Upgrade main electric panel; draw power to garage

[koenbro]

I am looking to buy a house and would need to get a sense of how much it would cost to update its electrical supply. The house was built in the 1950's and has a 200A main panel. I would like to build a garage (about 40-60 feet from the house) and pull in electricity, including a 220V line and maybe two 110V 20A outlets. I am not a contractor but enjoy working on my car and doing light metal fabrication and woodworking. I currently have a compressor and a welder (both on 110V) and would want to have the option to upgrading them to 220V; might also get a plasma cutter.

Recognizing the regional variations in costs, can anyone get me a rough estimate of how much would it cost in supplies and how many hours of labor to upgrade the panel and to draw a power line to a subpanel in the garage? How many amps would I need in the main panel and the garage subpanel? Many thanks to all.

 

[sberry]

You likely won't need to upgrade the main, a garage doesn't add much to the demand factor.

 

[rburke65]

Agree with sberry, that the existing lectricity service should be more than enough power.

 

[pattenp]

I have a full electric home with 200A service and I have 2 garages, one attached and one detached. Both have 100A subpanels fed with 60A breakers from the main panel and I have not had a power shortage yet. I have the feeders sized to handle up to 90A, but I started out with the 60A breakers because they are cheap compared to the 90's. Being one person I can't run but so much at one time. It really boils down you what you'll have running all at once to say if you really need more than a 200A service.

Oh.. to add, I have a large compressor, welder, plasma cutter, car lift, heater and window a/c, etc. etc. that get used, but obviously not all at once.

 

[astroracer]

Same as pattenp here. 200A main with an attached garage and detached shop. I pull 60 into the garage off 2 60 amp brakers and 100 out to the shop off 2 100A breakers. One or two people working in the shop will never draw the full amperage to cause any issues.
To get a real price on installation you are going to have to talk to an electrician in your area. The price of wire and boxes you can figure out for yourself at the big box stores. Digging the trench is the cost of rental on a ditch digger.
Mark

 

[koenbro]

Thank you all very much for the useful info.

In the Arizona weather I will need A/C so am planning on putting in a Mitsubishi or Panasonic mini-split that will need its own 220V line. The garage/workshop will be a 2-car in size. Does the mini-split substantially change the power needs?

 

[Ericpwp]

You would be fine running to a sub-panel in the garage. You would have to account for the power draw of the a/c running while you are working in the shop.

 

[theoldwizard1]

In the Arizona weather I will need A/C so am planning on putting in a Mitsubishi or Panasonic mini-split that will need its own 220V line. The garage/workshop will be a 2-car in size. Does the mini-split substantially change the power needs?

This depends on the size of the mini-split (which depends on the size of the garage and how well it is insulated).

IF you are a "one man" shop (i.e. only going to be using 1 power tool at a time) then a 60A feed to the garage is LIKELY more than adequate. Worst case would be a plasma cutter (which requires compressed air when running). You MIGHT get close to your 60A limit, so you may have to turn off the A/C for a few minutes while you are cutting.