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September 21, 2009
200 Amps enough for 8 unit Coop?
I'm curious about the Amperage we have in our Coop is sufficient for the load we draw from it. Do people have an opinion as to whether 200 Amps is enough for 8 2br units with computers, AC units, Sub Zeros or the like etc., does that strike anyone as an unwise risk?
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I am not an electrician, but am going to say no. We have an older three bedroom house with 100 amp service and I know that if we added the right amount of breakers for all of the outlets that we should have by current code and dedicated lines (A/C's, frig, washer/dryer, maybe microwave)where they should be by current code, we would not have enough room in the box.
Even if we did not fill the box with breakers and attempted to run everything we have here at the same time, I would say we would exceed capacity (there are two adults and a child here; think of your situation with 8 units with two adults each).
There is also something called gutter space around the breaker box. Again, i am not an electrician, but with all the wire that is going to be run in there for those 8 units, there may not be enough space for all that wire - though I think the DOB decides that on inspection.
even if the 200 is enough, now, you have no room for any expansion if someone wanted more power for something later. It happens all the time, a hot tub or some big a/c unit.
Once again I am not an electrician, but I am going to check back later to see what the pros say.
Steve
www.thetinkerswagon.com
Posted by: thetinkerswagon at September 21, 2009 10:11 PM
You Need A 400 Amp Service To carry That Load, It Sounds Like A lot But That's Always Better. which You Will Only Use About 75% Of That.
If Your In Need Of A Electrician I Recommend Erick You Can Reach Him At 347-512-4869
Posted by: OldManSam at September 22, 2009 1:12 AM
Definitely not enough. That's 25 amps per apt.
I stayed with 100 amps for my single family house altho many people suggested I upgrade to 200 amps. But some reasonable people stated that if I went with all energy-star appliances, and used some common sense, as in not running both AC compressors, the WD, and the toaster all at the same time, I would be fine. And they were right.
Unless you're going to ban AC, you need more than 25 amps per apt.
Posted by: denton at September 22, 2009 6:46 AM
Way too low. Each unit should have 60-80A service. So 300-400A main.
Posted by: cmu at September 22, 2009 9:00 AM
i have 45amps in an apartment which is 800 square feet. it is not enough. my power will be upgraded. Cooking is gas and no microwave.
Posted by: Ysabelle at September 22, 2009 9:51 AM
I'm curious as to how a coop could be occupied and no one looked at the electric? How can a coop be offered for sale under these circumstances. Mentioning Subzeros indicates a fairly well heeled clientale. People who should know better.
25amps would be considered low for the worst walk up unrenovated tenement.
Posted by: modsquad at September 22, 2009 10:29 AM
Call me flabbergasted.
Posted by: modsquad at September 22, 2009 10:30 AM
Thanks to all of you - to impose on you even further - Here's what puzzles me. Each unit's respective breaker has two 25 Amp switches bound together and marked as 50 - ok no problem, but why then does the main panel say 200 Amps when there are 8 units. Is there a different relationship between these two numbers than simple math? Its either that, or something was mislabeled. There's unanimity that its too low, but what do you think the number should be? cmu says 60-80 individually and oldmansam says 400 total. I confess I'm still a little confused. Anyone?
Posted by: catomatic at September 22, 2009 11:09 AM
Call an electrician since none is responding here. A 200 amp main service will feed more than 4-50amp panels. It is assumed that not all the available electricity will be used at the same time., but 8? I don't know, maybe ,call an electrician
Posted by: edifice rex at September 22, 2009 12:22 PM
You should have sufficient service to allow each unit to have a minimum of 60 amp service. Anything more than 100 amp service per unit would be overkill.
Posted by: FenFen at September 22, 2009 2:44 PM
OP, do you have 200 amp 3 PHASE service??? Open the box and see if there are 3 200 amp fuses inside. If this is what you have then you have a lot more than 200amps. Electricians are loath to say 200 amp per phase but that is the layman's rule of thumb.
Posted by: modsquad at September 22, 2009 2:49 PM
Ok, while each unit may have say 60A 220v service, the main for all eight can indeed be not 8x60=480 but, say 300 or 400. Just like each unit may have 10 20A 110v breakers (which tot up to 10x20/2 = 100A 220v) but the main for the unit may be 60A. The individual breakers protect that circuit, but the assumption is (rightly) that ALL breakers will not simultaneously be at maximum load.
Just fyi, most people have no idea what appliances etc draw. A toaster, a microwave, and an iron may draw 1500w (14A); computers are way below that unless you have a HP MEGAMUX printer. Even gas dryers are low. Heating elements in d/w and washers (which should never exist, imo) are very high.
Posted by: cmu at September 22, 2009 9:10 PM
I ascertained that we each have 50 Amps in our 950 sq ft coop units (8 unit bldg). The wire to the individual boxes is 6 gauge so by changing out the breakers in these individual boxes (to 60Amp) and reconfiguring the main panel, we will instantly add 20 Amps per unit without ripping the place up and going to massive expense. I think this would make us all safer at roughly 2K bucks (including a repair to the building's ground. Anyone want to weigh in on the wisdom of such a move?
Posted by: catomatic at November 9, 2009 7:21 PM
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