Another garage power hook up question. 200 amp service.

[pyrowaves]

My new garage is up and its time to start thinking about power. The plan is to have a 200 amp panel and service to the garage. Its overkill, but That is the plan. (using 3/0 copper over about a 40 ft run). The grey building is the garage. Barn is about 200-300 ft away.

Lets start with the meter. We have two meters. One for the house and a second for the current Horse Barn. Meter is free standing in the yard with a 200 amp breaker/disconnect.

I'd like to keep the Barn and garage circuits separate which brings me to my question. The meter feeds the disconnect which is pictured below. What are my options to run a separate service to the garage? I won't be piggybacking in the same cavity.

How can I wire a second large set of cables from the meter to another breaker, OR do they make a breaker that is more than double pole? I can't seem to find one. Maybe a meter base with more than two poles?

Could I do something like this with two 200 amp breakers??:
http://www.homedepot.com/p/Square-D...-Service-Entrance-Device-SC816D200C/100010108

With two of these:http://www.homedepot.com/p/Siemens-200-Amp-Type-QPP-Main-Breaker-Q2200B/100144183
Meter+Breaker


Breaker/disconnect

 

[Slowgsr]

You guys do things much differently then us in Canada. I'm sorry this is of no help.

I would run aluminum if I were you, cheaper and easier to work with. I use it for anything above 100a services. Especially bigger 800/1200 stuff

 

[wyliesdiesels]

Unless your meter has double lugs, u would have to change out the panel. U can get a panel with dual disconnects.

No u wont find a 4 pole breaker or anything like youre thinking of.

And u would need to run 4 wire. That existing feed was most likely done before 2008 code cycle when 3-wire feeds were allowed.

What kind of equipment will u have?

One man shop?

Are u sure u need 200a? 100a is PLENTY for most!

And what electric loads do u have in the house?

If u do load calcs and youre over 200a(160a continous) then u will need to upgrade the service.

You guys do things much differently then us in Canada. I'm sorry this is of no help.

I would run aluminum if I were you, cheaper and easier to work with. I use it for anything above 100a services. Especially bigger 800/1200 stuff

How so?

And yes AL will be WAY cheaper!!

 

[pyrowaves]

House is on a completely different feed from the pole so house load shouldn't matter. This meter feeds the Horse barn, which at most has about 10 lights on and in the winter one trough heater and a very small electric fence setup. I'm not sure why they originally ran 200 amp service to the barn, because it isn't really needed.

The shop on the other hand will eventually be running a 80 gal air compressor, lights (40X60 shop), door openers, fridge, drill press, welder, Lathe at some point, band saw, radio, TV, and anything else I can get my hands on. Obviously not all at once. Mostly a one man band in the shop but there will be times 2-3 people will be working at once.

I didn't think about the 3 to 4 wire change. Thanks for that. I'll see what I can find for a dual disconnect panel.

I know AL will be cheaper. I haven't set that decision in stone yet. I don't see how AL is easier to work with than CU though.

 

[pattenp]

Al is not easier to work with than Cu. It's just easier on the wallet.

 

[ddawg16]

I'm guessing moving that meter to the garage or barn is not an option? The OCD in my would be going nuts with the meter out in the open like that.

If it was me....meter would get moved to one of the buildings with a breaker feed to the other building. Then the other building gets a sub-panel.

 

[pyrowaves]

I'd rather not move the meter. If you saw the layout as a whole it isn't that bad. The meter is about 4-5 ft from the power pole and on the side of the driveway to the house. pretty out of the way.

 

[theoldwizard1]

Unless your meter has double lugs, u would have to change out the panel. U can get a panel with dual disconnects.
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Are u sure u need 200a? 100a is PLENTY for most!

Swap in a new panel.

The shop on the other hand will eventually be running a 80 gal air compressor, lights (40X60 shop), door openers, fridge, drill press, welder, Lathe at some point, band saw, radio, TV, and anything else I can get my hands on. Obviously not all at once. Mostly a one man band in the shop but there will be times 2-3 people will be working at once.

90/100A is still more than you will ever need. You could run that shop on a 60A service even adding a large table saw, welder and A/C !

 

[Norcal]

Use a mobile home panel, feed through lugs for your existing feed & 8 spaces in the panel, but load calculations would be in order.

 

[pyrowaves]

Use a mobile home panel, feed through lugs for your existing feed & 8 spaces in the panel, but load calculations would be in order.

I think this is what makes the most sense so far. And I probably will wind up with AL.