I don’t know a whole lot about breaker panels. I do know that the lights dim when the A/C unit outside starts, or the washing machine, or when I use my miter saw. My panel was supposedly replaced from fuses to circuits with 200 amp main service. The pole on the outside of the house, meter box, and wire runs from the overhead lines to the main was also replaced. The main appears to be two 100s connected with one of those caps across the switch ends on the breaker. Is that 100 amp service or 200?
Also, it appears that I have something that uses 2 40 amp breakers with one of those caps across the switch ends on the breaker. What could that be (not labeled)? My a/c unit is a 2 ton carrier unit from a quite a few years ago, and I have a regular range. There is also a similar setup with 2 30 amp breakers. All in all, if I simply add the breakers (I know, doesn’t equate, but still), I have over 400 amps worth of individual breakers in a 7 room house with partially finished bsmt and attached 1 car garage.
I was really hoping that I wouldn’t have to have all the wires replaced, as the walls can’t really be repaired (i.e. old tile in bathroom no longer made, walls hand finished when house was built, etc, already had the plumbers through). Most of the wiring is 12 (with a few 14 lines added by the previous owner, mostly in the basement, as well as some of those creative fixes homeowners just love to find, arrgh). I was hoping some selective work would be ok. (I’m really annoyed at the weird things they did). I realize I will probably need a professional to do much of the work. I am just confused, and people around here don’t seem to know what they’re doing (one of my family members now has electrical lines running to nothing but no one knows where from).
Also, it appears that I have something that uses 2 40 amp breakers with one of those caps across the switch ends on the breaker. What could that be (not labeled)? My a/c unit is a 2 ton carrier unit from a quite a few years ago, and I have a regular range. There is also a similar setup with 2 30 amp breakers. All in all, if I simply add the breakers (I know, doesn’t equate, but still), I have over 400 amps worth of individual breakers in a 7 room house with partially finished bsmt and attached 1 car garage.
I was really hoping that I wouldn’t have to have all the wires replaced, as the walls can’t really be repaired (i.e. old tile in bathroom no longer made, walls hand finished when house was built, etc, already had the plumbers through). Most of the wiring is 12 (with a few 14 lines added by the previous owner, mostly in the basement, as well as some of those creative fixes homeowners just love to find, arrgh). I was hoping some selective work would be ok. (I’m really annoyed at the weird things they did). I realize I will probably need a professional to do much of the work. I am just confused, and people around here don’t seem to know what they’re doing (one of my family members now has electrical lines running to nothing but no one knows where from).