can I wire in power for a water heater?

utilitylocator

I am adding a standard 2 element 40 gallon tank style water heater to the cabin. I can bring power to it from two different places. I have 200 amps available at the power meter. At the meter there is a 100 amp breaker and 100 amp line going to the breaker box. At the breaker box, there are 2 20 amp breakers for the well pump and 2 20 amp breakers for the dryar. (the dryar is "high effency" and supposedly uses less power than a normal dryar.) The cook stove and oven are Propaine. There is no other power usage other than the normal stuff like the refridgerator, toaster, microwave, lights, tv... etc... In the winter I use 2 electric heaters where the woodstove heat doesnt get too. One of the 20 amp breakers is not even being used and I think I have an available spot for another 20 amp breaker. If there is not enough space in the breaker box, I can put in a breaker at the meter and run a line just for the water heater. When looking at the pics, pay no mind to the 200 amp breaker at the meter. It is dead. It was left there because the electrician that rewired it left it didnt want to leave an open hole in the panel. Any help on how to wire this in would be greatly apreciated!!

Attached Thumbnails

   

__________________

To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

sgip2000

Have you considered a propane water heater?

rrolleston

Is there another panel between the two pictures you posted? Because the wires leaving that meter panel don't seem to match the one going into the second panel.

__________________
Please ask me about my special discount for people that shut up and stay out of my way! With Electricity there is the right way to do it and the dead way. Just because it works does not make it safe.

Speedy Petey

Just come from the main. You have plenty of room.

__________________
Sometimes I feel like if I answer any more questions it is like someone trying to climb over a fence to jump off a bridge and me giving them a boost.

utilitylocator

There is a box on the house where the line comes in from the remote meterbase. I took the cover off to show the wires.

Attached Thumbnails

   

__________________

To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

Speedy Petey

Or better yet come from this box. I'd have suggested that earlier, if I knew about it.

__________________
Sometimes I feel like if I answer any more questions it is like someone trying to climb over a fence to jump off a bridge and me giving them a boost.

utilitylocator

I am replacing an old propane heater. It was pourly vented and didnt have a fresh air intake. I dont want to put in a new exaust through the roof. I also have the heater exposed in the laundry room and not framed in. Electric is easyer to install and easyer to maintain. Propane here is $4.60 a gallon plus a delivery surcharge. I was told by a plummer that the copper propane lines are too small for the existing heater, let alone a newer bigger one, oven and furnace. Im building a new house in a few years that will be all natural gas appliances. This house here (the cabin) is going to be torn down and the foundation will be used to build the garage. To keep propane I'll need to cut holes in the roof, upgrade the supply lines all throughout the house, and do alot of framing.

__________________

To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

utilitylocator

Thats a great idea! I just need to figure out if 100 amps is enough to run everything. Wouldnt I want to reduce the 100 amp breaker so that the combined amps dont excede 100?

__________________

To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

utilitylocator

I guess it would be ok if there were more than 100 amps of breakers in the exterior panel on the house because theres a breaker at the meter panel. Or am I wrong??

__________________

To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

jbfan

The service is based on calculations and not by adding the sum of the breakers.

__________________
Yes I am a Pirate, 200 years too late. "Jimmy Buffett"

sgip2000

Makes sense. Sounds like electric is better for your situation.