New Shop electrical questions

[Bravo64]

I've built my 30'x40' shop 30ft from the house. I have 2" schedule80 pvc from house main panel to shop (stubbed up through slab). Now I want to install a 125A sub panel in the shop. I'm thinking I need #1 copper conductors. The panel will have 22 circuit capacity. I plan to weld, run table saw, have a 30A RV plug and a compressor plus lighting inside and out. Basically I want to over build before I sheetrock the interior. What ya all think?

 

[pattenp]

Just make sure your house panel will accept a 125A breaker? #1 Cu is correct for 125A.

 

[Bravo64]

Yes, it accepts a CH125. Not cheap, but the local electrical contractor has one he'll sell me for what Home Depot sells the BR125. I'm most likely going to use 1.0 Alu conductor for cost factor. Now pulling those through the 2" conduit will be fun. Lube, lube lube.

 

[Falcon67]

As mentioned several times previously you could power that same panel with MHF 2-2-2-4 for around $1.75/ft. Breaker it at 90A and you are done. I have all you listed and more, run is 130', and my feed is 70A because HD had that size on the shelf cheap.

 

[Aceman]

I would use a 30 space panel minimum. Breaker spaces fill up fast with 240v loads.

 

[theoldwizard1]

As mentioned several times previously you could power that same panel with MHF 2-2-2-4 for around $1.75/ft. Breaker it at 90A and you are done. I have all you listed and more, run is 130', and my feed is 70A because HD had that size on the shelf cheap.

+1 !

Take the money you save and buy some new tools !

 

[Moose364]

I had a pole in my yard between the house and transformer. I set a meter loop pole by my shop, and they split my feed at the pole in my yard so that I could have 200amp service in my 35x35 shop, I looked at what you doing and in the end with a 90' run from my house to the shop going with the meter loop set at my shop was much cheaper, I have 2 electric bills now but I have no lack of power at my shop, the way your doing it you could see light's dim/flicker in the house when striking a arc when welding or when your compressor kicks on while your welding.

 

[skcj213]

I had a pole in my yard between the house and transformer. I set a meter loop pole by my shop, and they split my feed at the pole in my yard so that I could have 200amp service in my 35x35 shop, I looked at what you doing and in the end with a 90' run from my house to the shop going with the meter loop set at my shop was much cheaper, I have 2 electric bills now but I have no lack of power at my shop, the way your doing it you could see light's dim/flicker in the house when striking a arc when welding or when your compressor kicks on while your welding.

Out of curiosity, does the power company charge you a minimum charge for the second meter? I am planning a long term garage build that is on an adjacent lot. It would be much easier to just run power straight to the new garage from the pole rather than a tap from the house. The concern is that I will have to pay a minimum regardless of how much is used in the new garage.

 

[Rosco]

Out of curiosity, does the power company charge you a minimum charge for the second meter? I am planning a long term garage build that is on an adjacent lot. It would be much easier to just run power straight to the new garage from the pole rather than a tap from the house. The concern is that I will have to pay a minimum regardless of how much is used in the new garage.

I have a separate 200 amp panel in my shop. The electric company does have a minimum charge, but not additional to what is used, just minimum charge if no power is used. I think it is 10 bucks. With a fridge and all of the time I spend out there it is never a problem. I love having the separate meter and all the power required for whatever I want.

 

[skcj213]

I am in Illinois and am sure ameren, my power provider, may be different. However that gives me a good point of reference. Thanks!

 

[Moose364]

I sure they have some type of min. but when talking to them AEP they said home shops didn't use enough electric to set a transformer but they would split the feed to my house to save them and me money, I just looked at my bill for my shop looks like the base (min) is $11.59 my shop bill runs around $40.00 at the most and that's if Im doing welding plus big shop fan's in the summer running. in the winter it can drop as low as last month $17.00 but to me it is well worth it to have the power, Like my fan's I have 2 x 50" wall mounted exhaust that came from some old chicken house's they shut down both are 220v and they move a ton of air through the shop, plus I have a 110 48" I can run all 3 and weld and the compressor kick on with No problems

 

[CNGsaves]

^ ^ ^ Moose . . . sounds like you win TOP FAN Award for air movers in shop !!

You've got qty 2 of 50" that are 220v and another 48" that's 110v . . . Holy **** !!

Nearby high school has double gymnasium without any A/C and they only have 2 barn fans for the entire monster space !

Let's see PICS of your monster air movers . . .
. . . . maybe a new thread, the Chicken House welding solution !!!

 

[skcj213]

Thanks for the input Moose. Where the garage is going to be is currently occupied by an old house that will be demolished. Power is already right there. The only work that would have to be done would be to either connect the overhead power or, preferably, trench and bury the feed from the pole to the garage.

It would probably be a 60' run to get from the panel in the house to the planned garage but would also mean boring a hole in my 160 year old masonry wall. It would just be cleaner if the garage had it's own power.

 

[plow]

Hey Moose, Where do you live in Etex. I'm real close to greenwood, La.

 

[75gmck25]

Question about the recommendation to use MHF to connect the sub-panel:

For electrical purposes (I know they look different), how is aluminum MHF 2-2-2-4 different from SER 2-2-2-4? Can either one be used to connect a sub-panel to the main panel within the same structure? I think the big box stores sell both for a similar price/foot, but its not clear to me why you need to use one or the other.

Bruce

 

[CNGsaves]

At my Home Depot, the MHF Al 2-2-2-4 is only $1.47/ft. Can't beat that for getting 90A if reasonable distance between buildings.

Benefit of MHF is direct bury rating (combined with service entry rating). Good idea to run in conduit when burying between buildings, for flexibility if larger feed is necessary later. Same continuous run of MHF can be used inside building, just needs to be in conduit.

 

[wyliesdiesels]

Question about the recommendation to use MHF to connect the sub-panel:

For electrical purposes (I know they look different), how is aluminum MHF 2-2-2-4 different from SER 2-2-2-4? Can either one be used to connect a sub-panel to the main panel within the same structure? I think the big box stores sell both for a similar price/foot, but its not clear to me why you need to use one or the other.

Bruce

Yes either one can be used to do that the only difference is MHF needs to be in conduit indoors and where exposed outdoors.

SER on the other hand has an outer jacket so no need for conduit. If your run is all indoors then SER is the way to go!

On the flip side, SER CANNOT be used underground!

 

[Bravo64]

Thannks folks. I ran the 1/0 with CH125. Power is on and I have one gfci wired.

 

[wyliesdiesels]

What kind of 1/0 AL?? MHF, SER, XHHW??

 

[Bravo64]

1/0 USE alu

 

[wyliesdiesels]

1/0 USE alu

Is it dual rated?

 

[Bravo64]

Not sure. It's what the inspector said to use. Home Depot only had one type. What's dual rated refer to? God don't tell me it's the wrong one I installed.

 

[wyliesdiesels]

Dual rated means just as it sounds. Its dual rated for multiple installation types. If the wire u got only has USE on the jacket, then its wrong. It cant go inside because the jacket/insulation isnt fire resistant.

Look at the jacket and see if it says RHW or RHH on it

 

[Bravo64]

It says:
ALCAN S 1/0 AWG COMPACT STABILITY (R) AA-8030 AL XLPE 600V USE-2 OR RHH OR RHW-2 SUN-RES (UL)
Both house panel and Shop sub-panels are inside wall with 2" pvc conduit run through stemwall and footing. It's a sealed run between buildings.

 

[wyliesdiesels]

Youre fine. Its rated RHH/RHW

 

[AP514]

You had him....checking his shorts on that one...wheew

 

[Bravo64]

Youre fine. Its rated RHH/RHW

Whew! Had me sweating for a moment. Thanks for your input.