New electrical service choice

I'm preparing to build 60x60 prefab building/grow. So I can choose my new service. I want to educate myself more before calling electric company.

Now let me say I've always done my own wiring. It's not rocket science. Anyways, I was planning on running 32kw for now. So I could just do a basic 200 amp service but that would mean two separate flower rooms and worries. So I'm looking into 208/230 and 240/480 or 220/440. But I'm not knowledgable. enough all by myself at this point to do so.

I imagine it comes in at say 220. A double pole would give me 440 and a transformer would be needed to step it down to 110?

I'm ready to be schooled.... anyone?

jayjay777 said:

I'm preparing to build 60x60 prefab building/grow. So I can choose my new service. I want to educate myself more before calling electric company.

Now let me say I've always done my own wiring. It's not rocket science. Anyways, I was planning on running 32kw for now. So I could just do a basic 200 amp service but that would mean two separate flower rooms and worries. So I'm looking into 208/230 and 240/480 or 220/440. But I'm not knowledgable. enough all by myself at this point to do so.

I imagine it comes in at say 220. A double pole would give me 440 and a transformer would be needed to step it down to 110?

I'm ready to be schooled.... anyone?

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1 doing your own wiring unless u know code and are a master is not a smart idea
A) the wiring needs to be signed off on by inspector to get hooked into grid
a1) this is so your insurance will cover any claims made if something goes wrong
a2) this is to cover your ass legally if something does happen
B) the amp drawl and watts a grow room is nothing to laugh at as more then enough to kill u ........licensed bonded master is safest way keep ass covered and alive

2 the area u are having it made in what is the zoning of it .......this will dictate the rates u can get on power

3 if u have some money u might thing of doing solar or wind power (the rebates and all u are looking 2-5k out of pocket but made up in 2/3 years with saving from making own power and feeding back into grid)

4 if u are building your own u need to have a power system back up to keep the plants alive and on course so to do that u need to have the system set up to accept it kick on other wise u are running power cords from gennies to everywhere/everything

5 always over design the system that way if u want to expand u are able too with out much need to upgrading the support gear and wiring system

That is a pretty advanced install for the amateur I would think. Definitely not for the first timer, I think a better idea unless you know better is to come up with the money to hire an electrician and tell him your developing a wood working business and will need lots of power and circuits to expand the business.

16 lights is 80 amps at 220v. each 5 ton ac is 60 amps at 220v. ull need a couple.
u should think about getting a 400 amp service. harder to find equip that runs 440 and 3 phase power costs more.

jayjay777 said:

I imagine it comes in at say 220. A double pole would give me 440 and a transformer would be needed to step it down to 110?

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it comes in 240V, single phase. line 1 or 2 to neutral is 120. line 1 to line 2 is 240.

everything else is 3 phase stuff. have to find all commercial ballasts that run on 208. i think the DE stuff comes in 208.

I think dual 200 amp service is my best bet. That's what Im use too....

I got this. Thanks guys...

USE a VFD as a 3phase - incoming single phase from power company - use a nice Yaskawa VFD or similar quality as a "transformer and clean power" to create 240v 3phase and your cooking with grease not to mention your super efficient.

Get 2 separate 200amp feeds and do the above and your GOLD!

jayjay777 said:

I'm preparing to build 60x60 prefab building/grow. So I can choose my new service. I want to educate myself more before calling electric company.

Now let me say I've always done my own wiring. It's not rocket science. Anyways, I was planning on running 32kw for now. So I could just do a basic 200 amp service but that would mean two separate flower rooms and worries. So I'm looking into 208/230 and 240/480 or 220/440. But I'm not knowledgable. enough all by myself at this point to do so.

I imagine it comes in at say 220. A double pole would give me 440 and a transformer would be needed to step it down to 110?

I'm ready to be schooled.... anyone?

Click to expand...

You should really call your utility and tell them your building a shop and tell them what your approx power requirements are. Let them advise you the best way to go about it. Also depending on where you live and how old the power grid is, it may not be a simple task to bring more power to your building..there has to be surplus power available from the pole.

Dual 200 amp service is definitely what imma do. N I'm positive I can get it. But i have to pay 50 percent more per kwh if I file as a business. Thats the only kink left...

I realize I'm a little late to the party here, since it sounds like your already made up your mind. Not sure where you live, and what local codes are. I am a licensed electrician. The voltage you can get to your building depends on what they have available on the street. For example 480v is not available in residential areas as no one would have any use for that. Not to mention if you brought 480v in to your building you would need a 480v panel, then a step down transformer to 240/120, then a 240 Panel. Big dollars. like the transformer alone could run upwards of 3 grand. You can run HPS and metal halides at any of these voltages with multi tap ballasts, however, but you will need 120v I'm sure for some things.

If it's not in an industrial area most likely you're going to get 240/120.

If you're going to have 2 rooms, I would figure how many amps you are going to be using, and work it back that way to get a grand total of amps. A 400 amp service with 2 separate 200 amp panels in each room might be what you need. Or you may be able to get away with one 200 amp service.

That's what I'm going to do. I want to avoid running two rooms. Thanks for the info tho.

I got a question while I have you here tho lol. Can I run a 230v movincool on a regular double pole 110 breaker? I know it's not ideal but should work just fine right?

One breaker is 120v. 2 breakers is 240v. So if I'm understanding you correctly you're installing a 2 pole breaker which will give you 240. Every house is wired like this. That's how electric dryers and stoves work.

If you're trying to run a 230v unit on 120v that will not work. It will either instantly trip the breaker or never do anything.

Well that's not exactly what's going on but I have been told by many people you can run a 230v like that. Well on a 220v a 230v will work fine. Since the currents between 208/230. Do you agree?

I'm not totally sure what you're asking me. What model are you looking at? I'll look up the specs, and let you know

jayjay777 said:

Well that's not exactly what's going on but I have been told by many people you can run a 230v like that. Well on a 220v a 230v will work fine. Since the currents between 208/230. Do you agree?

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208 is three phase. 240 and 230 are interchangeable terms for the same thing.

Movincool 63 pro. 230v

I was told by everyone it will operate on a double pole breaker in a residence.

The 63, from what I can find on the spec sheet is only 480volt. So that won't work in a residential setting. The pro 60 will run on a house panel with a 2 pole 50 amp breaker. You'll need 6/2 Romex as well.

Wait why are you planning on using a portable AC? I thought everyone and their micro-growing brother learned those things belong with LED's and yeast+sugar=CO2...... You wouldn't happen to be planning 32kW of COB LED's would you?

Also IMO you should plan on 2 rooms anyway, because whatever wattage you can devote to one flower room, you can devote to 2 with a flip flop box on the load side of the ballasts. That way you're making full use of your available amperage 24hrs a day. Anything over 3 hours you rate continuous duty (derate circuit ampacity by 20%) so why not go 24 instead of 12? Less heat cycles IMO.

For AC you need to look at split, mini-split or package unit, depending on the building, with the mini split being the most universal and slickest retrofit install. Portable AC's are only for temporary and emergencies IMO.

Getgrowingson said:

208 is three phase. 240 and 230 are interchangeable terms for the same thing.

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For load side appliances this is true, but not for line voltages. 230 is phase to phase 3 phase (208 is phase to neutral) and 240 is phase to phase single phase.

oteymut said:

Wait why are you planning on using a portable AC? I thought everyone and their micro-growing brother learned those things belong with LED's and yeast+sugar=CO2...... You wouldn't happen to be planning 32kW of COB LED's would you?

Also IMO you should plan on 2 rooms anyway, because whatever wattage you can devote to one flower room, you can devote to 2 with a flip flop box on the load side of the ballasts. That way you're making full use of your available amperage 24hrs a day. Anything over 3 hours you rate continuous duty (derate circuit ampacity by 20%) so why not go 24 instead of 12? Less heat cycles IMO.

For AC you need to look at split, mini-split or package unit, depending on the building, with the mini split being the most universal and slickest retrofit install. Portable AC's are only for temporary and emergencies IMO.




For load side appliances this is true, but not for line voltages. 230 is phase to phase 3 phase (208 is phase to neutral) and 240 is phase to phase single phase.

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Yes but if he's In a residential area the likelyhood of him getting three phase power are slim to nill. Unless he can fork over a ton of cash for transformers etc. Best bet would be 200a 240 service. Cheapest and would do what he's planning with out all the headache of three phase.

Yeah. Assuming he has 200a 240v service already, upgrading to a 400a service, a dual lug meter base and putting the other 200a main panel in the outbuilding would be the way to go. Hopefully it isn't too far a run from the meter to the outbuilding. He needs to put more thought into his HVAC than his electrical service.