On Feb 20, 12:46*pm, wrote:
On Fri, 20 Feb 2009 08:22:57 -0800 (PST),
wrote:
All a 200 Amp service means is that the wire from the pole to the
breaker box is of heavy enough gauge to conduct 200 Amps of electrical
current. You need to know the gauge of the wire from the pole to the
breaker box to find out how big a service the house currently has.

No, you need to check the rating of the main fuse. A house COULD be
wired for 200 amps from the pole and only have a 60 amp service (which
is not common or likely today)

The fact that there is only a 100A main breaker in the panel simply
limits the current that the house can draw to 100 Amps.

Which means the HOUSE has a 100 amp service

Yes, but you can't just swap out the main panel with a 200A unit and
necessarily end up with a 200A service. The wire from the pole to the
house must be heavy enough.