As the title says any Electricians in around Calgary / Airdrie?

I just bought a new to me place, and my garage has no electricity at all, now that really isn't my big concern. My big concern is that the house only has 100amp service. What kind of money (ball park) am I looking at to goto 200amp service? It is a house built in 1980 if that helps.

I would really like a 100amp sub out in the garage. By the time I get the welders and the air compressor and a lift, and (Hopefully this fall, don't tell the wife) a 3 phase converter for a Bridgeport (and the Bridgeport), I figure I will need a bit of electricity.

 

You don't have to up your service to put the 100 in the garage. Unless you're running a full time service (ie business) you will never use what you have. It all comes down to demand in other words you won't be using all the bigger loads at the same time.

As to your lift, the converter will likely disappoint you. Better to get the motor to match your service (240). The converter will lose about 20% of your HP rating which results in a reduction in the lift capacity.

Send me a PM and I can give you a call if you like. I can't type all the info you want.

 

billie is right

You can get away with a 100 amp service out in the garage even though your house is the same.

I very successfully did just that on my last house. I had a full blown woodworking shop out in the garage with 2 employees going full time and never had a problem. Your peak usage in the house will be morning and dinner time and chances are you'll be in the house during those times so it all comes down to demand when you have the shop equipment running.

If you do want to change out the panel, go for it. You can do it yourself it just has to be co-ordinated with your power supplier because they have to come and disconnect your house from the grid, then you change out your panel and they hook you to the grid again.

Sub panels are a lot easier off your existing panel and away you go. I'm actually doinf that right now to my house. I have 3 panels in my house because the idiot previous owners took the easy way. I'm running everything to a new panel in the basement to get rid of the nightmare of the 3 existing.

Jeff

 

I don't take possession till the end of February, so not in a big rush, but I will contact you in a bit. The lift is just standard 240v single phase doesn't take that much electricity, however the Bridgeport mill, is as far as I am aware of, is only available in 3phase. I realize that I will have to get a bigger converter hp then Bridgeport motor hp to make it work. Just want to make sure I have enough electricity to be covered.

I just don't want to be shut down if:

Plasma cutter is running at max is ~42 amps @ 240v, air compressor startup is ~18 amps @ 240v. Those two need to be able to run together. My fear is that the wife doesn't realize I am cutting, turns on the stove to start dinner, and all the lights go out.

If it isn't going to be crazy expensive I will look at the 200amp service, if it is going to be crazy expensive, well then I guess I will take the chance of the lights going out.

 

Thanks Ken (billie).

 

Brett, what part of town are you moving into? Do I get a new neighbour?

 

Summerfield close, Just off of big valley and main. Just the other side of the highway from you I think.

 

Across the highway from your area is my parents place, where my dually currently resides. I am in Morningside, just behind the Home Depot.

And its Yankee Valley, or Big Springs Road, the main E-W road.

 

Dvst8r, I just take a break on the torch when the air compressor kicks in. Which torch you using? Mine I can supply air off a 120v 5 gallon tank for what I do. You just have to relax and drink a beer. Worst case is my dad has a big gas power air compressor, cost is just gas. That has to be cheaper rewiring the house. Last year, I had my oven on, my washer, dryier, air compressor, welder and plasma torch at the same time. I have 100amp service on the house thats shared with the garage.

You have a mill?

 

Mike, don't have the mill yet that is going to be my early xmas present to myself this fall. I have wanted one for some time, but just haven't had the space till now.

I need to buy another plasma setup as I just sold mine at the end of Oct, to one of my buddies in BC. It was an older Hypertherm 600. Looking back I kinda wish I had just held on to it, but on too bigger and better. Looks like I have my mig sold too, so onto bigger and better there as well.

Depending on time and finances I would like to build a plasma table this winter.

BUT before all of that, I need to get that place wired, and insulated, and heated so it is actually usable in the winter, unlike my current garage. I have a sinking feeling that this garage is going to be rather expensive...

 

I did a fine job of butchering that... Your still close anyway.

 

Brett, Just come borrow my stuff until you get yours. I have a decent mig and plasma torch. We can go 50/50 on the mill and cutting table down the road. My wifey wants me to buy a 8x8 cutting table I just have a whimpy 180amp mig. Welcome to Airdrie. I have to get you over for a barby-q one evening and work on the making sure that the beer doesn't get to hot.

 

My Dad has a 100 amp service to his house and a 100 amp sub feed from that to his shop. Its not enough! With all the lights on and the waste oil furnace, air compressor, refrigerator, welder,(not all at the same time) it will trip the breaker in the house when my Mom turns on the dryer. We plan on putting a 200 amp in his garage then sending 100 amps to the house and 100 amps to the shop. Funny thing is... we are both licensed electricians and its been like that for 6 years. How does that go?? The shoe makers kids dont have shoes? Something like that.

 

Yeah I just have a wimpy 180amp mig right now too, which is why when my buddy asked if I would sell I said "sure". Gonna replace it with a 212 autoset I think.

Mike I am sure with building whatever we end up building, tools will get moved back and forth a bunch.

 

If it's a 100 amp service with underground supply won't the supply wire be rated for only 100 amps?