Electrical question
- Thread starter Dspurlo81
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GYPSY400
Well-known member
125 will be plenty.. Depending on what the heat pump takes.. Compressors and welders are the biggest suckers of electricity.. It's nice to have a lot of outlets, but you only use one at a time... So your amperage for plugs is minimal.
Beemer533
Well-known member
Is this a new service or a sub panel?
Just an FYI, this will probably get moved into the electrical forum shortly...
Just an FYI, this will probably get moved into the electrical forum shortly...
Depends on what all you're planning on running at one time. Not to mention the amp draw of all that you're running.
But you should be just fine under normal circumstances, assuming none of your appliances are energy hogs beyond what's considered normal.
Figure 30A for heat pump, 20A for compressor, 10A for fridge. That's 60A, leaving you another 60A for other stuff.
But you should be just fine under normal circumstances, assuming none of your appliances are energy hogs beyond what's considered normal.
Figure 30A for heat pump, 20A for compressor, 10A for fridge. That's 60A, leaving you another 60A for other stuff.
wyliesdiesels
Well-known member
Whats the HP size of your air compressor? What other large tools will u have? How many people will be working in the shop at the same time? 125a will most likely be overkill!
What size wire will u be running and what is the distance?
Your math is incorrect. Most of that stuff is 240v and the fridge would be 120v, so that would be 55a @ 240v, assuming the compressor is 240v. But we really dont have enough to go on here. And 10a for a fridge is quite a bit unless its an old beast!
What size wire will u be running and what is the distance?
Your math is incorrect. Most of that stuff is 240v and the fridge would be 120v, so that would be 55a @ 240v, assuming the compressor is 240v. But we really dont have enough to go on here. And 10a for a fridge is quite a bit unless its an old beast!
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It's 1800 sq ft. Half of it will be man cave with 2 ton heat pump with a 10k back up heat. I will have numerous neon lights,fridge and pop machine. The other side will will have lights and a 30 gallon air compressor. My garage is 150 feet from the pole. I have a 200 amp panel at the pole and I was told 125 amp breaker is the biggest I'm allowed in the panel
wyliesdiesels
Well-known member
Does this panel on the pole feed other buildings? The max breaker size depends on the panel brand. 30gal air compressor doesnt tell us the HP rating....
wyliesdiesels
Well-known member
Without a disconnect, no.
55A or 60A, not really a big difference, is it? Especially since I was just pulling numbers out of my ***, due to no specs given by the OP.
theoldwizard1
Well-known member
Well, maybe. In general wylie is correct.
IF the feed to the meter is rated for 400A (not typical)
and
IF your meter is designed for dual outputs
and
IF your local power company and building inspector approve it ...
theoldwizard1
Well-known member
I'M CONFUSED !
So you have a 200A load center (the industry standard name for a circuit breaker panel) mounted on an outside pole, presumably close to the meter. Correct?
This load center feeds another building from a 70A breaker ?
Where is your 2HP compressor currently located ? In the "other" building ?
Is there any current feed to your shop ? Code requires only one feed per building.
Unless you thinking about any new major tools like a welder or plasma cutter, I think you will be fine with a 125A feed to the shop. Worst case would be the compressor and backup heat. Feed wire size will be based on distance (i.e. voltage drop).
ACDNate
Well-known member
I discussed something similar with the POCO engineer a few weeks back. Like others have said, he agreed it would probably work. He followed up with a question though. "Can you afford an extra $22 a month?" I was confused but he explained that's the only difference between sharing the power on your house vs giving the shop 200 amp service and never coming close to running out of capacity. I've got its own service going in shortly.
alfredeneuman
Well-known member
The biggest load would the backup heater. It figures to 41.6 amps.
The 2hp motor on the compressor would be another 12 amps, but the Code says the largest motor is to be figured at 125%, so that would be another 15 amps.
If you figure about 19 amps for the heat pump, that would give you at total of 75.6 amps of 240 loads alone.
The 2hp motor on the compressor would be another 12 amps, but the Code says the largest motor is to be figured at 125%, so that would be another 15 amps.
If you figure about 19 amps for the heat pump, that would give you at total of 75.6 amps of 240 loads alone.
Speedy Petey
Well-known member
It doesn't matter, your math is still incorrect. You can't just add up 120v and 240V amperages. That is simply not how it works.
wyliesdiesels
Well-known member
Guaranteed he will not be allowed to have a 150' section of unfused wire on the load side of a service!
The 200a panel is probably his main service and the 70a breaker feeds another building. So he wont be having 2 feeds to one building. And the compressor would be fed from the new sub panel in the shop. The way he explained it was clear to me!
theoldwizard1
Well-known member
Charles (in GA)
Well-known member
Depending on the panel on the pole, it probably can be equipped with lugs on the bottom of the bus bars. He could come off that panel with 2/0 to the shop/garage. It would be shared with the 70 amps going to the other building, but protected by the 200 amp main in the panel.
We really don't have enough info here. What is the 70 amp breaker in the main panel feeding? Is it a large load, continuous, intermittent or occasional load?
Pic of the panel on the pole would help, plus make, model number.
Is is a combo meter/main such as a GE or Siemens unit? All in one enclosure?
The shop/garage will have to have a disconnect (inside or outside but on the building) if you have more than six breaker handles (almost a certainty).
For the shop, best to buy a 30 or 40 space 200amp main breaker panel. This gives you lots of breaker space, lots of working room, and a disconnect, all for the best money. These can be had as combo packs with some breakers to get you started, for decent prices in the big box stores.
Charles
We really don't have enough info here. What is the 70 amp breaker in the main panel feeding? Is it a large load, continuous, intermittent or occasional load?
Pic of the panel on the pole would help, plus make, model number.
Is is a combo meter/main such as a GE or Siemens unit? All in one enclosure?
The shop/garage will have to have a disconnect (inside or outside but on the building) if you have more than six breaker handles (almost a certainty).
For the shop, best to buy a 30 or 40 space 200amp main breaker panel. This gives you lots of breaker space, lots of working room, and a disconnect, all for the best money. These can be had as combo packs with some breakers to get you started, for decent prices in the big box stores.
Charles
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Aceman
Well-known member
Post a pic of your panel at the pole with cover opened and the deadfront removed so we can see inside. Also, a pic of the label on the inside of the door if it has one.
This is the box I had installed directly under the meter.
This service only feeds my other shop but I wanting to run a service to the new one. My house has it's own service.The old shop is mainly for storage so only lights will be used once my new one is finished. I preferably want the most amps possible without getting a third service.There is no planning commission or inspection where I live.
This service only feeds my other shop but I wanting to run a service to the new one. My house has it's own service.The old shop is mainly for storage so only lights will be used once my new one is finished. I preferably want the most amps possible without getting a third service.There is no planning commission or inspection where I live.
Charles (in GA)
Well-known member
Kinda strange panel to mount outdoors on a pole. Way more breaker positions than one would ever use.......... but it is what it is and it is already installed......
Looking at This Eaton Retail Catalog admittedly dated 2005 but the info is probably still good..... Page 1-27 which is PDF file page 29, you will find Eaton BJ and BJH breakers which are full width of the panel, take up the space of 4 regular breakers, and plug down onto the stabs the full width of the stab. They are made in sizes up to 225 amps and can be used on panels without main lugs, or can be used as branch circuit breakers. Install one of these, and connect your 2/0 AL wire to it and run to the new building.
Go to Ebay and do a search for "Bryant BJ circuit breaker" and you will get a bunch of hits for both new and used 200 and 225 amp BJ series breakers.
Looking at This Eaton Retail Catalog admittedly dated 2005 but the info is probably still good..... Page 1-27 which is PDF file page 29, you will find Eaton BJ and BJH breakers which are full width of the panel, take up the space of 4 regular breakers, and plug down onto the stabs the full width of the stab. They are made in sizes up to 225 amps and can be used on panels without main lugs, or can be used as branch circuit breakers. Install one of these, and connect your 2/0 AL wire to it and run to the new building.
Go to Ebay and do a search for "Bryant BJ circuit breaker" and you will get a bunch of hits for both new and used 200 and 225 amp BJ series breakers.
alfredeneuman
Well-known member
That one would be suitable, but would require 250MCM aluminum to connect to it.
The 2/0 that Charles (in GA) suggested would only be rated for 125A
The 2/0 that Charles (in GA) suggested would only be rated for 125A
wyliesdiesels
Well-known member
I dont think the OP has enough tools to even max 125a. Unless hes planning on adding a whole ot more tools an several people working at the same time, 125a (2/0 wire) should be plenty!
Garbage in, garbage out. OP gave no details of his loads, so I estimated that his 125A service was good enough. If he wanted a detailed calculation of his 120V loads and 240V loads, he should have given more info.
I know how to calculate loads, but in this example it wasn't necessary.
Charles (in GA)
Well-known member
The BJ series breakers are available from 100 amp up to 225 amp in 25 amp increments. All have the same terminals, that accept wire from #2 up to 300 kcmil.
Charles
Charles
EGADS! You said man cave. You are doooomed around here.