New Electrical Panel? Setup of a new warehouse setup, PLEASE HELP!

sehnsee

sehnsee

Well-Known Member
I just got the OK to cultivate at a 2200' warehouse. I have only done residential grows before.

The owner says the only issue I have may be with the main electrical meter coming into the building. He says its only setup for 70 Amps ? Would that mean that theres not enough power coming in from the Power company?

Im planning on doing 15K to start. I don't know much about electricity. I called the power company and they said they could send somebody out to advise me if we could upgrade it. They said then once they determine I could hire a licensed contractor to upgrade the panel, and that it would need to be inspected by the city.

The landlord is on board with it, and I have all my collective paperwork etc. But I don't really want the city coming in and being aware of my every move.

Does anyone know what I can do, and any idea of what the approximate cost are for this?

If its too much I may have to just keep looking for another location.
 
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sehnsee

sehnsee

Well-Known Member
Does the electrical company/city need to be involved? Or can I just hire a electrical contractor?
 
Alienwidow

Alienwidow

Well-Known Member
If youre planning on 15k of lights to start off with and getting bigger, you may need more power than just a 150-200 amp panel in there. With acs, dehus, fans, co2, and whatever else you plan on tossing in there 15k at 6 amps a piece is 90 amps already.... Idk, it would be close. But ya, youd have to look into permits and approval times. Probably want to stage everything somewhere else temporarily until the power goes in, and ya, itll cost a pretty penny but it shouldnt be that bad. Call an industrial electrician and pick his brain for options. Theres a couple on this site who may chime in.
 
D

Dirty Harry

Well-Known Member
City inspection of new electrical wiring/service is required by almost every city...be it for a grow or for a new house. You have to pull the permits and have the inspection(s). I assume you will have the place insured? If your building and electrical is not up to code, and you have a fire, you will not be covered.
In your case, your service drop and outside transformers "MAY" need to be replaced by the power company. They will check with the city before they do anything.
 
iHearAll

iHearAll

Well-Known Member
If you mean 15000 watts of power then if you have 120v X 70a = 8400 watts. If you have 480v X 70a = 33600 watts that need to be corrected and 600v X 70a= 44000 watts that would also need to be corrected. You wouldn't necessarily have to call the power co if you used all of the power you have available.. But that would be expensive... Mmm 44000watts of bud.... Mind as well be outside.
 
ttystikk

ttystikk

Well-Known Member
iHearAll said:
If you mean 15000 watts of power then if you have 120v X 70a = 8400 watts. If you have 480v X 70a = 33600 watts that need to be corrected and 600v X 70a= 44000 watts that would also need to be corrected. You wouldn't necessarily have to call the power co if you used all of the power you have available.. But that would be expensive... Mmm 44000watts of bud.... Mind as well be outside.
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WTF?
 
R

ricky6991

Well-Known Member
My advice to you...

Dont do a single thing at the building unit you have electrician pull permit and upgrade electrical to minimum of 200amp circuit. Big building like that should have more.

I have a 100amp curcuit in 1500sqft place. If i run more than 12 lights while my 2 ac are on with co2 an fans i blow the main breaker.

My timers are setup to the minute almost so i can run more lights. My biggest mistake was not upgrading before building an growing plants....

Also fyi. Spent 36k reallly fast with only 20 digital ballasts and 2 3ton minisplits. Bills to get till first one and all parts labor paid upfront. Stuff adds up very very quick. Good luck its completely worth it
 
Aeroknow

Aeroknow

Well-Known Member
ricky6991 said:
My advice to you...

Dont do a single thing at the building unit you have electrician pull permit and upgrade electrical to minimum of 200amp circuit. Big building like that should have more.

I have a 100amp curcuit in 1500sqft place. If i run more than 12 lights while my 2 ac are on with co2 an fans i blow the main breaker.

My timers are setup to the minute almost so i can run more lights. My biggest mistake was not upgrading before building an growing plants....

Also fyi. Spent 36k reallly fast with only 20 digital ballasts and 2 3ton minisplits. Bills to get till first one and all parts labor paid upfront. Stuff adds up very very quick. Good luck its completely worth it
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I was going to say the same thing. Don't setup shit until upgrade has been completed, and inspector signs off.
 
GhostShadow

GhostShadow

Well-Known Member
if you have 15K of lights at what voltage 240 I assume .

is the electrical supply 3 phase or single phase/

I am a master electrician wth over 30 years in the field.

all this makes a huge difference.

Ill look at your pics in a sec.
 
GhostShadow

GhostShadow

Well-Known Member
take you r wattage and divide it by your voltage then multiple that by 1.25

so ASSUMING 15k/220 (1.25) = YOUR SERVICE ENTRY LOAD FOR THE grow LIGHTS ALONE IS 85.2273 AMPS or 18.75K

THAT METER ALONE LOOKS LIKE ITS GOOD FOR 100.

take a close look at the wire sizes coming into the line side of the meter look at the weather-head if you have an over head service. (the funny looking thing with the over head wires running into it.)

YOU NEED A SERVICE UPGRADE IF YOU WANT TO RUN 15k IN LIGHTS

I RECOMMEND A 200amp 125/250v service up grade AT LEAST. in fact I would see about going to a 3 Phase 208V wye system or a delta high leg. However you could get with a 277/480 system and transform down for general power and run your lights at 277V single phase.
 
Lurrabq

Lurrabq

Well-Known Member
GhostShadow said:
take you r wattage and divide it by your voltage then multiple that by 1.25

so ASSUMING 15k/220 (1.25) = YOUR SERVICE ENTRY LOAD FOR THE grow LIGHTS ALONE IS 85.2273 AMPS or 18.75K

THAT METER ALONE LOOKS LIKE ITS GOOD FOR 100.

take a close look at the wire sizes coming into the line side of the meter look at the weather-head if you have an over head service. (the funny looking thing with the over head wires running into it.)

YOU NEED A SERVICE UPGRADE IF YOU WANT TO RUN 15k IN LIGHTS

I RECOMMEND A 200amp 125/250v service up grade AT LEAST. in fact I would see about going to a 3 Phase 208V wye system or a delta high leg. However you could get with a 277/480 system and transform down for general power and run your lights at 277V single phase.
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FINALLY......someone who knows system voltages!

I'd stay away from the high leg though. That presents it's own issues.
 
legallyflying

legallyflying

Well-Known Member
I would go for a 3 phase 480 and install a transformer. With that much Sq ft your going to want to expand...for sure.

We have a 6k Sq ft warehouse with a 200 amp 480 service and a 200 amp 240.

We thought..we are soo money on electrical service...

Well, 56k watts of bulbs, 7 chillers, 9 huge fans, pumps, and 25 tons of AC... the 3 phase is TAPPED OUT. The fucking wiring is no over loaded but it's scarry hot when everything is running.

Never thought I would see a $6,000 electrical bill. Lol
 
colonuggs

colonuggs

Well-Known Member
sehnsee said:
I just got the OK to cultivate at a 2200' warehouse. I have only done residential grows before.

The owner says the only issue I have may be with the main electrical meter coming into the building. He says its only setup for 70 Amps ? Would that mean that theres not enough power coming in from the Power company?

Im planning on doing 15K to start. I don't know much about electricity. I called the power company and they said they could send somebody out to advise me if we could upgrade it. They said then once they determine I could hire a licensed contractor to upgrade the panel, and that it would need to be inspected by the city.

The landlord is on board with it, and I have all my collective paperwork etc. But I don't really want the city coming in and being aware of my every move.

Does anyone know what I can do, and any idea of what the approximate cost are for this?

If its too much I may have to just keep looking for another location.
Click to expand...


hahahahaha..... that's less amperage than a house.... most houses are 100-150 amps

if you go 220V 4.5 amps per 1000 watter that only 10 lights..... plus you need air conditioning in the summer.... fans 24/7 .....heater in the winter
 
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