Is 100a service enough?

[Rick98Z]

I am currently in the process of building my detached 40x60 pole barn. My house has a 200a breaker box and was I going to run 100a from there to the garage. I have already trenched the line to the barn and put up the 100a garage breaker box but nothing is hot yet. I am starting to get conserned if 100a is going to be enough. The garage will have a sectioned off 20x20 room/studio for my wifes photography and I was going to put like a mini split heat/ac system in there for it and the remainder of the garage I am still unsure about heat/cooling. I will also have a welder out there...Have I jumped the gun on going with the 100a or will I be ok? Any thoughts/ideas are certainly appreciated!

Rick

 

[APEowner]

I've got a 100 amp feed to my shop where I run a welder, air compressor, lathe, milling machine on a phase converter, two air conditioners, furnace as well as lights and other miscellaneous electric stuff. I'm sure that if I turned everything on at once I'd have a problem but in a one man shop that just doesn't happen.

 

[Charles (in GA)]

From what you have said, it sounds like you may be pushing the 100 amp at times if you and your wife are working in the building at the same time, esp if you happen to buy a plasma cutter where you need both lots of power for it, and for the air compressor.

It may turn out to be a non issue. The mini split and lots of lights will not be a huge draw, but she could see some dimming or other electrical disturbances if you are welding at the same time.

Have you considered putting a separate service on this new bldg ?

This may or may not be possible. Certainly more expensive in the long run, paying additional monthly meter charges. Some power companies and some local codes do not allow a second meter on a residential property. Since the studio might be considered commercial, they may be paying commercial rates if they went that route.

Charles

 

[sdowney717]

single service split 400 amp into 2 200 amp panels

a separate service not liked due to issues with firemen coming in thinking power is off on the property when an adjacent building is still powered up.
Only allowed one service entrance per property address.
That is what my code inspector said.

 

[Rick98Z]

I doubt I will doing anything major work wise while she is in here studio, especially to not make noise and interfere with if she has a client for a shoot. Don't forsee any plasma cutters in my future either I will just use torch for my metal cutting...Welding will be more from time to time tractor repair and such as we are located on family farm land so it is conveinent for to have ability to weld at my shop incase bro-in-law needs quick repair. Most of my time in garage will be tinkering on vehicle or hanging in man cave area behind her studio for my tv, stereo, & BEER...

I didn't want to run an additional meter to the garage. I had enough empty slots in my house breaker to split off the run for 100a out to the garage, that is why I went that route...

 

[sberry]

100 A will be plenty, dont lose sleep over it.

 

[Rick98Z]

Thanks everyone...I was just starting to get worried now that the conduit is burried and the cable is pulled...

 

[Tscott]

Thanks everyone...I was just starting to get worried now that the conduit is burried and the cable is pulled...

Yep you will be fine. You will never come close maxing it out unless you actually try to do it on purpose. Even with 2 people, the diversity of load is pretty good.

Tom

 

[Charles (in GA)]

I doubt I will doing anything major work wise while she is in here studio, especially to not make noise and interfere with if she has a client for a shoot. Don't forsee any plasma cutters in my future either I will just use torch for my metal cutting...Welding will be more from time to time tractor repair and such as we are located on family farm land so it is conveinent for to have ability to weld at my shop incase bro-in-law needs quick repair. Most of my time in garage will be tinkering on vehicle or hanging in man cave area behind her studio for my tv, stereo, & BEER...

In this case, no I would not forsee a problem either.

Charles

 

[May Pop]

100 amp is plenty for all but the largest shop
Ron

 

[oldgoat]

You might have plenty unless you don't spread the load out. If you have all the outlets on one side on one circuit then you will notice a reduction in tools like saws and routers. If I had to do it over again I'd spread out the outlets over more breakers and more circuits. Haven't tripped a breaker yet though.

 

[Wanna Ride]

I put a seperate 200 amp service on my detached 40x30. I wanted to keep it completely isolated from the house, and be able to know EXACTLY what my costs out there are. I often work on a lot of projects for myself and others, and like the option of knowing what to charge for my work.

Just my two cents worth.

 

[sberry]

I often work on a lot of projects for myself and others, and like the option of knowing what to charge for my work.

This would be based on competitors rates, Compared to labor and parts/materials electric is rather insignificant expense.

 

[Charles (in GA)]

I put a seperate 200 amp service on my detached 40x30. I wanted to keep it completely isolated from the house, and be able to know EXACTLY what my costs out there are. I often work on a lot of projects for myself and others, and like the option of knowing what to charge for my work.

Just my two cents worth.

A friend of mine built an office on his property for his wife to use. He fed off his house (installed a new 400 amp meter and two disconnects, one for house and one for office), and to keep track of cost for tax purposes, he installed a meter (his own, personal one, not a power company owned one) inside the office next to the panel. Once a year they read the meter and calculated the electric cost using the cents/Kwh of the house bill.

A separate meter owned by the power company is NOT a necessity to keep track of expenses.

Many times power companies will bill at a much higher rate for the second meter. My power company does not, but I did encounter one PoCo engineer while I was arranging for my shop power (separate meter for other reasons) who did insist that it would be a commercial rate. The ladies in the business office who set up the accounts said if it was not a business, it was a residential rate and set it up that way. The engineer I met was an idiot on several counts and every other PoCo employee I encountered verified this.

Charles

 

[sneezer41]

I had a 60 amp service that I would routinely blow the breaker on

of course I had 2-3 employees and was running:

2 ton AC
air compressor
5 hp lathe
2 hp tumbler
5 hp saw
3 hp mill
2 cnc vertical mills
1200 watts of light
various drill presses etc

I think you will be fine

 

[Charles (in GA)]

Sneezer, he isn't referring to you. Are we getting spammed again? It seems to go in spurts, and is a real PITA. Would like to see a tightened up registration system of some sort.

Charles

 

[rwhite692]

I've got a 100 amp feed to my shop where I run a welder, air compressor, lathe, milling machine on a phase converter, two air conditioners, furnace as well as lights and other miscellaneous electric stuff. I'm sure that if I turned everything on at once I'd have a problem but in a one man shop that just doesn't happen.

Same situation here.