I have a customer that has a 100 amp service with six people living in a 1500 square foot home. They plan on remodeling the lower level to add living space.


The panel does have openings left in bar but breakers already add up to more than total of main.

When the a/c unit kicks on.....the lights quickly blink and dim back up to normal within a second. I don't know the tonnage on this.

The water heater is gas, the range is electric along with the dryer.

Pretty much normal as far as most homes go.

I suggested a 150 amp service to bring it up to industry standards and have a larger S.E.C. ran from weatherhead where lines from pole connect, down to meter base and then into panel.

I truly think that this panel is going to or already is meeting it's maximum and if the remodeling contractor's run a sub-panel from this.....this will only create more of a issue to address when full load is brought on.


So.....is my advice overkill or inline? Would love to hear numerous replies on this so good ole plumber here can have a good insight into this. Thanks.

 

Dont worry about adding up the breakers. Its irrellevent. I have a 200 with 500a of breakers in it if you added them that way. There are formulas for doing load calcs. But without even doing that having AC and some other electric apliances you are on the way to needing an upgrade, which I always see as a good investment. There is no point in not going to 200 though as the cost isnt any different.

 

Is there a website or any type of info that can be gained to support this advice on the internet? Specific codes would better inform the customer and since I am not an electrician this would be so useful. Thanks again for the response. Any one else like to comment on this one?

 

Thousands of pages if you want to look that far. Here is a good one geared to what you want. http://www.homewiringandmore.com/index.html