[ort888]

I'm buying a small home and we are getting the fuse box replaced with a new 100 AMP breaker before we move in. I have been told by a couple of people that 200 AMP boxes are pretty standard and probably a good idea. However, my house is small (about 1100 Sq. Ft. upstairs and a 700 sq. ft. finished basement) and the circuit breaker they are replacing is just a 60 AMP box (which I guess was sufficient for 50 years).

I'm getting conflicting information as to what is needed. The electrician thinks a 100 AMP box is more than enough and says that the upgrade would run $300 bucks. He doesn't think we need it. Other people say otherwise. Should I spend the $300 to upgrade to 200? Does anyone know a lot about this stuff, because I sure don't.

[macamac]

Check the ordinances where you live. When it comes time to sell your home, that dictates what you need.

[finboy]

Originally Posted by ort888

The electrician thinks a 100 AMP box is more than enough and says that the upgrade would run $300 bucks. He doesn't think we need it. Other people say otherwise. Should I spend the $300 to upgrade to 200?

Why it should cost another $300 is a mystery to me. Maybe they'll have to make a bigger hole or something, or rewire from the meter? Whatever the reason, it's something you should do, but I'm not sure that you're getting the straight story about how much it should cost.

[革命]

I'm getting my entire house rewired, and they're installing a 125AMP box. I live in a century home, about 1200 sq. ft., so we currently have a 60AMP one.

With two air conditioners (one upstairs, one downstairs), and eight computers running 24x7, we were blowing fuses constantly.

The electrician said that 125 was plenty for a house our size. He said there was a difference in cost of about $25 between a 100 box and the 125 one. Didn't get a price for 200, but I would imagine it wouldn't be $300 more.

[Railroader]

I would never buy a house with a 100 Amp box. I'd prefer a 200 Amp service. 100 Amps might be fine for you, but do you ever plan to sell? If I found a house with only a 100 Amp service that I couldn't live without, one of the first things I'd do is upgrade the service.

If it does indeed cost $300 more (I can't imagine why), I think it's well worth it.

Imagine running the AC, washing machine, dryer, refridgerator, dish washer, oven and a microwave oven at the same time. I see circuits tripping.

[SVass]

Questions that only you can answer! Do you have electric heat? electric hot water? Will you add or do you have air conditioning? How many circuits/fuses do you currently have? Will you add more circuits? BTW, a larger box implies a larger diameter wire from the power line and that may explain the high cost as you pay for that wire. sam

[ort888]

Gas stove, gas dryer. Will probably never add on to the house or add anything like a hot tub.

I'm currently conflicted.

(If I said that I have $40,000 worth of commercial grade hydroponics gear in my basement, would that matter?)

[The Godfather]

Your AC and water heater combined will make 50% of your maximum load. A healthy spare ampacity is 100%.

[climber]

You only need as much total amperage in the electrical service as is needed for current and future electrical needs. If you do not have ac, and have gas appliances, 100 amps may provide as much room for expansion as a larger home that needs drive two ac units plus all the appliances.

100 amps would probably make it hard to add a few 20 amp circuits for things like freezer in the garage, or Xmas lights. It is nice and usually code to have them on a separate breaker.

Ask the electrician what you need right now in total amps. Then add to that what you could conceive someone adding in the future. You also always add a sub panel later as well.

[moonmonkey]

Originally Posted by ort888

(If I said that I have $40,000 worth of commercial grade hydroponics gear in my basement, would that matter?)

[nonhuman]

Originally Posted by ort888

(If I said that I have $40,000 worth of commercial grade hydroponics gear in my basement, would that matter?)

So I'm guessing the $300 isn't really that big of a problem, huh.

[Cadaver]

Originally Posted by moonmonkey

Growing how many (street) dollars worth of what??

[ghporter]

Go with what the CURRENT NEC (National Electrical Code) calls for in your area. Overwiring your house is expensive and unnecessary. My home is about 1800 sq. ft. and we have 200A service-including a sturdy central AC/gas heat system, gas water heater and stove, but an electric dryer. Follow code and you can't go wrong-the NEC OVERESTIMATES real usage and thus calls for MORE CAPACITY THAN ACTUALLY NEEDED in most situations.

[residentEvil]

i too bought a house, 1000sqf, 2 years ago, with 60amp fuse service. i had 3 electriancians all tell me to pass on the 200amp and go with 100amp circuit breaker. all 3 were about $400 more for the 200amp service with the extra cost involves a larger conductor and depending on the length needed, i'd say your $300 'upgrade' is about right. remember, we are at war. war time = higher building costs/materials. it is a fact and always happens. since i do a lot of remodeling (now on my own home finally) i noticed the increase in everything from drywall and 2x4s to 12-2 wiring for 20amp circuits in my garage.

if my house had all electrical appliances (everything is gas: stove, furnace, water heater, dryer) i might have gone 200.