Upgrade panel, also part realestate question

szcott

I am buying a house. I have 125 Amp wires coming into a panel that is rated 100 amps. The house inspector said that the electrical panel should be upgraded for "proper fusing". The electrician said that the electrical panel amps and wires are installed per code and in a safe installation. My question is, is this correct and what happens if there is a electric surge as lightning. Will this fry the panel causing it to need to be changed at a later time. Also the addendum from me to the seller said that the Seller is to upgrade electrical panel to service 125 amp wires coming into the house. Can anyone help me.

szcott

also on this post. all they did was put in a 2 wire receptacle and tamper resistant ground fault receptacle. Unsure where and what woudl this do reatled to my panel.

Speedy Petey

The 100A panel is FINE, and quite typical. I highly doubt there is 125A wires coming into the house, but even if there were what would it matter??? Larger wires are almost never a problem, but too small usually is. Also, a 125A residential service is pretty rare. Typically it is 100A, 150A or 200A, with 400A becoming more common lately.

I will say, it sounds like your home inspector is pretty clueless about this stuff. Especially considering he states it should be upgraded for "proper fusing". He does not know what he is talking about, and you can tell him I said that.

The receptacles are unrelated to your panel. For older ungrounded wiring two-prong receptacles, or GFI protected receptacles are perfectly safe and legal.

szcott

Thanks for your answer, I am pretty clueless to this stuff. I am in the social services field not electrical

Speedy Petey

Sorry if I came off as gruff. I just have a really sore spot for H-I's that call out stupid stuff. Most (potential) homeowners take this as gospel and demand things be done.

kbsparky

Unless your service panel is overloaded, there is no need to obtain "proper fusing" on the incoming lines. You already have it, with your main breaker.

There is no requirement that any piece of wire be max'd out, and your so-called inspector would be hard pressed to cite a Code section that has been violated.

__________________
-KB

Life is uncertain -- eat dessert first!!
To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

rjniles

I agree about the Home Inspectors (use the term loosely) calling out items that are not code violations and the sellers demand to be changed.

Example:

Lack of GFCI in areas that current code calls for but not when the house was built/wired.

GFCI's that replaced 2 wire receptacles without grounds and are properly labeled. They fail to trip when they use their push button receptacle tester. (I swear that if you bootlegged the ground they would be happy.)

__________________
Location:
Coastal South Carolina