Upgrading your home's Power service? - Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community

fresnelly · 05-23-2005, 05:26 PM

What is involved in upgrading a home's power service? Is it expensive? My home only has a 60A service and I'm how big a job it is.

Don't worry, I'm not planning to do it myself.

IowaEric · 05-23-2005, 06:15 PM

Contact the power company. They'll need to be first, since they'll need to either run new line or up the amperage. You would probably need to switch out your subpanel with something bigger, along with breakers.

kazoo · 05-24-2005, 02:58 PM

An upgrade from 60 to 200 Amp service involves: New SE cable from the weatherhead down to the new meter can, and from the can to the new panelboard. If the length of SE cable from the meter can to the panelboard exceeds ~6 feet, plan on an exterior rated disconnecting means. If the panelboard being installed is the same manufacturer as the old one, you should be able to change over all existing breakers, provided that there's nothing wrong with any of them. You should check and upgrade if needed the size of the grounding electrode conductor going to your municipal water line (if supplied) and/or the driven ground. As part of the contractor's proposal, it must include contact with the power company to ensure that the upgrade doesn't run afoul of new rules that they have, an inspection by an independent underwiter, and the necessary permitting if required by the Authority Having Jurisdiction, e.g. the City, Township, or Borough Licenses and Inspection Department/Code Enforcement.

Without a lot of additional information, I couldn't give you an accurate price, but figure on $1000 at minimum.

fresnelly · 05-24-2005, 05:54 PM

Thanks for the info. That's very helpful!

Powderedmaggot · 05-25-2005, 08:11 AM

If you are upgrading from 60A to 200A you will need to upgraed the size of your service mast (assuming you are going overhead). You probably have a 1" to 1.5" mast; for a 200A service you need a 2" mast. You will need a new meter base too.

I upgraded mine last summer. Panel, mast, weatherhead, conductors, meterbase,about 50' of teck cable, clamps and incidentals ran me about $800cad. I installed it all myself and had a qualified electrician sign it off before the utility would energize it. I called in a favour for that so it was free (for them to inspect and sign off is about $250) (for them to do the complete install would be about $1500 + parts). The utility charged around $800 for the upgrade.

And because Kazoo is going to take me to task for the teck cable it was because I had to go underground from the new meterbase location to where I poked through the foundation to the panel. I had to relocate the meter base due to an addition that had left the old meter base in an enclosed garage (utilities don't like that).

kazoo · 05-25-2005, 08:35 AM

Why would you assume that I'd take you to task? Teck must be a Canadian term-is that the same as USE?

EULA · 06-04-2005, 03:20 PM

Doing that stuff yourself is dangerous. Arc blasts can kill people.

catback · 06-07-2005, 05:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by EULA

Doing that stuff yourself is dangerous. Arc blasts can kill people.

That's why you disconnect power before you work.

Daniel_ · 06-07-2005, 06:10 AM

Dunno about north america, but the law over here in the UK was just changed so that any electrical work you do has to be done to the same building codes that the professionals have to work to.

This is apparently to protect your neighbours from your DIY job starting a fire, and to protect anyone that buys your house later.

kazoo · 06-07-2005, 02:57 PM

Sure an arc blast can kill. If you don't know how to safely do a hot tap, you shouldn't be in the trade. For the average service upgrade, the key components are set cold, but immediately after that I need to get the service energized so my customer isn't without HVAC, refrigerator, and so forth. Utilities around here don't de-energize the aerial or buried service, so I have to handle it hot.

As far as code, the NEC is revised every three years. The current edition is 2005. Just the same, West Bohunk can legally certify occupancies to whatever edition they last adopted as a municipality, even if it's 5 or 6 years out of date.

vanblah · 06-08-2005, 07:09 AM

Both of the houses that I have purchased have required upgrades from 60A to 200A. In both cases it cost around $1800. I'm in Memphis, TN ... a medium sized city. The houses are 80 years old so the circuit design is pretty bad. Although the wiring itself is usually in pretty good shape over all (yay for knob and tube).

Make sure your electrician gets the largest panel available. After installing central air and adding/redesigning circuits I have already filled up the new panel. It's not a luxury to have the refrigerator, microwave and other appliances on a dedicated circuit (some codes probably require it). I even have my main computer on a dedicated circuit with a dedicated ground. I'm weird that way.

samiam · 07-04-2005, 04:44 PM

Upgrading the main panel is not the only job you may be in for. Insurance companies around here want to inspect the entire electrical sysytem before issuing a policy and you may also need extensive interior wiring. Best to do all your research ahead of time. Rewiring an entire house can run as much as $6,000 to $8,000 depending on the number of curcuits.

pattycakes · 07-29-2005, 09:05 PM

I put a new 200 amp breaker box in directly under my the meter when the old breaker froze while on vacation. The power company came out turned off the power (removed the meter face) now the top will still be hot, and let me tell you that eletric can jump 2 inches so watch yourself.

being i just turned 21 yesterday and i did this 6 weeks ago i say it isnt 2 hard to upgrade the box hardest part is bending those damn wires

also i wouldent recomend being stupid likemyself and doing it yourself

05-23-2005, 05:26 PM	#1 (permalink)
fresnelly Functionally Appropriate Location: Toronto	Upgrading your home's Power service? What is involved in upgrading a home's power service? Is it expensive? My home only has a 60A service and I'm how big a job it is. Don't worry, I'm not planning to do it myself. __________________ Building an artificial intelligence that appreciates Mozart is easy. Building an A.I. that appreciates a theme restaurant is the real challenge - Kit Roebuck - Nine Planets Without Intelligent Life

05-24-2005, 02:58 PM	#3 (permalink)
kazoo Psycho Location: Where the night things are	An upgrade from 60 to 200 Amp service involves: New SE cable from the weatherhead down to the new meter can, and from the can to the new panelboard. If the length of SE cable from the meter can to the panelboard exceeds ~6 feet, plan on an exterior rated disconnecting means. If the panelboard being installed is the same manufacturer as the old one, you should be able to change over all existing breakers, provided that there's nothing wrong with any of them. You should check and upgrade if needed the size of the grounding electrode conductor going to your municipal water line (if supplied) and/or the driven ground. As part of the contractor's proposal, it must include contact with the power company to ensure that the upgrade doesn't run afoul of new rules that they have, an inspection by an independent underwiter, and the necessary permitting if required by the Authority Having Jurisdiction, e.g. the City, Township, or Borough Licenses and Inspection Department/Code Enforcement. Without a lot of additional information, I couldn't give you an accurate price, but figure on $1000 at minimum. __________________ There ain't nothin' more powerful than the odor of mendacity -Big Daddy

05-24-2005, 05:54 PM	#4 (permalink)
fresnelly Functionally Appropriate Location: Toronto	Thanks for the info. That's very helpful! __________________ Building an artificial intelligence that appreciates Mozart is easy. Building an A.I. that appreciates a theme restaurant is the real challenge - Kit Roebuck - Nine Planets Without Intelligent Life

05-25-2005, 08:35 AM	#6 (permalink)
kazoo Psycho Location: Where the night things are	Why would you assume that I'd take you to task? Teck must be a Canadian term-is that the same as USE? __________________ There ain't nothin' more powerful than the odor of mendacity -Big Daddy

06-07-2005, 06:10 AM	#9 (permalink)
Daniel_ Evil Priest: The Devil Made Me Do It! Location: Southern England	Dunno about north america, but the law over here in the UK was just changed so that any electrical work you do has to be done to the same building codes that the professionals have to work to. This is apparently to protect your neighbours from your DIY job starting a fire, and to protect anyone that buys your house later. __________________ ╔═════════════════════════════════════════╗ Overhead, the Albatross hangs motionless upon the air, And deep beneath the rolling waves, In labyrinths of Coral Caves, The Echo of a distant time Comes willowing across the sand; And everthing is Green and Submarine ╚═════════════════════════════════════════╝

05-23-2005, 06:15 PM	#2 (permalink)
IowaEric Tilted Location: You'd never guess..	Contact the power company. They'll need to be first, since they'll need to either run new line or up the amperage. You would probably need to switch out your subpanel with something bigger, along with breakers.

05-25-2005, 08:11 AM	#5 (permalink)
Powderedmaggot Banned	If you are upgrading from 60A to 200A you will need to upgraed the size of your service mast (assuming you are going overhead). You probably have a 1" to 1.5" mast; for a 200A service you need a 2" mast. You will need a new meter base too. I upgraded mine last summer. Panel, mast, weatherhead, conductors, meterbase,about 50' of teck cable, clamps and incidentals ran me about $800cad. I installed it all myself and had a qualified electrician sign it off before the utility would energize it. I called in a favour for that so it was free (for them to inspect and sign off is about $250) (for them to do the complete install would be about $1500 + parts). The utility charged around $800 for the upgrade. And because Kazoo is going to take me to task for the teck cable it was because I had to go underground from the new meterbase location to where I poked through the foundation to the panel. I had to relocate the meter base due to an addition that had left the old meter base in an enclosed garage (utilities don't like that).

06-04-2005, 03:20 PM	#7 (permalink)
EULA Crazy Location: Bowling Green, KY	Doing that stuff yourself is dangerous. Arc blasts can kill people.

06-07-2005, 02:57 PM	#10 (permalink)
kazoo Psycho Location: Where the night things are	Sure an arc blast can kill. If you don't know how to safely do a hot tap, you shouldn't be in the trade. For the average service upgrade, the key components are set cold, but immediately after that I need to get the service energized so my customer isn't without HVAC, refrigerator, and so forth. Utilities around here don't de-energize the aerial or buried service, so I have to handle it hot. As far as code, the NEC is revised every three years. The current edition is 2005. Just the same, West Bohunk can legally certify occupancies to whatever edition they last adopted as a municipality, even if it's 5 or 6 years out of date. __________________ There ain't nothin' more powerful than the odor of mendacity -Big Daddy

06-08-2005, 07:09 AM	#11 (permalink)
vanblah Junkie	Both of the houses that I have purchased have required upgrades from 60A to 200A. In both cases it cost around $1800. I'm in Memphis, TN ... a medium sized city. The houses are 80 years old so the circuit design is pretty bad. Although the wiring itself is usually in pretty good shape over all (yay for knob and tube). Make sure your electrician gets the largest panel available. After installing central air and adding/redesigning circuits I have already filled up the new panel. It's not a luxury to have the refrigerator, microwave and other appliances on a dedicated circuit (some codes probably require it). I even have my main computer on a dedicated circuit with a dedicated ground. I'm weird that way.

07-04-2005, 04:44 PM	#12 (permalink)
samiam Crazy	Upgrading the main panel is not the only job you may be in for. Insurance companies around here want to inspect the entire electrical sysytem before issuing a policy and you may also need extensive interior wiring. Best to do all your research ahead of time. Rewiring an entire house can run as much as $6,000 to $8,000 depending on the number of curcuits.