200Amp panel

[Silvervic99stang]

I have a question about powering my shop. I am currently working on the foundation of a 30 by 40. i am building it out of oil field pipe and then using tin to cover it. if i plan on running welding machine air compressor and maybe a dryer and hot water heater and lights. would a 100 or 200amp main breaker be sufficient? also in the future i will be building a home. would i just need to get another pole and meter or can i use the same just use a bigger amp breaker and run wire underground to the panel for the house? i don't want to buy two poles with two seperate breakers if i can just do it all in one. thanks

 

[sberry]

If you are running new service the expense of 200 vs 100 is minimal.

 

[bookman51]

200 amp. You will never regret it. Cannot have too big of a shop or too many amp box. Trouble is, pocket book never never seems big enough either!

Bookman

 

[Metal-Marc]

If you are running new service the expense of 200 vs 100 is minimal.

this =====^^

 

[Charles (in GA)]

If you plan on powering a house from one meter, go with a 400 amp or at least a 320/400 meter and service. Then put in two disconnects, supply the shop from one, the house from the other, but yes, do 200 amp for the shop from the get go.

Charles

 

[Terry Kennedy]

If you plan on powering a house from one meter, go with a 400 amp or at least a 320/400 meter and service. Then put in two disconnects, supply the shop from one, the house from the other, but yes, do 200 amp for the shop from the get go.

Around here, anything over 200A in a building or 3-phase is treated as a commercial account at commercial (higher) rates and may be subject to demand charges.

I had to get special permission from the utility to replace the two 100A services (one mast, 2 meter bases and 2 Federal Pacific panels) in a 2-family house with two 200A services. This reminds me of the saying "Never wrestle with a pig - you'll get dirty and the pig likes it". Far easier to settle for whatever the utility limits you to. And besides, if you need 200A in the garage and 200A in the house, chances are you're using enough electricity that the monthly minimum charge for zero usage will be a very small percentage of your bill.