Electrical service in new pole building

[dtb500]

Hello all, I recently had a 30X56 pole barn built and I am at the electrical stage of the project. I want to do as much as I can to save money so I plan on doing the trenching, laying the underground cable and setting the subpanel. After this, I am planning on having an electrician do the hookup to my house because I want it done right. I want a 100 amp subpanel minimum in the barn, which is about 120 feet away from the house. The barn will be used as shop space and will have a welder and air compressor both using 220 volts. It will not be a business, just a hobby shop.

Here are my questions.

1. What type of underground cable should I use with this distance so there is no voltage or amp loss?

2. Would you use conduit for the underground?

3. Is 100 amp panel enough considering my intended use?

4. What type/brand/model subpanel should I buy?

5. Would you hook up directly into the panel or, as was suggested to me, onto the lugs on the bottom of the electrical meter?

Any other advice on this project would be appreciated as I am a novice when it comes to electrical. My goal is to save a little money but have a safe, reliable electrical system in this new barn.

Thanks in advance

 

[pattenp]

First off, are you in the US? If so, I suggest PVC conduit and run 2-2-2-4 Mobile Home Feeder and drop back to 90 amp feeder breaker in the main panel. You will still use a 100A sub-panel in the garage. This is the most economical way and I believe you'll find 90A is enough. If you want the full 100A then use #1 aluminum THHN/THWN wire in conduit.

Edit: Coming off lugs at meter is the simplest way. If you use a 100A main breaker panel then you will need to use #1 aluminum wire for the 100A.

Look at aluminum building wire in the drop down list for wire types you can use. XHHW, RHH or RHW, etc.
http://www.southwire.com/products/ProductCatalog.htm

 

[dtb500]

First off, are you in the US? If so, I suggest PVC conduit and run 2-2-2-4 Mobile Home Feeder and drop back to 90 amp feeder breaker in the main panel. You will still use a 100A sub-panel in the garage. This is the most economical way and I believe you'll find 90A is enough. If you want the full 100A then use #1 aluminum THHN/THWN wire in conduit.

Edit: Coming off lugs at meter is the simplest way. If you use a 100A main breaker panel then you will need to use #1 aluminum wire for the 100A.

Look at aluminum building wire in the drop down list for wire types you can use. XHHW, RHH or RHW, etc.
http://www.southwire.com/products/ProductCatalog.htm

Yes, I am in the US. The main reason I like the idea of coming off the meter lugs is due to the main panel (200 amp) only having 3 open circuits left and I have plans to add electric in my basement so I will need them. Is there a downside to not wiring into the house panel?

 

[Bib Overalls]

You can not feed a 200 amp and a 100 amp panel with separate lines from a single 200 amp meter base.

To hook up to the lugs on the meter base you will have to lift the meter. When the electric utility come by to reseal the base they will freak out when they see 2 line cables under one lug (if they will fit).

You have three choices.

Power the shop as a sub off the existing 200 amp service panel.

Upgrade to 320 service. 320 meter bases have double lugs to feed directly to two service panels.

Or, replace your meter base with one that has provisions for 2 or 4 breakers built in. Popular for powering pool pumps, yard lights, and the occasional shop. Picture shows the one I use and recommend.

 

[fabjunkie]

I'm going to jump in here with a couple questions as I'm looking at the same thing as the OP.

I was looking at running a 100A sub off my 200A house panel vs. having a second meter installed on the shop (possible $$$ connection from the POCO and having to have a commercial account for the shop $$). I was not aware of this 320A option feeding two panels.

Bib Overalls,
Looking at your pics, it looks like you have a 220v feeding your shop and a 110v feeding your pool. A few questions.
1. Are these being fed off the same lugs (call them the second lugs) from the meter socket?
2. I assume there is a direct line feeding the house panel which has a main breaker from the let's call them the first lugs?
3. Does the large breaker shown cut all power or just to the shop and pool?
4. Any pics of the inside wiring on that box?

 

[JCQuick]

Glad i saw this just fixing to do bout the same thing. My house has a 200amp panel my BIL told me he could run a 100 amp to the new shop. and thats my