[KingKongFrog]

I would like to add a car charger in my garage. Ideally I'd like to add 100amp line to the main box - if not then 60amps. The box currently has 100amps for my home and an open slot.

How do I know what the max is for me to add?

Here is a picture of my main box.

 

[anyacolo]

you don't add a breaker there for a circuit, you add it to your main panel,


take a pic of your main panel

 

[KingKongFrog]

This is main panel - which is closer to the garage. The sub panel is way far so I want to install the circuit here.

 

[anyacolo]

This is main panel - which is closer to the garage. The sub panel is way far so I want to install the circuit here.

you need to run it from what you are describing as the "sub panel"

 

[KingKongFrog]

Sorry what are the accurate terms? Also just curious what is the extra room in this panel pictured for then?

 

[mpoulton]

you don't add a breaker there for a circuit, you add it to your main panel,


take a pic of your main panel

I don't see why he can't add it here. That looks like a 4-space panel with two free. Adding the new breaker in this main disconnect panel would be fine unless the panel is not rated for it.

There should be a sticker somewhere inside the panel which identifies the ratings. He'll have to determine the calculated load for the house plus the new charger and see if it's within the ratings for that equipment.

 

[rjniles]

That is a meter main panel and a new circuit can certainly use those 2 spare positions. Do a load calculation.

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[joed]

It may require updating the feed from the weatherhead to the meter from 100 amp to 200 amp cabling.

 

[Kevin_Essiambre]

If you only have a 100 amp service, you won't be able to just add a 100 amp breaker to this. If this is the only overcurrent protection before or after the meter you can easily overload your service.

Sent from my new phone. Autocorrect may have changed stuff.

 

[KingKongFrog]

Just to understand correctly - why not?

If the line coming into the meter is 200amps. Wouldn't having my current 100 amp and say a new 60 amp breaker (total of 160 amps) prevent any overload?

 

[anyacolo]

Just to understand correctly - why not?

If the line coming into the meter is 200amps. Wouldn't having my current 100 amp and say a new 60 amp breaker (total of 160 amps) prevent any overload?

the line coming to your meter is most likely only capable of 100A, unless PROVEN otherwise, you should ASSUME its only 100A


so if you add a 60A where you want to, its possible you OVERLOAD the wiring coming to the meter,


which is why i said what i did in my very first reply, wire the circuit from the panel inside your home, that way everything is still protected by the one 100A breaker

 

[KingKongFrog]

Thanks and I appreciate your help and reply. This is why my initial question was how can I verify what the max is? Being that there is an empty slot.

You're probably right that 100amps could be the max already - but just wanted to see if there was a way to find out for sure.

 

[Wiredindallas]

Just curious here. I live in an area where meter/main breaker combos are not allowed. Since I have never seen one, how is this breaker fed (bus bar)? I can't see a bus bar in this panel to feed another breaker.

 

[Missouri Bound]

I can't see a bus bar in this panel to feed another breaker.

It is there in the shadows on the left side.
Adding a breaker is certainly alright. He just needs to verify the panel is rated for the additional load. Maybe information on the inside of the cover will help.
What strikes me as odd is that there doesn't seem to be enough wires in that box for a 240v feed.
Am I missing something?
Is that buss bar somehow fed from inside the meter socket area?

 

[joed]

I believe the feed is bus bars direct to the meter on the left. The cabling is the output to the house panel.

An electrician could verify the cable size where it exits the weatherhead or by pulling the meter box cover and inspecting it. It is also possible the meter base itself is only rated for 100amps.

 

[betelgeuse]

If the garage is detached by Code you can only have 1 feed to it.
If it is attached then you're good to go.

 

[Missouri Bound]

If the garage is detached by Code you can only have 1 feed to it.
If it is attached then you're good to go.

Good catch betelgeuse.

Where is this garage? Is there power in it now?
These factors would affect what he is are allowed to do.
Where he gets the power from may be dictated by code.

 

[rjniles]

Poster needs to do a load calculation to determine what in the way of additional load can be added.
Does he have all electric appliances or are some gas?

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[Let it Snow]

If the garage is attached, the NEC would permit adding a breaker to this panel.
Six disconnect rule would be in effect.
We need to know the thing of the meter and panel. Like others have said, you will most likely overload this service if its' only 100 amp.

 

[MTN REMODEL LLC]

This is more a question to our electricians....

but , if the meter is a 200A meter (just read its nameplate), would it be safe to assume it's drop is rated at 200A....... my guess, probably not, as that would beg the question why the main disconnect is only 100.

But if the meter is only rated as 100, that pretty much assures that the drop is only 100.....and I would guess that service needs to be upgraded after a load calc...????