Breaker Boxes/Service?

Hi,
I live in Mass and we are looking at buying a couple three family homes for rental property.
They are older homes.My question concerns what to look for in the cellar for breakers,service size,etc?
Most I've seen have been up-dated to breakers and a "common"
or house panel added also.
How can you tell the difference between a 60 amp service,and a 100 amp service?
Also if its not updated to breakers,how much of a down fall is this
cost wise and saftey wise.Thanks

 

Most fuses are 60 and most breakers are a hundred. It will say on the handle of the breaker. You can tell a lot about things just by the general condition of things. With the cover off are there burnt things or wire insulation? With fuse boxes is there lots of little panels and boxes connected? Asking if its safe would be like asking if your 25 yr old car was safe... maybe it is,, maybe it isnt. How far are you going and waht kind of maint are you going to do,, are you pulling a trailer with this car? etc. If you do any upgrades go to 200A,,, The cost isnt much more, the panels have more spaces, the incoming wire is bigger and you are finished for a while. If you are not sure have someone check it out,, remember old small services were never designed to carry modern loads,,they just didnt have the equipment hooked to them. Thus the analogy of pulling the trailer with a small car,,, going to be overworked. Having gas appliances, stove and water heaters, even clothes dryer takes lots of load off,, not having AC is another big one. Without those you are probably ok with a hundred. I have a couple of friends still have 60 a service but have natural for the appliances.