Question I just need someone to confirm I’m going overkill which probably won’t be hard to do here. I have to move my feed line from the utility pole to my house because it’s in the way of the pole barn location so I’m going to run a new supply to the house about 300’ from pole to house house is 2000 square feet only thing left using larger power is the 100 gallon water heater pool pump/heater and my electric dryer. So my thoughts were a 40x60 pole barn running a standard compressor 80gal maybe 5hp tops, a 240 welder, plasma cutter plenty of lighting and some gas heating and water heater. Now for the power I’m running all new underground but I’m thinking go big since it’s gonna be all new so 400 amp service 200 at the house then from there pull 200 to the pole barn 100ft from house all stemming from the location where the main power comes into the house. So question is am I sounding way overkill or should I just do like a 320 service instead of a full 400? Thanks!
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New power service
- Thread starter Zero89
- Start date
Innovate1
Well-known member
Sounds like overkill to me. Are you going to be having multiple people in the shop running multiple high loads at the same time? If not then I think most people here would say you are going to have a very hard time exceeding 60A for the shop and 100A would allow some good margin. Even with the 320 A meter base most places will let you feed two 200A panels so 400A service is again overkill IMHO. What are the currents for the loads you mention - pool heater, etc? I am thinking 200A for house and 100A for shop would be plenty unless you are have multiple people working in the shop regularly.
dcg9381
Well-known member
Someone is going to say "load calculator" which is the right answer.
I've got 90A on a 40x60. Has a refrigerator, 2 ductless splits (4 tons total), full kitchen, a hot tub, and multiple 30A and 50A RV connections. I run a welder, sometimes a plasma cutter, and a few 240V wood tools, and a 2hp well pump. I've never tripped a 90A breaker.
We have 320A service, but looking at the actual peak loads on my home (which is over 2000 sqft) - we don't get close to using it all even on 200A service. My concerns would be an electric pool heater and/or electrical resistence heat (if you have heat pumps that go into emergency mode).
Recommend "future proof" - use 2-3" conduit for the shop in case of future upgrade.
I've got 90A on a 40x60. Has a refrigerator, 2 ductless splits (4 tons total), full kitchen, a hot tub, and multiple 30A and 50A RV connections. I run a welder, sometimes a plasma cutter, and a few 240V wood tools, and a 2hp well pump. I've never tripped a 90A breaker.
We have 320A service, but looking at the actual peak loads on my home (which is over 2000 sqft) - we don't get close to using it all even on 200A service. My concerns would be an electric pool heater and/or electrical resistence heat (if you have heat pumps that go into emergency mode).
Recommend "future proof" - use 2-3" conduit for the shop in case of future upgrade.
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No it would be mainly just me or maybe a buddy once in awhile helping. As far as loads go I currently do not have all that info in front of me my service I have now is 320 I think because up until recently my house was electric everything. Comed is my power company and speaking to him today he gave me 2 options either a true 400amp service with ct cabinets and some extra stuff required or a 320amp service with a 350 aluminum feeder cable. I’m picking aluminum because copper is outrageous right now
No more heat pump the pool heater is gas with just electric supply so I would suppose then that’s just standard 120 so really in my house it’s the pool pump/heater which are both run on 120 my 100 gallon water heater is electric my a/c which is a 2.5 ton unit my water well and an electric dryer are the major things. On my current power supplySomeone is going to say "load calculator" which is the right answer.
I've got 90A on a 40x60. Has a refrigerator, 2 ductless splits (4 tons total), full kitchen, a hot tub, and multiple 30A and 50A RV connections. I run a welder, sometimes a plasma cutter, and a few 240V wood tools. I've never tripped a 90A breaker.
We have 320A service, but looking at the actual peak loads on my home (which is over 2000 sqft) - we don't get close to using it all even on 200A service. My concerns would be an electric pool heater and/or electrical resistence heat (if you have heat pumps that go into emergency mode).
Recommend "future proof" - use 2-3" conduit for the shop in case of future upgrade.
Innovate1
Well-known member
If you have 320 now why do they need to run for new 320? When I got my 320A service the meter base had dual lugs. I used them for dual 200A panels for the house which seems to be common around here. I ran to detached garage from one of the 200A house panels. Here everything past the meter base is the customers responsibility. Seems like there must be more details you haven't included. Do you have more than one 200A panel for the house (for all the previous loads)? Why not just do a 100A (or 200A) run to the shop?
If you have 90A to shop (would have been good to mention that up front) and have never tripped it why are you wanting to upgrade things? Seems like money spent for nothing but perhaps I am missing something.
If you have 90A to shop (would have been good to mention that up front) and have never tripped it why are you wanting to upgrade things? Seems like money spent for nothing but perhaps I am missing something.
If you have 320 now why do they need to run for new 320? When I got my 320A service the meter base had dual lugs. I used them for dual 200A panels for the house which seems to be common around here. I ran to detached garage from one of the 200A house panels. Here everything past the meter base is the customers responsibility. Seems like there must be more details you haven't included. Do you have more than one 200A panel for the house (for all the previous loads)? Why not just do a 100A (or 200A) run to the shop?
If you have 90A to shop (would have been good to mention that up front) and have never tripped it why are you wanting to upgrade things? Seems like money spent for nothing but perhaps I am missing something.
I think you read someone else’s comment about 90amps for their situation. My current line runs through the location where the pole barn will be going and I cannot build over it they are making me abandon it and start new.
I just put in a 320amp service with a 200amp feed through panel at the pole, feeding a 200amp panel in the garage. I did do a load calculation. The load calcs can be subjective because it is a prediction of what I plan to do, but I came up with 163 amps for an air conditioned 2400ft.sq. It is likely overkill, but allows me to add whatever I want with out concern and will hopefully be good selling point.
Innovate1
Well-known member
You're right. Sorry. It was in a comment you quoted and I got mixed up.I think you read someone else’s comment about 90amps for their situation. My current line runs through the location where the pole barn will be going and I cannot build over it they are making me abandon it and start new.
Stuart in MN
Well-known member
If I understand correctly, the new pole barn will be in between the utility pole and the house? If so, you may want to consider having the service run to a new main panel in the pole barn, and then the existing panel in the house can be converted to a sub panel that is fed from the pole barn. It will save you from running wire all the way to the house and then having to double back to get to the pole barn.
I'm doing the same thing as we speak. 320 service with 2 200 feeders. ~2000 Square foot shop with attached pool equipment and potential mezzanine apartment going in. Overkill? Yeah probably. Do you want to find out it isn't later? Not really. I'd rather cry now at prices than have to retrofit and pay even more.
mike93lx
ALLIANCE MEMBER
A new service is going to require a load calc by the utility, so you might as well get that put together.
alfredeneuman
Well-known member
A 320A service is the exact same thing as a 400A service.So question is am I sounding way overkill or should I just do like a 320 service instead of a full 400?
It's rated 320A continuous/400A peak (80% rule)
Innovate1
Well-known member
I wouldn't say that's a given. When I put mine in they said they could do a standard 200A meter base or a 320A with dual lugs for a possible future building. I went with the 320A but there was never a load calc, at least that I saw and I did all my own electrical.A new service is going to require a load calc by the utility, so you might as well get that put together.
Unless you are setting up a commercial shop with multiple employees it's going to be hard to overload a 320A service.
dcg9381
Well-known member
Same thing
Same here.. They simply ask "what service do you want?" - and provide a spec for consuming it from the transformer. No load calc. This was the first time that I've done my own utility work. I was quoted $15k to install a new transformer base, a meter base, and 2 x 200A panels. I think I did it for $4k, subbing out some of the concrete work and conduit.I wouldn't say that's a given. When I put mine in they said they could do a standard 200A meter base or a 320A with dual lugs for a possible future building. I went with the 320A but there was never a load calc, at least that I saw and I did all my own electrical.
mike93lx
ALLIANCE MEMBER
In areas with lots of cooling needs and big houses, 320/400 is common.400 amp.. whoa!
We normally have 100 or 125 amp service on place here. 400 amp would be into commercial accounts.