On Oct 31, 9:21 am, "Edwin Pawlowski" wrote:
wrote in message

ups.com...

This came out of another post I made, but is something I never really
considered. I currently have 100 amp service, with 7 blanks in my
electrical panel and will be adding 6 new circuits as I finish my
basement. Someone suggested upgrading to 200amp service. I don't
want to overload my existing capacity, but I figured I have a gas
water heater, gas clothes dryer, gas furnace, gas range, etc. The
only major electrical load I have is A/C in the summer (that I can
think of right now at least). Therefore, 200amp service had never
crossed my mind. Any suggestions/opinions? Also, if I did upgrade to
200 amp service, what is the cost and process? I assume that it
doesn't cost more to have 200amp service once you get it hooked up,
it's still the same rate per kWh, just that there's the potential to
use more, right? Thanks yet again!

More circuits does not necessarily mean you need the 200A. The best way to
find your actual use is, buy or borrow an Amprobe. This is a meter you
clamp around a wire to see what is being used. Turn on everything in the
house, including the AC, and see actual use. You can also add up what is
running individually but it is not always as accurate.

No, it does not cost more once installed. You need a new meter, new main
breaker, perhaps a new panel. My guess is that you don't need it unless you
are adding some big loads.

One other way to see roughly how many amps is to use your existing
Utility power usage meter.

Meters record KilloWatt hours so you need to do a simple calculation
to check out the power you are using now. So you need to do the
following when you have everything on.

Step 1) Take a meter reading == READINGONE
Step 2) Wait 10 mins
Step 3) Take another meter reading ==. READINGTWO

Amps = (READINGTWO - READINGONE) * 0.05

Best, Mike.
Best, Mike.