On Oct 31, 2:11 pm, "Bill" wrote:
If you are not going to live there the rest of your life and have not had
the main breaker trip up to this point, then no need for a 200 amp panel.

If you are going to stay there forever and are replacing the main panel
anyway, then not much more to upgrade to 200 amps and get plenty of extra
slots.

Then the other "test" is thanksgiving: People visiting, everything on in
house, range going, water heater going, washing machine going, dishwasher
going, TV on, kids in bedrooms using electricity, grandpaw in garage trying
out that band saw, etc. (If this blows the main breaker, then need to get a
higher amperage main panel.)

If you are only in one room at a time and don't use electricity in other
rooms while in that room, then no extra "total load" at one time!



wrote in message
Thanks for the quick advice. The original post that I made where the
200Amp service question got raised was actually regarding adding a sub-
panel versus nearly filling in my existing panel with new breakers.
The truth is that if this was a single-family home or one I'd plan on
staying in forever, I would probably either upgrade to 200Amp service,
or install a subpanel, or both. But in reality, I think that this
basement finishing project is probably the last/only electrical
addition I'll do to this house, and I'm fairly comfortable adding the
new circuits on my own, while adding a subpanel (while not really that
different from adding a circuit as far as I can tell) is something I'd
be more comfortable hiring it out, and probably costing an additional
$200-300. I probably be here for another 4-6 years before moving
on...so I think I'll be okay with only one remaining blank after this
addition considering I don't plan on adding tools or a hot tub or
anything major. I certainly appreciate all the advice. Thanks again.- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

re : ... the other "test" is thanksgiving...If this blows the main
breaker, then need to get a higher amperage main panel.

Or have Thanksgiving at somebody else's house next year.