Wiring to shed from house question

[ultrarunner]

Meter is on the house... just outside the mud room back door entrance.

I have not been there when the UF was repaired. If and when it has a future problem I hope I can ask for your advice?

Home built in 1978... the owner wanted overhead but due to location had to go underground... I am the ONLY one underground.

Each time the cable needed repair it took out one of the legs... so have the panel worked... last time there was steam coming from the duff along side the road at the break... Thurston County WA

Always thought it odd for the transformer to just be on a small pad in the middle of the landscape and 75' from the house?

I think anything I would do in the future except the most rudimentary would be in conduit just to have options later.

 

[LD1]

oh.. here in idaho and wash, the homeowner is responsible for all wire between meter and house. utility is supposed to be resp between transformer and meter. also, 1000 foot run between meter and house wouldnt be allowed due to huge voltage drop. they force moving transformer closer which is WAY $$$$$

Sounds like its primary that is buried 1000' underground. And only 75' of secondary. So no voltage drop issues.

 

[woodlandfarms]

So down the road we are going to have the new house, the old carport and the new shop all needing electrical, all needing electrical in 3 opposite directions and each direction about 200 feet from the transformer. I know it comes down to code, but would it be possible to have one meter, by the transformer, that fed the three different buildings? I can't think of any reason why not other than the utlity wanting its pound of flesh.

 

[MossRoad]

Yes. You put a box on the pole under the meter with a 2-pole breaker for the house, for the carport, and for the new shop.

Unless your buildings are arranged in a perfect Y, though, it may be easier and cheaper to run to the carport from either the house or the new shop. I can't imagine a carport needing a large load capability.

 

[LD1]

The meter bases that our current power company is using, already have breakers in the housing. If you can find one, there is no need for a second panel below the meter.

These are an all in one panel, about 42" or so from top to bottom. It has a top cover that covers the top half, with the power companies meter and seal.

The lower half is home owner /electrician access. Takes standard couple pole breakers. It comes with one 200a. But you can add a second one. It also has a 20a single pole, and a gfi plug for contractors.

They use these because on new construction, power company only has to show up ONCE. Set the xfmr pole and meter, has the GFI plug for contractors, and done. Electrician can kill the breakers to complete wiring without having to have power company come back and pull meter. And they don't have to set up temp service for contractors through the build as it's already there.

For you, if you could get one of these panels, the two couple pole slots to feed house and shop. The single pole GFI breaker....I'd use that to the carport.

 

[MossRoad]

The meter bases that our current power company is using, already have breakers in the housing. If you can find one, there is no need for a second panel below the meter.

These are an all in one panel, about 42" or so from top to bottom. It has a top cover that covers the top half, with the power companies meter and seal.

The lower half is home owner /electrician access. Takes standard couple pole breakers. It comes with one 200a. But you can add a second one. It also has a 20a single pole, and a gfi plug for contractors.

They use these because on new construction, power company only has to show up ONCE. Set the xfmr pole and meter, has the GFI plug for contractors, and done. Electrician can kill the breakers to complete wiring without having to have power company come back and pull meter. And they don't have to set up temp service for contractors through the build as it's already there.

For you, if you could get one of these panels, the two couple pole slots to feed house and shop. The single pole GFI breaker....I'd use that to the carport.

Those sound good.

 

[woodlandfarms]

So a neighbor suggested I actually need to check with fire. We have this setup with our manufactured house, a meter with a breaker box, that then feeds the house breaker box. He said this is code for manufactured homes in the PNW as the fire department wants secondary access to the power. I assume this is because a manufactured home is one step up from a thick cardboard box in terms of combustability... But hey, I might have the box already on hand.

 

[joe48]

Why do you need 200 amps at your barn?

Have you calculated what your power needs will be at the barn? AC? Water heater? welder? Air compressor? outlets?

In most cases, you will only be using one outlet at a time, plus lights. 100 amps is more then enough for a shop.

If you are pulling power from your main supply at your house, how much is your house using at the same time you will be in the shop? Will the AC be on in the house, the water heater? Maybe a dryer doing laundry or an oven cooking dinner?

I agree with Eddie I upgraded ran new 200 to house took old 220v100amp panel from house about 100ft to barn. I have 6- 20amp light and power circuits, 30amp 3hp 220v compressor, 50 amp 220 welder outlets, have everything going and welding including 4 ton AC, NO Problem except the electric bill, even that the worst bill we've ever had was $350 in the summer. So you don't need 400amp in the house and 200 in the barn unless you just like to spend money.

 

[grsthegreat]

Sounds like its primary that is buried 1000' underground. And only 75' of secondary. So no voltage drop issues.

my thoughts exactly. that 1000 feet is totally utilities cost to repair

 

[grsthegreat]

So down the road we are going to have the new house, the old carport and the new shop all needing electrical, all needing electrical in 3 opposite directions and each direction about 200 feet from the transformer. I know it comes down to code, but would it be possible to have one meter, by the transformer, that fed the three different buildings? I can't think of any reason why not other than the utility wanting its pound of flesh.

two ways to do this. first is if they allow a current transformer meter at transformer. this works if that transformer ONLY supplies your properties. then you can feed from transformer to your other buildings and only have 1 meter.

the other .... easier... way is to install a meter main with meter and 20 space panel right next to meter and run circuits from this to all the other buildings.