Single/Three Phase electrical question (Center, Bridgeport: HOA, how much, neighborhood)

[mjdtexan]

Hi, I wanted to ask here before I call the electrical company. I have a metal building out back with no service. There is a pole with a meter box on it. 15 feet from that pole is another pole that has one transformer on it. I am a new woodworker (an apprentice actually) and I have started to acquire bigger equipment but all of it is single phase right now. I see some of the 3 phase stuff actually cost less and wouldnt mind going that direction if the cost of getting the service to my shop is not to bad. Any ideas on what I should do? I do not live in a HOA area and I can tell the metal building was once used for a business.

[daddyjohn]

one transformer means only single phase is available from the power company

[mjdtexan]

Originally Posted by daddyjohn

one transformer means only single phase is available from the power company

Does that mean that I can or can not get the elec company to install another transformer?

[carryyourbooks]

hi. i am a master electrician and i will try to answer your questions. are you in a residential area? if so, you probably are not going to get 3 phase. i would suggest this: call centerpoint and select the option for new construction. ask for the number to your consultant. he/she is assigned to your area and will be able to tell you what is there and what you can have installed there for the right price. also, you can ask him if you can install a new service there for you metal bldg. he can tell you if the current xfmr that is on the pole will be able to handle any additional load. most of the time, it can. you want to find out all of these things before you have anything installed there.

[mjdtexan]

Originally Posted by carryyourbooks

hi. i am a master electrician and i will try to answer your questions. are you in a residential area? if so, you probably are not going to get 3 phase. i would suggest this: call centerpoint and select the option for new construction. ask for the number to your consultant. he/she is assigned to your area and will be able to tell you what is there and what you can have installed there for the right price. also, you can ask him if you can install a new service there for you metal bldg. he can tell you if the current xfmr that is on the pole will be able to handle any additional load. most of the time, it can. you want to find out all of these things before you have anything installed there.

I did wind up with my Centerpoint Consultant. There is 3 phase a half mile from me in my residential neighborhood and they still want $10,000 (his rough estimate) to carry it down to my shop.

While I have your ear (and I do appreciate it) I would like to ask you about my breaker box requirements. I would like to have 200 amp service. I see a service entrance rated box made by Square D that is 200 amps and has 40 circuits and 40 spaces. I think thats what I want. The box will mount inside just on the other side of the meter pole that is outside (it does not have the meter in it). I am just outside the city limits in the county.

Here is the box. Lowes Square D 200 amp box ← click.

Do I have to have a service entrance rated box? What does "front" rated mean? How much does it cost to have you come out and tell me what I need to do?

[carryyourbooks]

that box that you posted is single phase indoor 200 amp. it is for flush mount (recessed in sheetrock). it will not work outside. you need a nema 3 rated box. all nema 3 means is that it is raintight and ul listed to be installed outside. you are not required to have a panelboard, but get this: there isn't much difference between panelboard and load center. most panelboards are 3 phase and load center are single phase. i am not sure what you are referring to when you quote "front". all my estimates are free. if you would just like consultation, i can provide that as well. hopefully, i have answered all your questions.

[mjdtexan]

Originally Posted by carryyourbooks

that box that you posted is single phase indoor 200 amp. it is for flush mount (recessed in sheetrock). it will not work outside. you need a nema 3 rated box. all nema 3 means is that it is raintight and ul listed to be installed outside. you are not required to have a panelboard, but get this: there isn't much difference between panelboard and load center. most panelboards are 3 phase and load center are single phase. i am not sure what you are referring to when you quote "front". all my estimates are free. if you would just like consultation, i can provide that as well. hopefully, i have answered all your questions.

You did, you answered a lot. I did not get that box, I got a GE box instead that is service entrance rated and rated for outside. I may not have been clear about where the box is going to be mounted. It will be mounted inside the building. The meter pole is just outside of the wall I will be mounting the breaker box on.

[thepenguin]

as far as the 3-phase equipment - I used to have a neighbor (we both lived in a regular neighborhood) that had a Bridgeport mill and large metalworking lathe in his garage (30" diameter with a 10-12' bed on it).

Even though he lived right next to a big, new volunteer fire station he could not get 3-phase power. So he used a phase converter to operate those machines.

[carryyourbooks]

Originally Posted by mjdtexan

You did, you answered a lot. I did not get that box, I got a GE box instead that is service entrance rated and rated for outside. I may not have been clear about where the box is going to be mounted. It will be mounted inside the building. The meter pole is just outside of the wall I will be mounting the breaker box on.

personally, i would not have chosen ge. imo, they are bad. there breakers don't fit tight in the panel and there parts (dead front, covers, etc.) don't fit secure enough. you would be alot better off with square d. another thing i like about square d is that when it comes time to change out the panel, you don't have to remove the whole box. square d's "guts" are removable. it takes a 6 hour job and cuts it in half. it has been my experience that ge is the low end and square d is the high end. the cost for square d is not that much more than ge. fwiw, square d is just all around better.

[mjdtexan]

Originally Posted by carryyourbooks

personally, i would not have chosen ge. imo, they are bad. there breakers don't fit tight in the panel and there parts (dead front, covers, etc.) don't fit secure enough. you would be alot better off with square d. another thing i like about square d is that when it comes time to change out the panel, you don't have to remove the whole box. square d's "guts" are removable. it takes a 6 hour job and cuts it in half. it has been my experience that ge is the low end and square d is the high end. the cost for square d is not that much more than ge. fwiw, square d is just all around better.

I have not installed this breaker box yet and have all reciepts. I can take it back if needed. I need to get one of yall out here I suppose. I am starting to fill up my warehouse with tools. I may have a big Bridgeport 24 inch planer single phase coming soon.

Thank all of Yall for your help.