I've got POWER!!

[Davydd]

After 20 years I finally got power to my remote garage 110 foot from my house. I LOVE IT! I built the garage before I built my house so I would have a shop to cut heavy timbers for my house. The power company at the time would not give me a service even though a huge transformer was on my property a mere 50 ft. away. They said either the garage or the house. They didn't give me much choice. About 10 years ago I tried again and they said sorry again. When I bought the Airstream and parked it next to my garage I gave it another try. This time they said without hesitation, no problem. They connected the meter today.

Now I have a separate 100 amp service with a full 30 amp rec park type outlet on the outside of my garage in order to hook up the Airstream.

Now I know what works and what doesn't. The lamp in my rear bath appears dead. It has three small bulbs and I doubt all three are burned out. The exhaust fan is froze. I can hear a hum but no fan.

One interesting thing. I did string 125 ft. of extension cord to the trailer from a standard 15 amp outlet a couple of weeks ago. I have that much extension because I borrowed power from my next door neighbor to cut my timbers. The radio worked fine with it. Now when I turn it on I get a loud background hum. It seems to come from interference with the lights. When I turn them off it sounds fine. Maybe it is time to replace it and the 8-track.

I could have explored more but went back into the garage and started playing around with all my power tools. Tim the Tool Man watch out.

[Rog0525]

Now you need to run a phone line out there so you can hook up a pc and stay in touch with the forums while you're puttering.
BTW, regarding the hum but no run on your exhaust fan, you did raise the lid, right? It sounds too obvious but that's what I didn't do when I first tried the fan in my Caravel. It worked like a charm after I cranked the lid open.

Rog

[Davydd]

I did raise the lid but not all the way. I'll try it again.

As for the phone. That I have. The phone company had no qualms at the time giving me a line to the garage. It has pretty much remained unused since moving into the house but I continue to use the second line in the house for my computer hookup. It is listed in the phone book but I long ago shut off the ringer to the phone so will never answer a call on it (in the house at least).

I feel like I have every power hand tool known to man plus a radial arm saw and mitre saw. Last year I gave away a lathe, band saw and drill press thinking I would never get a chance to use them. Besides, my wife was insisting we be able to park two cars in the garage and I had to make room for our two new kayaks at the time.

[Pick]

Dave, just curious if you have to pay different rates on the two meters. I have the same situation here, and I pay around 7-12 cents on the house meter, and 17 cents per KWH on the outbuilding meter.

[Davydd]

I never asked. What I do know is the power company, Xcel Energy, charged me $232 for an underground feed from the transformer. That's practically gratis. It would have cost me well in excess of $1,000 for an electrician to come out of my house with an underground feed for 110 ft and I would have had to dismantle a 32" high retaining wall and pavers. For the little use compared to the house it probably won't matter all that much (I hope).

I actually have three meters and services now. One house 200 amp for general electricity, one house 200 amp for electric radiant floor heating and now the 100 amp in the garage. The electric radiant heat is interruptable and about half the rate.