Bringing 3 phase power onto my property

[roadhunter]

Today is a day I have looked forward to for many years. The crew arrived to bring in 3 phase power for the building I plan to put up later this year. I'm really looking forward to having 3 phase as it seems I find all sorts of things I need to buy but they are always 3 phase so I have to pass. The main purpose of the power is to run a large electric hammermill to resize wood chips. NEw service requires a 10 year contract for a monthly access fee of $30. That gave me 180 ft from the pole, any further and it costs more. Here are the pics of the crew.

 

[Trials]

Holly I would not want to pay your electric bill. Did you ever consider a wood fired steam engine.

 

[roadhunter]

Holly I would not want to pay your electric bill. Did you ever consider a wood fired steam engine.

I hope not, LOL. That hammermill only pulls about double what a water heater does and will only run for about an hour a day.

What would I do with a wood fired steam engine?

 

[EddieWalker]

When I looked into it, I was told that I would be better converting to 3 phase where I needed it instead of running it to where i wanted it. Cost difference was significant. Fortunately my plans have changed and it's not needed anymore.

Good luck, that's going to be really nice having all that power!!!!

 

[roadhunter]

When I looked into it, I was told that I would be better converting to 3 phase where I needed it instead of running it to where i wanted it. Cost difference was significant. Fortunately my plans have changed and it's not needed anymore.

Good luck, that's going to be really nice having all that power!!!!

I would be in the same boat if I didn't have in next to the property already. The cost gets expensive very fast. Fortunately I needed to bring power in for the building anyway so choosing low voltage 3 phase didn't cost me any more.

 

[hawkeye08]

I understand completely.. in our first house (small lot in town), we had 3 phase power at the property line in backyard, but they refused to run a drop to my garage. This was over 30 years ago and I wanted some shop tools that were old that needed it, we moved in less than 10 years and it is not available where we are now, so glad I didn't end up with a collection of tools that needed it.

 

[Industrial Toys]

I built my own rotary 10 hp converter to make 600 3 phase. Always curious if a small user pays a premium for three phase service. It must be a totally different pricing structure.

 

[roadhunter]

I built my own rotary 10 hp converter to make 600 3 phase. Always curious if a small user pays a premium for three phase service. It must be a totally different pricing structure.

The rates were similar to residential/farm rates the we pay for our house. There was between 10% and 15% premium from what I could tell on the rates. The key was to use the power off peak for best pricing.

 

[Mendonsy]

Hopefully your "demand charges" are not as bad as they are around here for 3 phase. The local electric crooks here charge the peak rate that was seen for the entire month. Starting one large motor once a month can cost a fortune.

 

[Industrial Toys]

Just like they fudge everything they touch, the Ontario Government has declared rural time-of-use infrastructure not workable. After installing it of course. Seems (they claim) we have trees with leaves on them that inhibit the signals! Bad for me as a taxpayer. Good for me as an electicially heated home owner.