Electrical sub-panel question

[Industrial Toys]

I have looked around friends yards and found Galvanized "stuff" . Buried a Galvanized truck headache rack for a ground, here a few years ago. In my way of thinking, a regulation ground rod just doesn't have much surface area.

 

[BrokenTrack]

The bigger question is did you bond the neutral and ground at the genny?
Hopefully not, unless your transfer switch also switches (& isolates) the neutral(s).

No I did not, but there is no transfer switch, so it does not matter even if I had. :cool2:

I just flip the main breaker when I am running on generator power.

 

[3Ts]

Talk about Project Creep...why not just upgrade your shop to 3 phase power while you are at it! (LOL)

I actually thought about it. For $1700 I could switch over to a 3 phase power unit. Go with single phase for the house, and 3 phase for the shop...

I looked into it too. It would have cost $48k just to bring it to the property. Then a little more to get it from there to the shop and all the electrical panel work. To tap into the existing single phase power was ~$1,300. I can have multiple single phase drops for that $48k. The limitation was a max of 26kw per single phase drop which is about 15 Hp electric motor after considering starting current load.

 

[BrokenTrack]

I looked into it too. It would have cost $48k just to bring it to the property. Then a little more to get it from there to the shop and all the electrical panel work. To tap into the existing single phase power was ~$1,300. I can have multiple single phase drops for that $48k. The limitation was a max of 26kw per single phase drop which is about 15 Hp electric motor after considering starting current load.

I was just going to hook a 27 kw, 3 phase generator up to my diesel engine, but a PTO, 27 KW, 3 phase generator is not a lot more at $2200.

That would save you about $46,000!! :dance1::cool2::drink:

 

[rbstern]

First of all, thanks gents, for the many contributions to the topic. Update:

I looked at the house blueprints, and realized the back wall in the closet of the mudroom was a reasonable route between the basement and the attic. Sure enough, I cut out a small section of sheet rock, and a couple of 1" holes later, I now have a workable cable path between the main panel and garage. I doubled up the roughtly 150' to 200' of 12/2 I had on hand and have so far run it from the closet to the panel. Tonight, I'll run it into the attic and through the breezeway roof to the garge. IF the line is long enough to give me two 12/2 circults, I'll set up one as 120V/20A, and the other as 240V/20A, and call it done. 4800 watts of oomph from the 240v feed should handle just about any welding I am likely to do (inverter/DC type welding), and if I had something it couldn't handle, I'll use my generator or take the work and the welder down to the basement workshop, where the panel is. The extra 120V circuit will handle an air compressor and any cutting/sanding machines I need. We're talking hobby grade stuff.

If the 12/2 line I have on hand isn't long enough for good outlet placement for both 120V and 240V outlets, I'll just use it for a single line 120V/20A, and hustle out to the local orange store and get either some 10/2 or 8/2 for the second line, with an appropriate breaker upgrade.

The subpanel is definitely attractive, but not essential.

Remind me I said that in a few years.

 

[3Ts]

I was just going to hook a 27 kw, 3 phase generator up to my diesel engine, but a PTO, 27 KW, 3 phase generator is not a lot more at $2200.

That would save you about $46,000!! :dance1::cool2::drink:

It needed to be on a timer with remote start/stop and was to run an irrigation pump. I wanted to go with a 40 hp stationary diesel engine to power the pump, but the folks that had the final say on it didn't believe a diesel could be set up that way. :mur:

Instead they wanted to go with a "written pole" motor which could provide up to 100 hp on the single phase line. However, they were unable to find a source (this was a few years ago) and no idea as to the cost. The techonology has been around for awhile to do it, but is normally used on major projects like hydro electric generators.
Ahead of the Curve: Written-Pole Electric Motors Provide 1 Horsepower Ratings on Single-Phase Utility Power | Farm Equipment

 

[rbstern]

Attic cable run is finished. I've got the two 12/2 wires in the garage. Was far less effort than I had myself convinced it would be.

Have to put in the receptacles and breakers, should be able to get that done this weekend. 240v power in the garage. Yipee!

Thanks again.

 

[dragoneggs]

Attic cable run is finished. I've got the two 12/2 wires in the garage. Was far less effort than I had myself convinced it would be.

Have to put in the receptacles and breakers, should be able to get that done this weekend. 240v power in the garage. Yipee!

Thanks again.

When I finally added a sub panel and added 3 220v circuits and was able to disconnect a long 220v homemade extension cord from a spare dryer outlet in the house I was dancing for joy. No more unplugging/plugging in a tool every time I wanted to use it. Also I can finally run the air compressor at the same time as the plasma cutter so I didn't have to take a break to recharge the tank while cutting! :thumbsup:

Having dedicated circuits in the garage/shop is liberating!

 

[sandman2234]

Having dedicated circuits in the garage/shop is liberating!

I completely understand! I went a different route, and pulled a separate address for my garage, then added a meter can with breakers(like a mobile home uses on a pole) and another 42 slot panel inside the garage. I now have 200 amp service in the garage and don't have to worry about the Bride firing up the stove while drying clothes when i am trying to weld!
David from jax

 

[BrokenTrack]

Having dedicated circuits in the garage/shop is liberating!

I kind of did the same thing.

I pulled a 100 amp circuit for my generator in my shop, but put in a dedicated 50 amp breaker for my welder, and a load box for several more.

My shop was already wired for 20 amp breakers every 4 feet, and lights of course, but I might just tie that into the new main 100 amp service now that there is plenty of room.

As you say; it is very liberating.

Not mentioned, and granted I have been accused of being scared of the dark on this, but I put lights up everywhere too. I think if every outside light was on in this house, shop and barn, I would light up 4 acres. But gosh darn it, outside in the winter: yeah I can see.