100 amp service for electric setup

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Jimmy
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100 amp service for electric setup

Post by Jimmy » Tue Jan 21, 2014 11:37 pm

Is 100 amp service enough for a single element electric setup? I know there are many variables but generally, is it enough? We're running the normal appliances (fridge, stove, washer, dryer, air exchange and well pump/pressure tank) and don't have an electric hot water heater.

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Re: 100 amp service for electric setup

Post by spears104 » Tue Jan 21, 2014 11:41 pm

I've run all that plus an electric hot water heater on a 100 amp service without issue, so I would say you should be OK. Usually 200 amp services are for when you have electric heat.
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Re: 100 amp service for electric setup

Post by mr x » Wed Jan 22, 2014 7:07 am

Same here.

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Re: 100 amp service for electric setup

Post by RubberToe » Wed Jan 22, 2014 8:36 am

FWIW I'm on 100 amp and have no problems with my electric rig. I can't run my dryer at the same time though.
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Re: 100 amp service for electric setup

Post by LeafMan66_67 » Wed Jan 22, 2014 8:40 am

Jimmy wrote:Is 100 amp service enough for a single element electric setup? I know there are many variables but generally, is it enough? We're running the normal appliances (fridge, stove, washer, dryer, air exchange and well pump/pressure tank) and don't have an electric hot water heater.
Unless you had everything running in your house at the same time, you should be fine. And even if everything was being used at the same time, everything would have to be on and calling for heat (range, all burner, dryer, hot water, water pump starting, boil ketle, etc. at the exact same time in order to even get close.
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Re: 100 amp service for electric setup

Post by Jimmy » Wed Jan 22, 2014 8:53 am

Sweet, good news.

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Re: 100 amp service for electric setup

Post by HPhunter » Wed Jan 22, 2014 9:52 am

You will know when it's too much. I can tell you that the 100amp breaker makes a helluva bang when it trips!
You should be fine.
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Re: 100 amp service for electric setup

Post by mr x » Wed Jan 22, 2014 10:02 am

Assuming it's a breaker...:-)

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Re: 100 amp service for electric setup

Post by Jayme » Wed Jan 22, 2014 12:10 pm

It's really more what you have on the same sub breaker that you'll be running the brewery on. If it was done right, the sub breakers should trip first and the service breaker should never trip without a serious fault condition


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Re: 100 amp service for electric setup

Post by Jayme » Wed Jan 22, 2014 12:13 pm

Further to that though, we were having issues with a 400A panel at work where the fuses would blow at about 380A. Turns out that particular manufacturer has a range of 80 to 130% or nominal trip current.... To which I say, wtf? That's a massive swing! Anyway, I think residential stuff is more predictable.


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Re: 100 amp service for electric setup

Post by Jimmy » Wed Jan 22, 2014 12:24 pm

Jayme wrote:It's really more what you have on the same sub breaker that you'll be running the brewery on. If it was done right, the sub breakers should trip first and the service breaker should never trip without a serious fault condition


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What do you mean by sub breaker? Isn't there just the 1 main 100A breaker, and then individual breakers (which I would consider the sub breakers) in the panel? Wouldn't the only thing on the "Sub breaker" be the brewery itself (heating element and pump)?

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Re: 100 amp service for electric setup

Post by mr x » Wed Jan 22, 2014 12:26 pm

Jayme wrote:It's really more what you have on the same sub breaker that you'll be running the brewery on. If it was done right, the sub breakers should trip first and the service breaker should never trip without a serious fault condition


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Don't agree with that. You could pop the main fuse without a fault condition. Depends on how many circuits per main fuse/breaker.

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Re: 100 amp service for electric setup

Post by LeafMan66_67 » Wed Jan 22, 2014 12:31 pm

Jayme wrote:Further to that though, we were having issues with a 400A panel at work where the fuses would blow at about 380A. Turns out that particular manufacturer has a range of 80 to 130% or nominal trip current.... To which I say, wtf? That's a massive swing! Anyway, I think residential stuff is more predictable.


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By code, Fuses (and most breakers unless 100% rated) are only allowed to be loaded up to 80% of their rated value.
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Re: 100 amp service for electric setup

Post by bluenose » Wed Jan 22, 2014 12:53 pm

If it helps, I run my brewery on a dryer outlet that is on a dedicated 30A (sub)breaker
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Re: 100 amp service for electric setup

Post by LeafMan66_67 » Wed Jan 22, 2014 1:13 pm

I would expect that Jimmy would either have a dedicated branch circuit and breaker for his kettle, or would share the dryer branch circuit. If sharing the dryer circuit, running both the dryer and boil kettle at the same time would most likely overload that circuit.
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Re: 100 amp service for electric setup

Post by Jimmy » Wed Jan 22, 2014 1:58 pm

I'll be installing a separate 240v 30a GFCI for the brewery

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Re: 100 amp service for electric setup

Post by GAM » Wed Jan 22, 2014 3:43 pm

Put it on the same cct as your dryer with an extension and you do away with the extra cct. Just can't dry cloths and brew.

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Re: 100 amp service for electric setup

Post by Jimmy » Wed Jan 22, 2014 4:00 pm

I'll likely need to do both at the same time. Becky does laundry on the weekend, typically when I'd be brewing.

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Re: 100 amp service for electric setup

Post by Jimmy » Wed Jan 22, 2014 4:14 pm

Anyone have a 240v 30a GFCI for a Square D panel?

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