Is a 100 amp service merely adequate for a one-man shop or is it really all I need? I don’t yet have a planer a jointer or a bandsaw, but I do plan to get them in a year or so. My tablesaw will convert to 220v and I expect to use 220v on all the big machines.
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TN-
You will be unlikely to require anywhere near 100 amps at any given time. The biggest draw probably will involve one machine, a dust collector, and shop lights. Even if you have 5 hp motors on your equipment, the load is much less than 100 amps.
Thanks for the input! I'm just trying to not "settle" for the merely adequate. I'd rather have capacity I don't need than need capacity I don't have.
I only have 60 Amp service to my shop and haven't run into any problems. Realistically, you're only likely to be running two machines at a time (Dust collector and ...). Unless you have some monster tools you probably will not run into any problems.
A 3HP motor draws about 13 Amps at 220V and a 5 HP pulls 21 at 220V (single phase). Even with two 5HP tools running your unlikely to run into any problems with a 60 Amp service. So if anything 100 amp service may be overkill.
Thanks. That's helpful.
I'll assume you mean 100a for your tools. You need to add up your tools amp rating to see. At most I'm running one major tool and my DC and Air filtration system at a time. My shop lights are on their own line so they are minimal draw. I have quite a few large tools. I'm no where near 100a. When you add up what could be on at any given time, its minimal. Add up what you would want to have on at once then that's your general load. Now if you want a furnace or air-cond in the shop on this panel be careful. Good luck.
If it moves, tax it. If it keeps moving, regulate it.
And if it stops moving, subsidize it.
I have 100 amp service, but can use as many as 3 machines at one time (shaper, dust collector, power feeder). For me, its not so much the total amps as I still fall short of maximum , its how much room in your electrical panel for those 3 circuits (220/double breaker size) plus a couple of 110 receptacle outlets and some lighting circuits. My barn panel is somewhat small and I wish I had more room for a few extra circuits. It would also mean that I could put in a 4th 220 amp circuit ( i would still just use 3 at once) and not have to run a heavy gauge extension cord from my saw to the feeder when I use it. I'm no fan of cords in the shop as they can be safety hazards. So, 4 circuits @220 amps = 8 spaces in the panel, 2-3 more for 110 volt and some for lighting and your at 12 spaces minimum. I'm no electrician, and I'm not sure of the 100 amp panel sizes available by code but I'd get one that had some extra space. Ask the supply store. I plan on upsizing when I get around to it (after the revolution). If your starting from scratch, you should prepare for the future.
good luck.
Frost is right on. A 60 amp service panel may only have 8 spaces in for circuit breakers. A 30 amp service will typically only have 4. A 100 Amp panel will have up to 20 spaces. I would assume that your 100 amp panel is a subpanel and does not include your house or other needs. You can use a 100 amp panel, but feed it with a 60 amp circuit breaker from your main panel. If you ever do a house addition and need to permit the house, having a 100 amp subpanel for your shop might require an upgraded service to the house. That can get expensive. I opted for a 60 amp panel, and 8 breakers, 2 220v lines, one for the TS and one for the Jointer and Planer. 2 Circuits for chopsaw, sanders, drill press and other items. I was able to run the remote location DC on a ciruit from main panel. Otherwise the 60 amp would not have enough spaces to work out.
AZMO
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If you have heat/AC in the shop, you need 100 amps. Strip heaters in a heat pump air handler draw 10-15 kw (40-60 amps).
You know I don't have either in my shop, how civilized! I just use an evap cooler here in AZ. My electric bill to cool my house with AC is 525 a month in the summer, and I just don't seem to feel the need to add more insult to that. AZMO <!----><!----><!---->
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An evap cooler is worthless here in central virginia most of the summer. It'd rust the guts out of every tool in the shop. I need AC just to keep the wood below 12% mc.
Lets, see it was 104 today, humidity was about 5%. Without an evap cooler adding moisture to the air, I begin to look like something called "mother" from Psyco! About August we get some humidity and rain, but rust is not one of our specialities. Still, I would love to have a shop with a heat pump and some cool air about now. This winter though, the garage door is open and it really is quite wonderful.
My son is moving to Arlington in about 10 days. So I suspect his mom will have her way, and we will be in Virginia for some visits. I can experience your humidity first hand! Morgan
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I have a friend from AZ he lives in our community part time. I say part time because he commutes between Israel, New York and Arizona a few times a year.
Personally I don't understand how anyone can cope with that kind of weather that you experience in AZ. I can barely cope with ours here, It may be because I'm originally from NJ (that may explain a lot of things)
Good luck,
ChaimMake your own mistakes not someone elses, this is a good way to be original !
When I graduated from college in Colorado, I wanted to work overseas. I did not care where, but I knew I needed to work abroad. I accepted a positin building a nursery and greenhouse in Saudi. I lived there for 4 years and worked 4 years more traveling to Yemen, Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Kuwait, Lebanon etc. The first summer in Saudi I lived in Al Kharj, which was a village south of Riyadh right on the Rub Al Kali. The generator for the town blew up and there was no backup. It took 7 days to get power back on. So we slept on the roof with buckets of water we carried up there to dip our sheets in. My thermometer recorded 124 degrees for the high that week. Chaim, that was almost impossible to live in, and in comparison Phoenix is pretty darn nice!
I never had the chance to visit Isreal. I had a second passport so I could but the business side never developed. Heat is one thing, but living next to Syria, Lebanon and displaced Palestinians? That is quite another. That is a different kind of heat all together. I guess life is what you make of it, and you are as tough as life makes you.
Morgan <!----><!----><!---->
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nah, I was only talking about the weather!
Comparatively, Its not a violent country like everyone thinks! that's changing but as they say its progress!
Violent video games, youngsters who spend way too much time in front of the TV and other social trends are to blame for violence! Unfortunately there is an issue with terrorism but in all honesty its not a daily concern.
Thanks,
ChaimMake your own mistakes not someone elses, this is a good way to be original !
Yes I suppose CNN does a great job of making it appear that the whole place is going up in smoke... Never trust the news eh?
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