Electrical Service Advice

[jupmode]

I'm looking for advice related to electrical service. We're bringing in a new auto press this summer which will require us to increase our 200 amp electrical service. I'm trying to decide if we should jump to 800 so we don't have to worry about it again, or settle somewhere lower.

For shops that are running two or more autos (plus other equipment, offices, etc.), what is your current service?

[cbjamel]

Maybe look at 400 3 phase but ouch on expense. then if you need 800.
Shane

[DonR]

I'm going thru the same thing on a new building we are moving into. It currently has 200 amp single phase. We are upgrading to 400 amp 3 phase. I did not go to 800 amp because we would have to install a transformer outside of the building at big $$$. Our electrician suggested going with two 200 amp panels which was cheaper than a single 400 amp panel and gives him more space between the two than the single panel would have. As long as no single piece of equipment requires more than about 150 amps, you can look into going with two panels.

[islandtees]

I'm going thru the same thing on a new building we are moving into. It currently has 200 amp single phase. We are upgrading to 400 amp 3 phase. I did not go to 800 amp because we would have to install a transformer outside of the building at big $$$. Our electrician suggested going with two 200 amp panels which was cheaper than a single 400 amp panel and gives him more space between the two than the single panel would have. As long as no single piece of equipment requires more than about 150 amps, you can look into going with two panels.

This is what we have.
3 phase 400 amp 2 panels.

[jupmode]

I'm going thru the same thing on a new building we are moving into. It currently has 200 amp single phase. We are upgrading to 400 amp 3 phase. I did not go to 800 amp because we would have to install a transformer outside of the building at big $$$. Our electrician suggested going with two 200 amp panels which was cheaper than a single 400 amp panel and gives him more space between the two than the single panel would have. As long as no single piece of equipment requires more than about 150 amps, you can look into going with two panels.

This is what we have.
3 phase 400 amp 2 panels.

Do you mind sharing what equipment you are running with that service?

[AntonySharples]

I'm going to follow this.  We are going to be in the same situation this summer.  Just depends on what building we are in.

[ZooCity]

Install as much 3ph 230v amperage as you can for the least cost. 

Splitting the service panels can be a good idea in many cases given the expense of all the hardware when you go over 200a, it's surprising how much more a higher amperage ct can, shutoff, etc. runs v. 200a.   That said, you may need your electrician to get creative depending on local code and how you split it all up.

[insane987]

Went thought this last year nice $65k upgrade so we went big 800 amp 3 phase. Our electric company supplied the transformer free of charge because were paying for the electric. Of course its over kill but good resale value if you own the building. Could sell or rent to a machine shop or anything else great selling point. As for electric we ran 3-60amp drops to each machine one for press and two for flashes total of 3 machines, another 30amp line for dryer plus have compressors smaller electric dryer, 4 heat presses going, 3k sq ft office space etc. Sure 400 amp would have been fine maybe little tight and i always plan ahead never know whats in futures so went for 600 amp. We found out over 400 have to jack the road and run lines under ground for all the work and added cost said go big or go home. I would go as big as possible even double what you think you need definitely one and half times what you think you need now. 

[DannyGruninger]

4 autos here and we have a 1200 amp service to the building...... Our oval alone is a 300 amp setup(up to 9 flashes plus inline foil and flock).... needs some juice LOL


Go as big as you possibly can, never know what you want to put in

[GKitson]

We are running 2 400 Amp 3 phase services with 6 distribution panels located throughout the building and have a fair amount of room for growth.

How you split the load is the most important thing so you need to understand what is running when, which legs the non 3 phase heavy load items are using and what the potential peak load is.

2 bigger autos, 5 quartz flashes, 2 gas dryers, air conditioning, 10 & 15 HP air compressors and a couple of hundred other things plugged in at any given moment, BUT the key is how much is drawing at any given time.  Your electrician/power company has a huge amount of info that can help you plan for all these scenarios.

My 2 cents...