Sub panel

[Jwbfx4]

Been looking around her for a while, but just joined up tonight.

I'm having a 40x60 shop built at the house and needing to get power to it. My house has a 400 amp service. I have a 200 amp that is feeding my house, then a 200 amp box that will feed my shop. From the panel to the sub panel is 230 feet. Three inch Conduit will be ran underground to the subpanel.

I'm trying to decide what subpanel I need. Shop will have lights, a lift, 220 welder, 220 compressor, and a hypertherm 65 on a plasma table. Will also have a 50amp camper hook up at the shop. This will be a hobby shop, but I could see the plasma table, welder and compressor all running at once.

One electrician quoted it and recommended a 200 amp sub panel. Another recommended a 150 amp sub panel. I would rather do it right and do it once. I'm ok with spending a little extra money if it means no problems down the road.

Thanks for any insight.

 

[remauto1187]

With all those heavy loads and some using motors (compressor, camper, lift) along with all running at once I would go the biggest available which is 200A. Do you really want to be messing with turning off equipment and resetting breakers and major **** shuffling when you can prevent it all from the beginning?
That run of 230ft is not going to be cheap when it comes time to pay for the wire/cable!

 

[Jwbfx4]

Thanks, and your right I don't want to be messing with turning things off to keep everything in check. I know it would be rare for me to be running all things at once but I was leaning toward running the 200 amp service. Just wanted to make sure I was over thinking it.

Definitely hurts to look at the price of the wire. I had a choice to set a separate meter from the power company but in the long wrong I would not come out ahead that way.

 

[wyliesdiesels]

one man shop?

If so u couldnt possible run all that at once.

The RV wont be on full tilt unless someone is living in it.

But if 200a is desired u will need 3/0 cu or 250KcMil AL....it wont be cheap....

 

[Kaizen]

curious about the 400 amp service......200 amp panel.....and 200 amp sub.
how are the entrance cables wired to allow for this? or is op meaning there is 200 amps passing through the main panel?

 

[Jwbfx4]

I agree all of it would not be running at once. But very easy to run the hypertherm, compressor to feed the hypertherm, and welder all at once. Add in lower power draw like lights and I believe I could exceed 100A. The prices I got between 150A and 200A wasn't much difference if I recall right.

Definitely open to suggestions if you have them. I am machinists/welder by trade so electrical is not my thing. Just want to make sure I know what I'm getting.

 

[Jwbfx4]

Kaizen: this may not answer your question but to better explain it....I have underground power to a transformer 100 feet from my house. Goes from transformer to meter panel at the house. To the left of the meter I have a 200 amp panel that feeds my subpanel in storage room to the house. To the right of the power meter I have another 200amp panel that will feed my shop. Hope that better explains it somewhat.

 

[BADSIX]

for what its worth I was in the about the same situation you are and I put a 200 amp panel in my shop. its not that much more in cost and you have room to expand. I have a body shop in one end that has 3 welder circuits and 2 welder circuits in the main shop. I also have the air compressor and other tools. I do my out side plugs and lights out of it also. i'm probably about 3/4s full now. i'm only about 30 ft. from my main 200 amp shut off.
Jay D.

 

[wyliesdiesels]

curious about the 400 amp service......200 amp panel.....and 200 amp sub.
how are the entrance cables wired to allow for this? or is op meaning there is 200 amps passing through the main panel?

In most cases the meter pan has dual lugs. One set for each panel.

Sounds like that is the case for the OP.

In other cases there is a 400 meter main with dual 200a disconnects...

 

[tailshaft56]

If you have a dual lug meter base both panels are main panels. No subpanel

 

[gearhead1]

I am in a very similar situation, 220ft to the shop, have welders and a plasma cutter. But there's no way I can run it all at once. So it will come down to cost difference between 100, 150, and 200 amp.

Please post what you end up doing!

 

[rburke65]

Well I don't think YOU are going to be pulling 150 amp by yourself, but go 200A if you are more comfortable with it. Know anyon that can get th wire wholesale for you? Home Depot is usually real good on price, but when ya get that big I don't know if they would order you that large of a size or if they would be competitive. Good luck!

 

[zmaxmotorsports]

curious about the 400 amp service......200 amp panel.....and 200 amp sub.
how are the entrance cables wired to allow for this? or is op meaning there is 200 amps passing through the main panel?

320a meter socket with double lugs would be my guess.

 

[zmaxmotorsports]

All it takes is a couple of buddies to show up to go from a,1 man operation to an oh $hit situation in short order.

 

[ard]

Usually I would say in the whole scheme of things, the cost of materials for 150 vs 200 is.... immaterial. Panel and stuff is a push, right? So its 750 ft of wire. So 30-50 cents a foot x 3. $1000 or so? (I say usually since there are some odd prices online for 3/0 vs 4/0...)

Question-

If he can get a great deal on a 1000' roll, no issue with using the same size for all 4, correct? In other words upsizing the ground. Just asking, depends on how he purchases and how they are feeling....

 

[wyliesdiesels]

Usually I would say in the whole scheme of things, the cost of materials for 150 vs 200 is.... immaterial. Panel and stuff is a push, right? So its 750 ft of wire. So 30-50 cents a foot x 3. $1000 or so? (I say usually since there are some odd prices online for 3/0 vs 4/0...)

Question-

If he can get a great deal on a 1000' roll, no issue with using the same size for all 4, correct? In other words upsizing the ground. Just asking, depends on how he purchases and how they are feeling....

The problem with using a ground wire thats as large as the ungrounded conductors is that most ground bars do not have holes large enough for that size wire so u have to look for an add in lug....easier to use the correct size ground...

 

[ard]

Agree. But if it is a $500 savings (just a WAG) for a full 1000' roll versus 'by the foot', it might be worth dealing with the lugs! Just depends on the vagaries of pricing, who has what when, etc...

 

[Jwbfx4]

I am in a very similar situation, 220ft to the shop, have welders and a plasma cutter. But there's no way I can run it all at once. So it will come down to cost difference between 100, 150, and 200 amp.

Please post what you end up doing!

Will update when decided. I'm about a month or two out at this point.

Thanks all for the input.

 

[Bert_]

Unless you have a long way to run your wire, there isn't much savings installing a 150A service. A 150A panel is often MORE expensive than a 200A.

I would avoid using full size wire for the ground especially. Way more hassle, the equipment just isn't made to accommodate it. The usual standard for a 200A feeder, if using aluminum, is 250-250-3/0 with a #4 ground. Copper would be smaller, but a lot more expensive.