Is it possible to upgrade my electric panel from a 200 amp service to a
300 or 400 amp service. I want to finish my basement and add a new
patio over the next several years and I want to add quite a few new
circuits and I don't have the slots left in the current panel. I
really don't want to just add a sub panel, I would like to have a
second line into the house from the meter in for the second panel. Is
this possible? I would hand over all the work to a professional, but I
just want to know if what I want to do is possible.

Thanks,

You can have as large a service, with as many panels as you please. I would
however recommend having an electrician evaluate your particular needs



wrote in message
ups.com...
Is it possible to upgrade my electric panel from a 200 amp service to a
300 or 400 amp service. I want to finish my basement and add a new
patio over the next several years and I want to add quite a few new
circuits and I don't have the slots left in the current panel. I
really don't want to just add a sub panel, I would like to have a
second line into the house from the meter in for the second panel. Is
this possible? I would hand over all the work to a professional, but I
just want to know if what I want to do is possible.

Thanks,

Thanks, I thought it was possible, but I just wanted to make sure.
I'd sleep better at night with having more power spread across a second
service panel.

On Jan 2, 8:23 pm, "RBM" rbm2(remove wrote:
You can have as large a service, with as many panels as you please. I would
however recommend having an electrician evaluate your particular needs

wrote in oglegroups.com...

Is it possible to upgrade my electric panel from a 200 amp service to a
300 or 400 amp service. I want to finish my basement and add a new
patio over the next several years and I want to add quite a few new
circuits and I don't have the slots left in the current panel. I
really don't want to just add a sub panel, I would like to have a
second line into the house from the meter in for the second panel. Is
this possible? I would hand over all the work to a professional, but I
just want to know if what I want to do is possible.

Thanks,

In article om, wrote:
Thanks, I thought it was possible, but I just wanted to make sure.
I'd sleep better at night with having more power spread across a second
service panel.

So add a subpanel. I really don't understand your reluctance to do that.

--
Regards,
Doug Miller (alphageek at milmac dot com)

It's time to throw all their damned tea in the harbor again.

In most residential applications, you'd be surprised at how little
electricity you tend to use most of the time



wrote in message
ps.com...
Thanks, I thought it was possible, but I just wanted to make sure.
I'd sleep better at night with having more power spread across a second
service panel.

On Jan 2, 8:23 pm, "RBM" rbm2(remove wrote:
You can have as large a service, with as many panels as you please. I
would
however recommend having an electrician evaluate your particular needs

wrote in
oglegroups.com...

Is it possible to upgrade my electric panel from a 200 amp service to a
300 or 400 amp service. I want to finish my basement and add a new
patio over the next several years and I want to add quite a few new
circuits and I don't have the slots left in the current panel. I
really don't want to just add a sub panel, I would like to have a
second line into the house from the meter in for the second panel. Is
this possible? I would hand over all the work to a professional, but I
just want to know if what I want to do is possible.

Thanks,

A larger size service will not give you more circuits if NEC has a limit on
the number of breakers in a box. You may find that you are required to have
one service disconnect per service, then divided up into multiple panels, or
simpler to just add a sub panel.

wrote in message
ups.com...
Is it possible to upgrade my electric panel from a 200 amp service to a
300 or 400 amp service. I want to finish my basement and add a new
patio over the next several years and I want to add quite a few new
circuits and I don't have the slots left in the current panel. I
really don't want to just add a sub panel, I would like to have a
second line into the house from the meter in for the second panel. Is
this possible? I would hand over all the work to a professional, but I
just want to know if what I want to do is possible.

Thanks,

wrote:

Is it possible to upgrade my electric panel from a 200 amp service to a
300 or 400 amp service. I want to finish my basement and add a new
patio over the next several years and I want to add quite a few new
circuits and I don't have the slots left in the current panel. I
really don't want to just add a sub panel, I would like to have a
second line into the house from the meter in for the second panel. Is
this possible? I would hand over all the work to a professional, but I
just want to know if what I want to do is possible.

Thanks,

If you have a 10,000+ square foot house with electric heat and A/C you
might actually have a need for more than 200A service. Otherwise you
just need more spaces and a sub panel is all you need.

400A switch gear is expensive so what is typically done is a split 400A
service with two 200A panels. A single utility service drop and meter
rated for 400A and two feeds out from the meter to two normal 200A
panels.

Installing say a 32 space 125A sub panel will cost perhaps $1,000 while
installing a second 200A panel, new meter socket and having the utility
drop replaced will cost perhaps $5,000 (or more). I'd expect you can
find better things to do with the $4,000+ that would be wasted with the
400A service.


Pete C.

wrote in message
ps.com...
Thanks, I thought it was possible, but I just wanted to make sure.
I'd sleep better at night with having more power spread across a second
service panel.


While you are sleeping, if you have a typical house, it is probably drawing
15 or 20A in that 200A panel. Have you ever taken an actual measurement of
how much power you use? Just get a clamp on Amprobe and watch it during
heavy use. The only really big users in most homes is electric heat and
central AC

Installing say a 32 space 125A sub panel will cost perhaps $1,000 while
installing a second 200A panel, new meter socket and having the utility
drop replaced will cost perhaps $5,000 (or more). I'd expect you can
find better things to do with the $4,000+ that would be wasted with the
400A service.

Why would installing a subpanel cost $1,000? Unless something is odd, it
can't take more than a couple hours.

Toller wrote:

Installing say a 32 space 125A sub panel will cost perhaps $1,000 while
installing a second 200A panel, new meter socket and having the utility
drop replaced will cost perhaps $5,000 (or more). I'd expect you can
find better things to do with the $4,000+ that would be wasted with the
400A service.

Why would installing a subpanel cost $1,000? Unless something is odd, it
can't take more than a couple hours.

That was a guestimate to include the cost of having an electrician do
the work as the OP noted and presumably install the new circuits into
the panel. If you were to DIY it it would be perhaps $300. The point was
the large cost difference between the sub panel which is needed and the
upgraded service which almost certainly is not needed.

Pete C.

wrote in message
ups.com...
Is it possible to upgrade my electric panel from a 200 amp service to a
300 or 400 amp service. I want to finish my basement and add a new
patio over the next several years and I want to add quite a few new
circuits and I don't have the slots left in the current panel. I
really don't want to just add a sub panel, I would like to have a
second line into the house from the meter in for the second panel. Is
this possible? I would hand over all the work to a professional, but I
just want to know if what I want to do is possible.

Thanks,


Did one years ago, 400A, 120/240V with backup generator. It was expensive
and a big jump in price from the typical 200A service.

I've heard someone has a 120/208, 3-phase service to his house too.