questions on a church

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rickl

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Hi i have a couple of questions on a 4200 square foot church i'm helping out on. they're trying to save every penny they can. The electrical print shows lighting and plug layout and thats about it.
I wanted to install square d panels, they decided to got with homeline, to save money.
Question 1 the homeline panel AIR is 10k is this something i should be concerned with? square d AIR is 22k. this will be a new 400 amp service (ct can 2 200 amp panels) i don't know the size of the new transformer.
Question 2 panel location? the only good place to locate the panels is in a class room i couldn't find anything in the code book that said i couldn't put them there, but maybe i missed something? this church has no electrical or mechanical room.
Question 3 a/c feeders, there will be 2 4ton a/c units. is there a rule of thumb on what size wire to run for each unit or current per ton on these units. they want the power ran now and will add the a/c units in a couple of years.( heat is gas)
Question 4 current carrying conductor for 310-15 the neutral is not counted for convenience plugs ( no shared neutral),but is counted on flourescent lighting ( 120/240 3 wire system)
Question 5, where would you install the box ( high, low, middle) and what size wire would you run for a double oven. i have no idea what kind or brand of oven they will get, they just added it friday. any guesses?? it shouldn't require 2 boxes should it?

thanks for any help
 
Re: questions on a church

A1 - There is no problem with a 10 kAIC panelboard and circuit breakers if the available fault current is less than 10 kA. You will have to do some investigating to see what it is and do the calculations from there.

A2 - There are no restrictions for the location that I know of, in a classroom is fine.

A3 - Rules of thumbs will not cut it. You must know what the required overcurrent device is going to required to be at the time of installation. The only way to do it is to install an empty raceway so you can pull in the correct size circuit when the AC arrives (guess large for the raceway).

A4 - Unless it is a multiwire branch circuit without harmonics, the neutral must be counted.

A5 - I would run #6 Cu and see what the rating is on the nameplate before sizing the overcurrent device. I am guessing a 40 ampere circuit breaker will get the job done but you have to look it up after seeing the nameplate. Install the receptacle behind one of the bottom drawers. :D
 
Re: questions on a church

A few years back I had to do some service work in a church, this was a new building and the original contractor installed fluorescent lighting.
Because the church was designed with acoustics in mind the ballasts (sound rating A) had a very noticeable 60 cycle hum. Something to think about.
 
Re: questions on a church

That's rotten to give you such incomplete prints. I have to agree with Charlie's observation.

Question was this just from an architect? They seem to like to through outlets and likes on a drawing and call it electrical. Then they call you and I to fix the problem. :)
 
Re: questions on a church

yeah the plans are from the architect, the architect calls for 50 1' by 4' wraparound t-8 fluorescent fixtures through out the building, i tried to talk them into going with can lights in the santurary but they want to go with the fluorescent ( which i think will look crap) but its there call. the santurary is 40'x 55' vaulted ceiling 16' center 10'walls the plans call for 18 1'x4' wraparound i'm starting to think maybe that not going to be enough light for that size room, if not would i be responsible for that or the architech

thanks for the feedback
 
Re: questions on a church

Yes, not much light in the santuary, but it really doesn't need much light, right?
Off top of head, what you gonna get - 20 footcandles?

Wouldn't solid state ballasts totally eliminate any 60HZ hum?

We use solid state wraparounds all the time, but definitely not in a setting like a santuary.
 
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