On Oct 23, 9:41*am, bud-- wrote:
JIMMIE wrote:
On Oct 22, 12:02 pm, "JayB" wrote:
This came up elsewhere and I am just curious about what the answer is.

If someone has a main service panel with a 200-amp main breaker, how many
amps of service can that panel actually service?

I am probably not wording this correctly, but I thought that I remember
something about a 200-amp main breaker actually being okay for 400 amps of
service since there are two separate circuits coming in (a 240-volt service
split into two 120-volt circuits in the panel box).

You shouldnt have more than 160 amps on any one leg or 80% of 200..

As Doug has probably been saying, the 80% limit is for continuous loads
(over 3 hours). Major loads in a house are not likely continuous. A
circuit breaker can operate at its full capacity, but may trip if at
full capacity for over 3 hours.

--
bud--

Its doubtfull you would ever pull more than 100 amps on a house wired
with a 200 amp panel. Worse case in my house would be WELDER, HVAC,
OVEN, and SPA running all at once. Of course if wife and daughter are
both doing their hair at the same time that may put me over the top.

Jimmie