Hydro Requirements for our 1st Auto. Is a 200A panel enough?

[CBCB]

Hey everyone,

Looking at new spaces to lease as we expand the business. I want to automate as soon as possible. Was hoping to get some real world feedback about how much hydro your shop is running on.

Hydro is cheap up here in Canada, so no gas in our equation.

I have done some math based on the equipment we might want to get, and it seems like we would be cutting it close.

The space we're looking at has a 200A single phase panel.

Right now we run our whole manual operation of a 100A panel, and I think it has some decent room to spare. This logic makes me think it gives us 100A to spare - is that enough to put an automatic press, dryer, and compressor on?

From what I'm seeing, a dryer like the HotRoqit XL pulls 100A on single phase. Not leaving a ton of room to get the press/compressor on there.

I have an electrician coming but was curious about what you guys are running. Anyone getting away with 200A 1P and keeping the presses spinning?

[T Shirt Farmer]

Even if hydro was free I would still buy a gas dryer especially if you are working with tri blends

[Inkworks]

I agree 100% on going gas dryer, not only is it much cheaper, it's much better. I'm in BC and we noticed a substantial savings over electric.

Get an electrician to look at the specs of the equipment you're looking at running, it's not like you add up all your breakers to find the total. We have 400 amps single phase coming in, but all of our breakers add up to close to 1000amps.

[CBCB]

I agree 100% on going gas dryer, not only is it much cheaper, it's much better. I'm in BC and we noticed a substantial savings over electric.

Get an electrician to look at the specs of the equipment you're looking at running, it's not like you add up all your breakers to find the total. We have 400 amps single phase coming in, but all of our breakers add up to close to 1000amps.

Our first dryer will be electric for a couple reasons. Hydro is a lot cheaper here in MB than BC. Biggest challenge with gas so far has been finding the right building.
Plan is to go gas when we are looking at feeding two autos down the same conveyor, but for now it’s seeming like a lot less headaches to stay electric.
I don’t think there is a gas dryer even running in this province right now.

What equipment do you have running smoothly on 400a? Two autos or one?


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[Croft]

I ran an air 6 colour sportsman , 2 x 220 volt spot dryers 17 amp each , a 5 horse compressor 20 amp and Radicure 4 panel dryer running around 90 amps on, plus light table computer etc . It was maxed out and never really felt comfortable.

I'm pretty sure if you got a servo driven press you would be short on power.

[inkman996]

I tell you we run on a 200A 3 phase service and it amazes me how much we have on it. I know most things do not run at the AMPs on the nameplate once up and running but still. Currently we run


Electric Dryer 80A
2 Quartz Flash 75A
3 Emb machines Note surte the amps
Compressor 35A
8 Color Auto servo AC not sure the amps
220 Volt Heat Press
MSP3140 Exposure Unit
And everything else such as printers lights, pumps computers etc.

Never blow the main breaker thanks god.

We did once have our electrician balance the panel out he said it was a hot mess  but has it laid out well with room for a couple more breakers.

[CBCB]

Thanks! That's a ton of stuff on 200a 3p.

I'll know soon what kind of upgrades are possible. We'll at least be able to get our manual setup in there on 200A, but the biggest reason for moving is to get the auto in there. Hoping I can get the first auto going without a big hydro upgrade.

[jsheridan]

 There is a big difference in a 200 amp 3 phase commercial panel versus a 200 amp household 230 panel.

You're going to need 3phase to run the auto and the flashes.

[islandtees]

Minimum 200amp 3 phase. You will regret later you didn't get at least that.

[CBCB]

You're going to need 3phase to run the auto and the flashes.

This is where I get confused with people’s advice.
If all the equipment is single phase, why would I ‘need’ 3-phase?

Couple comments up is someone with 400a 1p.



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[mimosatexas]

Without 3 phase arent you basically going to need a phase converter for certain equipment, and aren't you going to spend a bunch more on electric?

[islandtees]

Most flash units run 3 phase. 40 amps per unit most of the time. Single phase flash at 75 amps times 2 will eat up a lot of the 200 amp single phase panel.
We installed 400 amp 3 phase to be sure we can carry any load.

[inkman996]

Most flash units run 3 phase. 40 amps per unit most of the time. Single phase flash at 75 amps times 2 will eat up a lot of the 200 amp single phase panel.
We installed 400 amp 3 phase to be sure we can carry any load.

Our two are rated 75A on the plate 3 phase but I know they run a lot lower than that when warmed up.

[Sbrem]

for what it's worth, here we run a Gauntlet S, MHM Synchroprint, with a Calmat and an MSI flash unit, and 2 Advance TexAir Electric/Gas dryers, a 48" and a 60", and a third small electric dryer, MH lamp, screen dryer, and that's pretty much it, on a 300 amp 3 phase service. Computers and phones and the like are on the landlord's bill, which I'm sure is considered in our rent.

Steve

[jsheridan]

You're going to need 3phase to run the auto and the flashes.

This is where I get confused with people’s advice.
If all the equipment is single phase, why would I ‘need’ 3-phase?

Couple comments up is someone with 400a 1p.


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I can see the confusion.

A 200a 3 phase panel is close to the same as 400a single panel. The major difference will be the cost to operate the single panel, is double that of the 3 phase, and why we recommend using 3phase, it's a cost issue mostly.