New Electrical Service Box Replacement Question
 

Hello:

Moved into an older home that has 100 amp service.

Will be hiring an electrician to update it to 150 or 200 amps, but would
like
to get some comments and information on how to handle the following problem,
before I do so.

The present service box is recessed into an area that does not have the
physical
room to accept a larger box. Not practical to cut a larger opening there.

However, plenty of room about six feet away.

But, all the wires coming in for the 25 or so circuits do not have the
length to
make it to a new, six foot distant, location.

What are some options in handling this, please ?

If new extension pieces of wire are just spliced onto the old wires using
wire-nuts, these nuts can't be just left
dangling in space, can they ?

Or, if they are all packed into the old box (e.g., with the breaker panel
removed) it
probably violates some codes as to the number of wire nuts in a given volume
(or does it ?)

How would / should this type of problem normally be handled ?

Thanks,
Bob

New Electrical Service Box Replacement Question
 

Robert11 wrote:
Hello:

Moved into an older home that has 100 amp service.

Will be hiring an electrician to update

I would let the electrician tell you. He will see the actual situation
and he will be in the best position to make that decision. After all that
is one thing you are paying her for.

it to 150 or 200 amps, but
would like
to get some comments and information on how to handle the following
problem, before I do so.

The present service box is recessed into an area that does not have
the physical
room to accept a larger box. Not practical to cut a larger opening
there.
However, plenty of room about six feet away.

But, all the wires coming in for the 25 or so circuits do not have the
length to
make it to a new, six foot distant, location.

What are some options in handling this, please ?

If new extension pieces of wire are just spliced onto the old wires
using wire-nuts, these nuts can't be just left
dangling in space, can they ?

Or, if they are all packed into the old box (e.g., with the breaker
panel removed) it
probably violates some codes as to the number of wire nuts in a given
volume (or does it ?)

How would / should this type of problem normally be handled ?

Thanks,
Bob

--
Joseph Meehan

Dia duit

New Electrical Service Box Replacement Question
 

"Robert11" wrote in message
...
Hello:

Moved into an older home that has 100 amp service.

Will be hiring an electrician to update it to 150 or 200 amps, but would
like
to get some comments and information on how to handle the following
problem,
before I do so.

The present service box is recessed into an area that does not have the
physical
room to accept a larger box. Not practical to cut a larger opening there.

However, plenty of room about six feet away.

But, all the wires coming in for the 25 or so circuits do not have the
length to
make it to a new, six foot distant, location.

What are some options in handling this, please ?

If new extension pieces of wire are just spliced onto the old wires using
wire-nuts, these nuts can't be just left
dangling in space, can they ?

Or, if they are all packed into the old box (e.g., with the breaker panel
removed) it
probably violates some codes as to the number of wire nuts in a given
volume
(or does it ?)

How would / should this type of problem normally be handled ?

Thanks,
Bob



Bob, it's not an uncommon problem for an electrician to work out. A large
junction box could be installed and a conduit run from that to the new
service location.

You have been posting here for some time regarding your service upgrade.
Have you had any electricians over to your house to have a look and give you
estimates? If not, then I suggest that you do that as they can see first
hand all of your concerns and address them to you personally. If you have
questions after that you can call the electricians or post here again.

New Electrical Service Box Replacement Question
 

Robert11 wrote:
Hello:

Moved into an older home that has 100 amp service.

Will be hiring an electrician to update it to 150 or 200 amps, but would
like
to get some comments and information on how to handle the following problem,
before I do so.

The present service box is recessed into an area that does not have the
physical
room to accept a larger box. Not practical to cut a larger opening there.

However, plenty of room about six feet away.

But, all the wires coming in for the 25 or so circuits do not have the
length to
make it to a new, six foot distant, location.

What are some options in handling this, please ?

If new extension pieces of wire are just spliced onto the old wires using
wire-nuts, these nuts can't be just left
dangling in space, can they ?

Or, if they are all packed into the old box (e.g., with the breaker panel
removed) it
probably violates some codes as to the number of wire nuts in a given volume
(or does it ?)

How would / should this type of problem normally be handled ?

Thanks,
Bob



Bob
The electrician can simply gut the old service equipment from it's
enclosing cabinet and use that cabinet as a junction box. The number of
wires allowed in any box or cabinet is limited by it's interior volume
in cubic inches. I would be very surprised if the old cabinet were too
small for the number of conductors that are already terminated inside
it. For an especially neat and professional job ask your electrician to
use terminal strips instead of wire nuts. This will cost somewhat more.

--
Tom Horne

"This alternating current stuff is just a fad. It is much too dangerous
for general use." Thomas Alva Edison

New Electrical Service Box Replacement Question
 

I agree with another poster that the existing box should be used as the
junction box, but I'll add a little more. First it's against code to
just tie the wiring together and put it behind the wall inaccessable.
Another option is to put the new box outside this wall if possible.
They make outside boxes for this purpose. If you choose that route I
prefer to run the old box wiring down and up to the outside instead of
just straight out through the wall.

J



Robert11 wrote:

Hello:

Moved into an older home that has 100 amp service.

Will be hiring an electrician to update it to 150 or 200 amps, but would
like
to get some comments and information on how to handle the following problem,
before I do so.

The present service box is recessed into an area that does not have the
physical
room to accept a larger box. Not practical to cut a larger opening there.

However, plenty of room about six feet away.

But, all the wires coming in for the 25 or so circuits do not have the
length to
make it to a new, six foot distant, location.

What are some options in handling this, please ?

If new extension pieces of wire are just spliced onto the old wires using
wire-nuts, these nuts can't be just left
dangling in space, can they ?

Or, if they are all packed into the old box (e.g., with the breaker panel
removed) it
probably violates some codes as to the number of wire nuts in a given volume
(or does it ?)

How would / should this type of problem normally be handled ?

Thanks,
Bob

New Electrical Service Box Replacement Question
 

One more possibility to add to what has already been said. You may be able
to get a small 150-200 amp panel to fit where the existing panel is, pick up
some or all of the existing loads in that panel and install a sub panel six
feet away to pick up additional loads, but first get an electrician there to
assess the situation

"Robert11" wrote in message
...
Hello:

Moved into an older home that has 100 amp service.

Will be hiring an electrician to update it to 150 or 200 amps, but would
like
to get some comments and information on how to handle the following
problem, before I do so.

The present service box is recessed into an area that does not have the
physical
room to accept a larger box. Not practical to cut a larger opening there.

However, plenty of room about six feet away.

But, all the wires coming in for the 25 or so circuits do not have the
length to
make it to a new, six foot distant, location.

What are some options in handling this, please ?

If new extension pieces of wire are just spliced onto the old wires using
wire-nuts, these nuts can't be just left
dangling in space, can they ?

Or, if they are all packed into the old box (e.g., with the breaker panel
removed) it
probably violates some codes as to the number of wire nuts in a given
volume (or does it ?)

How would / should this type of problem normally be handled ?

Thanks,
Bob

New Electrical Service Box Replacement Question
 

Codes Vary by location. However, you always want connections made
inside an electrical approved box intended for such a purpose.

The easiest option that I have used is to convert the existing panel
into a sub panel. It doesn't work out in every instance (consult with
your electrician), however in most cases you can install the new panel
in a new location and then run a feed (fed by a 100amp breaker in the
new panel) to the existing panel.

This option can drastically reduce the time required for the new
installation (as the electrician doesn't need to remove the old panel
and install junction boxes and the like).

As for installing a 150 or 200 amp, it is a decision that you need to
make. You need to consider what sort of future loads you might be
installing (ie. hot tub, suite, sauna, or any other large loads).
However, based on my experience, the cost to install a 200 amp service
as far as time and materials is so close that I usually recommend just
going for the 200 amp. Then you shouldn't have any concerns.

Just my two cents worth.

Hope it helps.

New Electrical Service Box Replacement Question
 

Your ultimate question is: How would / should this type of problem normally
be handled ?

The answer is: By the electrician you're hiring.

The splices must be in a box, and there are specifications as to how many
conductors can be in a given space. Using your old gutted box may very well
be an acceptable solution. Your electrician will know.

--
Steve Barker



"Robert11" wrote in message
...
Hello:

Moved into an older home that has 100 amp service.

Will be hiring an electrician to update it to 150 or 200 amps, but would
like
to get some comments and information on how to handle the following
problem, before I do so.

The present service box is recessed into an area that does not have the
physical
room to accept a larger box. Not practical to cut a larger opening there.

However, plenty of room about six feet away.

But, all the wires coming in for the 25 or so circuits do not have the
length to
make it to a new, six foot distant, location.

What are some options in handling this, please ?

If new extension pieces of wire are just spliced onto the old wires using
wire-nuts, these nuts can't be just left
dangling in space, can they ?

Or, if they are all packed into the old box (e.g., with the breaker panel
removed) it
probably violates some codes as to the number of wire nuts in a given
volume (or does it ?)

How would / should this type of problem normally be handled ?

Thanks,
Bob