wrote in message
oups.com...
A good friend has a FPE 100 amp cabinet. Obviously the breakers are
JUNK! He lacks the $ for a new service right now. He wonders if he
could replace the 100 FBE cabinet with a 200 amp new service but
install for now a 100 amp main breaker till he has the bucks to replace
the service completely.

Anything unsafe about this rather creative idea?


Absolutely nothing at all wrong here--he'll just need to have the utility
shut down power to the mains for long enough to make the panel replacement.

Though, ( IMO ) even more "creative" would be to try and finish the job in a
single shot--Bring out a new mast in order to allow the utility transfer
power to.......in essence, you've now replaced everything, but you are
temporaraliy sub-feeding the new panel until the actual utility feeder
transfer takes place...regardless, the new mast isnt ever energized from
either direction unless the 200 amp mains breaker has actually been thrown.

--

SVL