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Foodservice Serving Counters - Daisy Chain vs. Dedicated Circuits

If the purpose of specifying a mobile serving counter is to offer the operator flexibility, then wiring dedicated circuits for each of the counters only limits that flexibility. But that is how most mobile counters are installed.

Mobile counters make cleaning under and behind them easier. They can be removed to create additional space for special events or to make room for easy access to service other kitchen equipment. They also create serving flexibility for the foodservice operator. But how they are wired can limit that flexibility or worse, cost the operator more money in the future to make the necessary changes. Wiring counters in a daisy chain system avoids that trouble.

What is a daisy chain system? It is an electrical wiring system that connects counters in a series. Each series of counters connects to one power source and each counter in the string draws power from the previous. Because the individual counters connect to each other and are not dependent on a dedicated outlet under the counter, the foodservice operator can rearrange the counters to change the order or even take one out of the series and still have a connected serving line. This gives the foodservice operator true flexibility to rearrange the serving line order without having to rewire dedicated varying amp outlets under the serving line.

As a designer, the main concern is to balance the system. Each series is limited by a maximum amp draw which is determined by the load centers used in the counters. Heating equipment such as a hot food counter draws the most amps. Calculate the total amp draw of the equipment drop-ins in the counter series. Consider the hot food counter, heat lamps, refrigeration compressors, lighting, outlets and any other electrical equipment. The total amp draw should be 80% or less of the load center rating. Commercial Stainless uses 60 amp load centers in each daisy chained counter.

What is the cost? We performed a small case study at Garden Spot High School in New Holland, PA. There are two serving counters that are wired in a daisy chain system. We'll look at just one of those serving lines to break down the costs, Serving Line A. The upfront cost to the operator to add the daisy chain system was approximately $1,100 per counter. Serving Line A has 5 counters for a total daisy chain cost of $5,500. The electrician cost to wire a single 60 amp circuit including breaker, conduit, wire and outlet for Serving Line A as a daisy chain system was approximately $2,200. In comparison, the cost to wire individual circuits for all five counters if it were not a daisy chain system would have been $4,662. The initial investment to add the daisy chain system, considering all factory up charges and electrical field costs is just $3,038.

There is one final cost to consider. That is the cost to the operator to rearrange their serving line after installation. If it is a daisy chain system, there is no cost. The operator simply unplugs the units, rearranges and plugs them back in the series. But there is a cost to rearrange non-daisy chain counters because counters can require different amp draws and voltages. That cost to rearrange includes the electrician charge to change the electrical wires, breaker and outlets that feed each counter. If the operator chooses to swap just one counter in the line for another, the cost to rewire those two counters is approximately $1,500. After just two changes to the counter lineup, the initial cost of the daisy chain option pays for itself. Over the 20 year life of a counter, it pays for itself several times over while giving the foodservice operator greater flexibility.

Commercial Stainless, Inc.'s Ameraspec serving line is specially designed for use with a daisy chain system. Ameraspec is built with an all stainless steel square tube frame. Each design and finish is determined by the designing consultant.

For help designing a serving counter line with a daisy chain system, contact Commercial Stainless, Inc.

Commercial Stainless, Inc.