Iplayfarmer
Super Member
I know it's a bad idea to put fresh water and septic in the same trench, but I'd never thought of electrical. I'm eager to hear the official answer to your question.
Running Electric service
- Thread starter ch47dpilot
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I know it's a bad idea to put fresh water and septic in the same trench, but I'd never thought of electrical. I'm eager to hear the official answer to your question.
Larry Caldwell
Super Member
I installed a 400 amp service (actually two 200 amp feeds from one transformer) for my house and shop/barn/outbuildings. I ran high voltage underground in conduit to the transformer and two main disconnects about halfway between the house and shop. The well pump runs off of a separate panel at the transformer so a building fire won't lose the water.
It is very poor form to run power to outbuildings through the house, though I did run one 240v/30a service to the wood shed from the house. A shop really needs its own service panel. You need a 50 amp circuit just for the welder, plus air compressor, cutoff saws, and any other equipment you may need to plug in. My shop has its own bathroom, so has a water heater load too. You don't want to install a 200a service for a house, then tap 100a for the shop.
It is very poor form to run power to outbuildings through the house, though I did run one 240v/30a service to the wood shed from the house. A shop really needs its own service panel. You need a 50 amp circuit just for the welder, plus air compressor, cutoff saws, and any other equipment you may need to plug in. My shop has its own bathroom, so has a water heater load too. You don't want to install a 200a service for a house, then tap 100a for the shop.
grsthegreat
Super Star Member
i agree wholeheartedly.... always plan for future usage. im an electrician and even i fell for the "do it the cheapest way possible" route when i built my shop. i put in a 50 amp service off the house to save money. stupid stupid stupid
a few years later im out there on an excavator digging in a new 200 amp service to the same building cause i went and bought a cnc plasma cutting table. didnt know at the time i needed such a beast. i always tell people to plan for the future...but i didnt heed my own advice, and my wife never lets me live it down either. all the previous pipe, wire and panel just went in the trash
Samandothers
Platinum Member
When looking at installing separate runs to your out buildings ask the utility company about this too. For each meter installed there may be separate charge per month to have the service there in addition to the actual usage. So if possible see if way to get the capacity you want at the out buildings and not have to have separate meters. This usually means running through the house meter and then from that panel to out buildings. Could be you have a meter and a central point and you distribute from there.
This may not be worth the hassle and you may want utility to run to each building and install a meter but with that will be a cost for each service.
This may not be worth the hassle and you may want utility to run to each building and install a meter but with that will be a cost for each service.
grsthegreat
Super Star Member
this is a 400 amp main meter (single meter) with two (2) 200 AMP BREAKERS AND A 20 space panel for other crap. this way you only have 1 meter charge and plenty of power without running thru another panel. the panel and breakers cost about 600.00
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milkman636
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Our last house was 550' back in the woods. The power company ran 4160v underground alongside the driveway and installed a tranformer on a pad between the house and barn. They were about 120' apart, so it was only 50' to the barn and 70' to the house from where they installed the transformer.
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