I have building that is 450' from my house and 850' away from my main transformer. The electric company wants 7500 bucks to install another transducer and the run a line to the shop for its own meter or they want 700 bucks to have me install a meter next to the transformer and I take care of the wire run of 850' to the building. I have 200amp service to my house and was thinking of going with 80 or 100 amp service to the building from my house which the run is 450'. I know the best route would be pay the electric company the big money but I am trying to avoid that. What would a good plan of action be to run from my house back. Wire size?
You are using an out of date browser. It may not display this or other websites correctly.
You should upgrade or use an alternative browser.
You should upgrade or use an alternative browser.
Wire size for main run
- Thread starter Mouse4x4
- Start date
wyliesdiesels
Well-known member
What are your loads in the shop?
A feeder off the house would be cheaper, as long as the house service can handle the additional shop load and existing house load.
A feeder off the house would be cheaper, as long as the house service can handle the additional shop load and existing house load.
ard
Well-known member
3/0 copper will give you 90A at 450ft with @2.96% voltage drop
300kcm Aluminum about the same
Thats BIG wire. Trenching, conduit, wire- even DIY you will be at 10-15 a foot (WAG)
And just for giggles, at 850ft you need 1000kcmil AL...which I think is one INCH diameter, each conductor
Finally, if you upsized your home, would your utility be obligated to upsize your service connection at no charge?
Any which way, this wont be cheap...
300kcm Aluminum about the same
Thats BIG wire. Trenching, conduit, wire- even DIY you will be at 10-15 a foot (WAG)
And just for giggles, at 850ft you need 1000kcmil AL...which I think is one INCH diameter, each conductor
Finally, if you upsized your home, would your utility be obligated to upsize your service connection at no charge?
Any which way, this wont be cheap...
dcg9381
Well-known member
300kcm Aluminum about the same
Thats BIG wire. Trenching, conduit, wire- even DIY you will be at 10-15 a foot (WAG)
From something I just budgeted, AL wire that's real close:
XHHW-2 3x(250mcm) + 3/0 AL = 4.30/ft
PVC conduit - say another $1.20-$1.50 / ft
Trencher $250-$500/day (depending on soil)
Assuming you trench it in a day, you're probably looking around $3000 to DIY.
I was just complaining about pulling wire 277 feet... My bad.
Around here another meter is $22/mo sitting there doing nothing - might look into that too, IE - another meter isn't ideal.
Last edited:
Have you checked to see if the utility company will split the fee up? I have seen some utility companies take the fee ($7500) and divide that by so many years and you would have a minimum monthly bill of ($7500/36 months= $208)
I installed a 400 amp service right at 420' from the street, we dug the ditch -36" deep, I ran the pvc pipe that they supplied, they pulled the wire and set the transformer, customer pd for xfmer upfront $3500, if he didn't pay the transformer fee upfront, they were going to give him a minimum monthly bill.
Might be worth asking if it would work for you
I installed a 400 amp service right at 420' from the street, we dug the ditch -36" deep, I ran the pvc pipe that they supplied, they pulled the wire and set the transformer, customer pd for xfmer upfront $3500, if he didn't pay the transformer fee upfront, they were going to give him a minimum monthly bill.
Might be worth asking if it would work for you
wyliesdiesels
Well-known member
Have you checked to see if the utility company will split the fee up? I have seen some utility companies take the fee ($7500) and divide that by so many years and you would have a minimum monthly bill of ($7500/36 months= $208)
I installed a 400 amp service right at 420' from the street, we dug the ditch -36" deep, I ran the pvc pipe that they supplied, they pulled the wire and set the transformer, customer pd for xfmer upfront $3500, if he didn't pay the transformer fee upfront, they were going to give him a minimum monthly bill.
Might be worth asking if it would work for you
Damn that will take him roughly 13 YEARS to break even with a monthly meter charge of $22....
I am looking at direct burial Aluminum wire. Even if I run Cooper from house breaker panel to a disconnect on outside of house and run direct burial Aluminum from there to the shop. Largest load in the shop would be a welder on occasion. Would I be ok with 2/0 wire or should I just step up to the 4/0 and be done. I have more or less made my mind up that I am running from house as long as it is safe and doable. Looking to do 100 amp 80 at the very least. Also I have very soft sand like soil and have access to a ditch witch the digging the Trench is no issue.
Last edited:
ard
Well-known member
If only Ubiquiti would make a line of sight, wireless power link....
OP...you are stuck in the SAME CYCLE so many fall into here:
1. Post a spitball question: "id like 20,0000AMPS...what do I put in"
2. Get responses "It will cost 'a million dollars' "
3. Try to negotiate down to reasonable costs (and with us, we dont care!)
4. Finally someone says "do a load calc'
which is where we always should start but it annoys people....
So, do this: figure out what you need out at that shop, now and in 20 years. You, your kids- maybe if the house sells. What is the most that is needed? (If you laid conduit, may less view to the distant future...)
Tell us that and we can then figure out what you really need.
OP...you are stuck in the SAME CYCLE so many fall into here:
1. Post a spitball question: "id like 20,0000AMPS...what do I put in"
2. Get responses "It will cost 'a million dollars' "
3. Try to negotiate down to reasonable costs (and with us, we dont care!)
4. Finally someone says "do a load calc'
which is where we always should start but it annoys people....
So, do this: figure out what you need out at that shop, now and in 20 years. You, your kids- maybe if the house sells. What is the most that is needed? (If you laid conduit, may less view to the distant future...)
Tell us that and we can then figure out what you really need.
theoldwizard1
Well-known member
MHF (mobile home feeder) is rated for direct burial. It MUST be run inside conduit inside of buildings. Splice it to SE where it comes inside the building.I am looking at direct burial Aluminum wire.
It is available in 2/0-2/0-1-4 which would have less than a 5% VD.
IMHO, even 80A is overkill. Many (most?) "one man" shops can run comfortably on 60A. With a 60A breaker in your main, you can use 2-2-2-4 MHF and save about 75¢/foot.Largest load in the shop would be a welder on occasion.... Looking to do 100 amp 80 at the very least.
dcg9381
Well-known member
I agree - I've never been able to outrun 60A on a moderately sized shop. I'm at 90A - running 2 x 2 tons of AC, a hot tub, refrigerator, induction cook top, convection microwave, RV hookup (another 2 ACs), plus all the more traditional shop things like a grinder, welder, etc... All on 90A. It's all power or money, like usual. Just do it in 2.5-3" conduit and then it's future proof.
Thanks for these answers guys I actually started a second thread becuase I couldn't find this one. I guess in reality 100 amp is not fully needed as much as just a want. This isn't a production shop it is a hobby shop with occasional welding and fab work none of witch will be a team effort. Worst case scenario would be fridge kicks on the same time I strike a Arc and the compressor comes on. So maybe just drop down to 60-80 amp and make this work a little easier.