Using Buss Duct in a Small woodworking shop

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SAWoods

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Location
MD
Occupation
Millwork Shop
Hello,
I'm new to this forum, and I'm not an electrician.
I know enough to ask good questions but to listen to competent advice!
Hoping someone might help me with a new project -

In my previous lumber & millwork company we used a lot of ITE XL buss duct in the factory.
It is 600 VT rated and has 600 AMP capacity.
We used 230 LF of 10' bussway and 30 plugs ranging from 30 to 200 amps.

When I closed the business a few years ago and sold my building,
We removed the buss duct and plugs for future use.
It has been in dry storage and is in good condition.
Back then I thought I would start another smaller millwork business, but times have changed...

Now I am planning to build a small "retirement" shop for myself.

I would like to use just 60 LF of the buss-way, two of the end connector boxes and several plugs.
Would likely not be running more than 200 Amps through it.
It would be on 240 VT 3 PH, not 480 VT.
Power would either come from a phase converter or a small 3 PH generator.

My new shop is only 26x40 and I figured on mounting two 30' runs, each one mounted on opposite side walls up toward the ceiling.
Then I would have flexible hookups to locate my smaller 3 PH machines anywhere along the length of the building.
My local commercial electrician thinks it is overkill, but I'm not sure he knows enough about my project, yet.

If I use my buss duct, I would still have a good bit of surplus hardware to sell, too.
I am located in western MD.

I appreciate any advice you may have.
Thank you for your time,
Barry
 
This post is approved as the the person is asking for advice and not doing the install. It’s an interesting topic.
 
I say if you have it sure why not, may be a nice way to go. Only negatives I can think of are if it takes up space that could be otherwise used for shelves or whatnot or there is significant extra labor involved.
 
We have this pile of 3.5" EMT that we took out, and I've been holding on to it for years just waiting for a use for it. Every time I think about using it it's Overkill, and in the end I end up not using it because the extra labor and hassle isn't worth it even though the material is free. Just something to think about.
 
The convenience of being able to move equipment around until it's all situated perfectly or even for a special project is the peace of mind he's after I do believe. I love the idea.

What was the question again?
 
Thanks for the responses.

1-
I figured the labor would be less, not more.
Minimal new materials to buy -
Almost no conduit to bend, few boxes and wire to run and connect, no outlets on the walls that can't be easily moved..

2-
Does it matter if the buss is so much larger than the amps that would feed though it?
(600 amp capacity buss but I would run 200 amps).

3-
Thinking of a small LPG powered 3 PH generator for the shop.
But I DO have 100 amps, 240 VT, 1 PH at a building that would connect to the new shop now.
Is a phase converter the better way to go?

4-
I also have some really interesting Wiremold Industrial track - raceway for three 1 PH circuits - 3 conductors and 1 ground.
It was from a lighting showroom that ran multiple circuits for lighting displays.
It is 1 PH, 120 VT, has a 10 gauge, 30 amp capacity feed "wire" that slides into the steel raceway.
There are color coded clamp on connectors that spike into the feed wire and into the ground.
They are attached to octagonal boxes to hang lights from.
I want to use it for lighting and small outlet circuits on SO drop cords.

Any body ever heard of or seen this?
We used it in my flooring showroom years ago and it worked great!
Have hundreds of LF of this too.

5-
Any competent commercial electricians in my area that would want to look at this job?
I'm designing the building now.
Located between Hagerstown and Frederick, MD.

If this is not the right use of this forum, let me know.
 
I'm not an expert in this but it sounds like you could be causing this space to be in a classified area with the wood dust. Maybe one of our classified area experts could chime in.

The material you call "industrial Wiremold" sounds an awful lot like a product we used in a factory called "Feedrail" It had 10' sections that joined together. You could inset plugs with rollers that slide along the inside of the track, or stationary plugs that you insert by sliding them in the rail and twisting to hold them in. These could be used for 3ph or single ph. Made it convenient to move things around if needed.

I will also say it might be expensive (more so than regular installs) to install this 3ph material just for a small shop.
 
electrofelon said:
We have this pile of 3.5" EMT that we took out, and I've been holding on to it for years just waiting for a use for it. Every time I think about using it it's Overkill, and in the end I end up not using it because the extra labor and hassle isn't worth it even though the material is free. Just something to think about.
Click to expand...
Fence posts.
 
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