Easily and cost effectively add flexible power. I break down cheap & easy shop options including service panel, delivery, connectors, single and three phase, adding three phase to your shop, sourcing parts, and saving money.

First, lets get the obligatory disclaimer out of the way. In short, I'm not an electrician, codes vary, and life can be dangerous. The information provided in this video is for general informational purposes only. While I strive to keep the information up to date and correct, we make no representations or warranties of any kind, express or implied, about the completeness, accuracy, reliability, suitability, or availability with respect to the video content or the information, products, services, or related graphics contained in the video for any purpose. Any reliance you place on such information is therefore strictly at your own risk. Electrical work can be dangerous and should only be performed by qualified individuals who are aware of the risks and safety regulations. Local codes and regulations vary by location and should always be followed to ensure safety and compliance. Before making any decisions or taking any actions based on the information provided in this video, you are encouraged to consult with a professional electrician or your local building authority. I are not liable for any losses and/or damages in connection with the use of our video.

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Volts and Amps Refresher
Think of volts like the pressure
from a water hose. it's what
pushing the electricity through a
wire. Amps, on the other hand measures how much electricity is flowing, like
how much water flows out that hose. Ground and Neutral are not the same!

Service Upgrades
If you need to or just want to
upgrade your utility service, here's what you should know:

1. Each utility service is
different, with their own
standards, rules, regulations and
approved equipment. In my experience they are pretty helpful. They will usually publish all specifications and requirements on their website, so you can simply read about the required equipment, supported options and methods of installation without any assistance. It can be a bit technical but we are dealing with a standards driven topic and they usually provide clear standards. Those specifications will translate parts you can then acquire how you see fit. Usually utilities have engineers you can connect with to discuss any plans or specifications, to ensure availability of capacity, etc.

2. Service comes in a wide variety of amperages, 100a, 150a, 200a, 400a, etc. Its going to depend on your specific utility. Sometimes they will allow you to add a second service, and sometimes they will require you to replace your existing service. If you have a standalone structure, you have a better shot at simply adding a new service. You will see 400a referred to as 320a because of the 80% load rule which dictates that only 80% of the capacity may be used for more than 3 hours (continuous operation).

3. Cost is going to vary greatly depending on the utility. Some utilities will let you install your own meter and cable, and simply connect to the pull or junction. Others will do it all themselves and charge you for it. You should investigate this first and contacting the utility and setting up an engineering call may be the best initial move. I was able to provide my own meter and conduit, but they wanted to actual pull the cable in the conduit. Still, I saved a lot of money trenching and burying conduit myself.

4. Sourcing your own panels, meter boxes, and certainly installing your own conduit (if needed) will save you a lot of money. In short, if you do the things you can (and feel comfortable) safely doing, you have save a lot of money. *Before digging, call 611*.

5. You may need to upgrade your main panel, or you may be able to add a second panel. Designing this efficiently will make a big difference in cost. You may want to take advantage of the upgrade to switch to GFCI breakers, but consult multiple electricians to get several opinions before deciding on a course of action.

Essential Tools (no affiliation or benefit to me)
1. Lineman - https://t.ly/S2NkT
2. Wire Cutters/Strippers - https://t.ly/EsSBd
3. Electrical Scissors or Utility Knife - https://www.kleintools.com/catalog/el...
4. Digital Clamp Meter - https://t.ly/DPhN0
5. Voltage Detector - https://t.ly/nsEPR
6. Screwdrivers (I prefer insulated) - https://t.ly/fk2ia

Your local electrical supply is a good place to find/try tools as well.

3 Phase Power
Here are the vendors I have used or seen used with good feedback.

VFDs - https://us.mitsubishielectric.com/en/...
Rotary Phase Converters - https://www.americanrotary.com/
Phase Perfect - https://www.phaseperfect.com/enterprise/

I ran out of space! Thanks for watching!

#woodworking #electrical #woodshop #threephase #threephasemotor #400a #phaseperfect