[TheForge] Re: Electrics for shop

[Mike Spencer]

ries quoth:

> 3 phase is always the best....But its not available in many, many
> locations.

In my location, 3PH would be $25,000 to the nearest pole -- about
2-1/2 miles at my expense.  Entry on top of that at a price that's a bit
be intimidating even if the pole was already wired.

> I would say, though, for most people, 100 amps of single phase 220
> is a target to shoot for....
>
> A decent compressor, though, can easily be 5hp. 

I have 200 amps, single phase in the "new" shop.  My compressor is 5HP
and dims the lights in the house (different entry but off the same
pole transformer) briefly when it starts.  But I may have used a less
than optimal type of motor -- it was originally on a large fan in a
tobacco barn/kiln. And I don't know if it would keep up with heavy use
of a pneumatic hammer, either.

Aside from the compressor, nothing I do, including, in winter, 3000
watts of electric heaters, comes anywhere near straining the system.


FWIW,
- Mike

-- 
Michael Spencer                  Nova Scotia, Canada       .~. 
                                                           /V\ 
mspencer at tallships.ca                                     /( )\
http://home.tallships.ca/mspencer/                        ^^-^^