Breaker Box for new shop

T

Trick

Joined
Mar 3, 2001
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Me and my dad are finally building our shop. He wants to run seperate service to it so I can pay the bill. (Imagine that :D) I have a brand spankin new 100 amp 110/220 main breaker box. He says that is not big enough for a shop. I think he is insane. I am not going to be using over a 100 amps at one time I wouldn't think. It is a big box with many breakers so everything could run on it's own breaker almost.

Whatcha all think? Unless he is in there the same time that I am, the only thing that will be running all the time except what I am using at the moment would be the lights and the exhaust fans. Maybe an AC down the road. I imagine I will use wood heat in the winter. (Plan on having the forge in a 3 sided extension off the shop with gravel floor)

The only 220 devices I have right now would be a 5hp 60 gal. Air Comp. and a 180 amp arc. I have another huge welder that I want to use for a power supply for a big mig and maybe a home brew plasma cutter (If I chicken out building one, a real plasma cutter)and hopefully a forging press, but that is way down the line. I would also probably start using 220's on my motors eventually. Maybe an AC. But the more 220 stuff I run the less amps I will be using? I don't know what to do obviously.

I will buy a bigger box if y'all think I should. But I sure would like to use what I already have if it is good enough.

To put it another way, how would you do your electric if you built your dream shop? :D

Thanks,
Ric
 
I just bought a mid sized bench mill with a 2 hp single phase motor wired for 110, but that can also run on 220. I am also looking for a small lathe and a small surface grinder and will try to maintain single phase on both of them and of course already have a drill press and bench grinder. There's also a 2"x72" belt grinder I'm working on building as well. I'll need a small compressor which might run concurrantly with one of the other machines, but it would be my own shop, not a production environment so it's unlikely a bunch of machines would be running at the same time.

I had a 200 amp service installed for our tiny 1160 sq/ft house two years ago and am hoping a 100 amp sub panel will be enough for my small shop in the garage.

Opinions?

jmx
 
If you are starting out with a new service get the 200 amp. You never know what the future will hold. It's much easier to start with 200 than to have to add it later and I don't think the cost is much greater If I remember correctly.
 
I would say a 200 amp 'all in one' also. You just don't have room in a 100 amp for any expansion, and when you need more, you'll end up with subpanels etc.
Just better to do it right at the beginning. Cheaper in the long run too.:)
 
Are all the 200 amp recommendations directed at Mr. Junkcarsrock, or are some of you recommending that I need a 200 amp sub panel off my main service panel which already has 200 amp service?

I am about to start building out a portion of my garage as a dedicated shop and was going to contract with an electrician to put in a 100 amp sub panel to serve the shop.

What do you think?

jmx
 
IMHO get the 200 amp service pulled into your new shop. You can use the 100 amp box you've got now as a subpanel if you decide to break out the 200 amp service later.

Although it is aimed at wiring a woodworking shop, check out this exhaustive power wiring page at The Oak Factory forum:
http://theoak.com/rick/Electricity_in_the_Shop.html
 
I just won a brand new 200 amp G.E. breaker panel on ebay for $41. They lost the front cover but it is new (They say, good feedback) That doesn't seem bad unless they gouge me for shipping. I just hope it has a common breaker. My dad has some funky box in his house that he can not find breakers for.
Thanks for the advice! I took it! :D
 
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