almost finished wiring everything, to include upstairs apt., I am so glad I listened to everyone on this board.

 

[SeanM]

I did an additional 200A service from the the power company on my garage. The cost to run the additional service was around $1100 from the pole due to the fact that I had it set up as an underground service.

Keep in mind in addition to the 200amp panel you will also need a meter socket if you are doing an additional service. I also recommend placing the meter socket really close to the breaker panel. I ended up placing my meter socket directly on the opposite side of the wall so I could just use a ****** to connect the two together. I say this because the 1/0 wire I used was a bear to bend. Also keep in mind if you span over 20' you will need to go to a 3/0 wire to compensate for the voltage drop across the span.

 

[Norcal]

I did an additional 200A service from the the power company on my garage. The cost to run the additional service was around $1100 from the pole due to the fact that I had it set up as an underground service.

Keep in mind in addition to the 200amp panel you will also need a meter socket if you are doing an additional service. I also recommend placing the meter socket really close to the breaker panel. I ended up placing my meter socket directly on the opposite side of the wall so I could just use a ****** to connect the two together. I say this because the 1/0 wire I used was a bear to bend. Also keep in mind if you span over 20' you will need to go to a 3/0 wire to compensate for the voltage drop across the span.

1/0 conductors on a 200A service?? Scary.

 

[SeanM]

1/0 conductors on a 200A service?? Scary.

My mistake, I used 3/0 for my short run. I was told by a friend to use 1/0. This was about 5 years ago. I remember having to have a friend hold it on the floor and I pushed my body into it to bend it.

 

[JimDon]

Don't try to bend that by hand! Klein makes a tool for that called a cable hickey or just hickey. You use two of them, one to hold the wire at the bend point and another just above it to move the cable into the bent position. Should be available at your local rental center.
Hope that helps,
JimDon

 

[INDgarage]

I don't mean to hi-jack your thread. I am wondering the samething. I want to install a sub panel on the house and run a total of ~250' to my pole barn. 150' of it will be underground and the remaining 100' will be ran up into the attic across the house to the meter. As far as loads, I plan on installing a three phase air compressor, 250 Amp welder, lift (plan for a two post), heat a/c and maybe a room or office set up.
Can anyone in the industry give me some advice? I plan on having the hook up into the sub panel done by an electrician and everything else I was planning on doing myself.

 

[SeanM]

You have 3 phase in your house? I guess I am kind of jealous...