How can I have a CONVEYOR dryer when my house can barely tolerate a HAIR dryer?

SanFranciscoStartup · July 15th, 2013, 09:01 AM

I'm not sure how many amps my house has, but I know it's very low. The house was built in 1930. No idea how old the electrical system is. We had a contractor and electrician come in a couple years ago and they said we couldn't even install a garbage disposal with our current system.

I'm looking to set up a screen printing shop so I can produce my own private label apparel.

I have the space, I just don't have the power. I found a couple decent deals on used packages of equipment -- one dryer requires 240V the other 220V.

I recently found a 3rd package with a smaller conveyor dryer that requires 115V (IIRC).

Might this 115V dryer require less upgrading of my electrical system? The estimates I got when I was mentioning 240V was 5k - 10k $$$.

I just learned to screen print last week, but I enjoy doing it. The reason I'm looking into investing into my own equipment is because I'm already a registered home business with a live/work situation for my other creative projects (photography, writing). I've been planning this apparel venture for months and think I have a decent shot at "making it." I began contemplating investing in my own equipment when I got some quotes from local reputable printers and they marked up the garments (American Apparel) about 30% from the wholesale prices you get purchasing directly from the company (which I can do as I have a seller's permit and account with American Apparel). Even if I were to supply my own garments, they still charge an extra $1 per item for not using their supply/inventory. I know investing in a complete equipment package seems much considering it's only for my private label of apparel and not outside orders, but I have an eBook contract offer for my writing work (a short memoir, and just the first of a whole series of them) and the Huffington Post (among other top outlets) want to run a video project I've done. Therefore, I expect to get a bit of traffic and potential sales for my private collection.

WTF do I do about this electrical issue though??? The equipment itself (3k-5k) is within my budget, but an additional 5k-10k $$$ to upgrade my home's electric system is pushing it. Will that 5k-10k $$$ estimate go down if I go with a 115V conveyor dryer? I'm also worried about my PG&E/electricity bill skyrocketing as I hear once you surpass a certain threshold, the rate gets doubled or tripled. I was also told (when discussing the 240V...not sure if it's different for a 115V dryer) that inspectors would have to come and all this other B.S.

Printing my own apparel from the comfort of my own home REALLY suits my personality. But is it feasible w/r/t start-up costs? Obviously my house's electrical system is so outdated that it would need to be upgrade at SOME point, but it's just a lot of money for me at this time. Are there cheaper solutions? (the 115V smaller conveyor oven/dryer). I have a lot of confidence that my brand/business will take off, but of course it's still risky.

244 · July 23rd, 2013, 07:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SanFranciscoStartup

I'm not sure how many amps my house has, but I know it's very low. The house was built in 1930. No idea how old the electrical system is. We had a contractor and electrician come in a couple years ago and they said we couldn't even install a garbage disposal with our current system.

I'm looking to set up a screen printing shop so I can produce my own private label apparel.

I have the space, I just don't have the power. I found a couple decent deals on used packages of equipment -- one dryer requires 240V the other 220V.

I recently found a 3rd package with a smaller conveyor dryer that requires 115V (IIRC).

Might this 115V dryer require less upgrading of my electrical system? The estimates I got when I was mentioning 240V was 5k - 10k $$$.

I just learned to screen print last week, but I enjoy doing it. The reason I'm looking into investing into my own equipment is because I'm already a registered home business with a live/work situation for my other creative projects (photography, writing). I've been planning this apparel venture for months and think I have a decent shot at "making it." I began contemplating investing in my own equipment when I got some quotes from local reputable printers and they marked up the garments (American Apparel) about 30% from the wholesale prices you get purchasing directly from the company (which I can do as I have a seller's permit and account with American Apparel). Even if I were to supply my own garments, they still charge an extra $1 per item for not using their supply/inventory. I know investing in a complete equipment package seems much considering it's only for my private label of apparel and not outside orders, but I have an eBook contract offer for my writing work (a short memoir, and just the first of a whole series of them) and the Huffington Post (among other top outlets) want to run a video project I've done. Therefore, I expect to get a bit of traffic and potential sales for my private collection.

WTF do I do about this electrical issue though??? The equipment itself (3k-5k) is within my budget, but an additional 5k-10k $$$ to upgrade my home's electric system is pushing it. Will that 5k-10k $$$ estimate go down if I go with a 115V conveyor dryer? I'm also worried about my PG&E/electricity bill skyrocketing as I hear once you surpass a certain threshold, the rate gets doubled or tripled. I was also told (when discussing the 240V...not sure if it's different for a 115V dryer) that inspectors would have to come and all this other B.S.

Printing my own apparel from the comfort of my own home REALLY suits my personality. But is it feasible w/r/t start-up costs? Obviously my house's electrical system is so outdated that it would need to be upgrade at SOME point, but it's just a lot of money for me at this time. Are there cheaper solutions? (the 115V smaller conveyor oven/dryer). I have a lot of confidence that my brand/business will take off, but of course it's still risky.

I would strongly suggest you update your electrical service before you buy any type of dryer. Old houses in the area you live sometimes had a 30 amp service and nothing will work in that environment that is worth investing in. Your house and occupants need that much at a minimum to operate in today's world. When you do upgrade(minimal 100 amps 220 volt) buy a 220 volt dryer or expect extremely slow curing with minimal output. Just my opinion but you would probably have a higher rate of return investing in the correct power for your house than a 110 dryer.

the shirt guy · July 27th, 2013, 11:53 AM

How many amp pannel is your house? i have been running my shop out of my house for 12 years you should be able to do it.