Getting power to shop

Originally Posted by rambler

I didnt read all the replies, sorry if this is a repeat of info already.....

Very common out on the farm, 400 feet isn't that bad.

Underground direct burial feeder line, 4 individual wires, aluminum is what you can afford and works well. It will be thick wire, and expensive, but not that bad. Some folk hate direct burial, want their wire in conduit underground if you do be sure you use wire rated for conduit use, as it heats and cools differently if direct burial or in conduit, you need to match up right.

At each end be sure you have the proper box with a clamp than is rated for aluminum wire, and use the special grease on the connection and it works great and safe. From there you can wire the building with copper wire inside.

It will be far cheaper than the quote you got, my farm has a central transformer, and then 70 feet to the house, 350 feet to 3 buildings, and a multi branch line to the remaining 6 buildings and deep well up to 700 feet away. Had all that put in underground for $8000 8 years ago, all is capable of 200 amps. Prices for aluminum has gone up a little, and labor, but obviously I had a lot more done, and that 700 foot line has wires the metal is as thick as my thumb....

So you should have no problems, it will cost but not that much.

Paul

Edit - read the thread after all....

Current code you will almost always need to run 4 wires these days, from your one service. You can't get by without the ground wire any more. There had been some ag exceptions which may apply, but bet not.

The concern with long wires and bigger voltages is 'voltage drop'. There are many calculators out there. This one tends to be rather conservative and some folk don't like the big wires it calls for, but it correctly give you a 3% voltage drop for a service line, and then you have a remaining 2% drop for the in-building losses for the total 5% voltage drop you are allowed.

http://www.elec-toolbox.com/calculators/voltdrop.htm

This says you will want your aluminum feeder wires to be 500 MCM gauge, which is big and expensive, but will give you full 200 amp out there, and you won't see any dimming lights, etc. and can fit your budget. Forget the 4-0 wire and such others talk about.

Depending on what your current main breaker box is, you can pull off of it and be feeding 200 amps to your house and to your shop with the current 200 amp service you have. This is not a problem, however you can only be pulling a total of 200 amps all together at any one time. Unless you were going into shop business with employees, I can't see the single 200 amp service ever being a problem for your setup. You might need a new service box, or main breaker box, to handle the divide, but it should all work out fine.

It will take a smaller wire and potentially easier main connection if you only want 100 amps out there.

400 feet is not a problem, IF you do it right. And your electrician will do it right. And while expensive, it should not break the bank as other options you are getting will!

I'm running a deep well, 5 buildings with 60 amp services, and my big 48x81 shop at the far end of that 700 foot run. Along with the rest house included, all on a 200 amp main service.

It won't be a problem. Your electrician will have no problem setting it up.

My numbers and comments might help you figure out what you are in for ahead of time, I love doing that research too, but the electrician will have it all dialed in easy, and it will work all off 200 amps (unless you often have multiple workers in that shop at the same time).

My entire farm used to be on a 60 amp service until I upgraded, farm shop, house, well, livestock, etc. now that was a little cramped, lights would dim a lot......

Originally Posted by ArXane

A preliminary construction cost estimate has been made in order to avoid delaying your determination of the economic feasibility of obtaining the electric service. This estimated cost is based on: installing a 1-phase overhead line that will include 3-poles, 2-down guys and anchors, 25KVA transformer, service and meter base. Cost would be about
$13,000.00 to $13,500.00.

1. Additional rights of way and easements (due to re-routing of facilities) required by Pacific to construct, operate and maintain the line extension being obtained at no cost to Pacific.

1. Use of a route chosen from mapped information and field survey, for converting a distribution line from Pacific’s presently existing facilities, to a point of delivery acceptable to Pacific on the premises located as described above.

Pacific’s chosen route may require additional preparation and/or clearing, by the Customer, to Pacific’s specifications.

Originally Posted by Shrek

How much would it cost to connect a separate service to the shop? We had a barn 3 acres from my parents house and the cost of running a feed from our main house was twice the cost of having a service installed at the barn and a tap run in from the main line on the right away on the next section.

For 30 years now we have had two electric bills with the one at the barn/shop minimal.

Originally Posted by Rosco99

How close is Natural gas an how much to run it 400 feet to shop??

Option 11-B convert Generator to Propane mount on trailer
_______ an then buy large tank.
_______Be sure to shield from view the propane tank.
_______include Concrete Highway barriers for protection of tank
_______ 50 gal aux tank on trailer will provide power to house
_______ in case of power outage