How to determine electrical service

2863 Views 34 Replies 9 Participants Last post by 123pugsy, Dec 28, 2015

jtb587

Discussion Starter · Dec 27, 2015

I bought an older home and it appears that the previous owner did some electrical modifications of his own. What he didn't do was install a main breaker between my meter and my panel box.

What is the best way to determine my electrical service from the power company so I can know which size breaker to install? There's a bunch of gibberish written on the meter. I am going to have an electrician do this but I still want to know what he is doing. I have a 30 position breaker box and right now it is full, so I will probably have the box upgraded to a 40 slot box at the same time. Not having a main breaker seems to me to be a fire hazard as I go adding branch circuits.

Thanks

1 - 20 of 35 Posts

Jnaas2

· #2 · Dec 27, 2015

Call the power company have them look at it, If you do an upgrade there may be code violations that will need to be fixed at the same time

rjniles

· #3 · Dec 27, 2015

Jnaas2 said:
Call the power company have them look at it, If you do an upgrade there may be code violations that will need to be fixed at the same time

The POCO is not going to make recommendations. You need an electrician.

rjniles

· #4 · Dec 27, 2015

Show us a picture of your main panel. What is the manufacturer and model?
Can you determine the size of the conductors that run between the panel and meter?

jtb587

Discussion Starter · #5 · Dec 27, 2015

The box is a Square D. It has a website URL on it so it's not that old. I am not sure what the conductor size is inside the panel.

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rjniles

· #6 · Dec 27, 2015

What size (amperage) is the breaker in the top right position? The number is on the handle.

jtb587

Discussion Starter · #7 · Dec 27, 2015

It's a 220V 50A breaker. The expert who did this install job didn't label anything in the box so I don't know what it feeds. Whenever I get bored I go down there and throw a breaker and walk through the house to figure out what doesn't work anymore and write it down.

rjniles

· #8 · Dec 27, 2015

The info on the cover says it is a Square D Homeline Model HOMC30UC.

The HOMC30UC is a Cover suitable for Homeline 200A 30SP load center

The panel is rated for 200 amps. Whether the service conductors are rated to supply 200 amps is another question.

Show us a picture of the electric meter and any boxes near it.

Oso954

· #9 · Dec 27, 2015

The only model number I can see (barely) on the label is for the cover (HOMC30UC, I believe). That is a 200 amp cover, but it is used for both 30/30 and 30/40 panels, with or without a main breaker.

If the OP can find a different HOM model number it would help.

I also am wondering about a main disconnect located elsewhere, possibly located near the meter.

ddawg16

· #10 · Dec 27, 2015

He didn't label anything? Then what is all that writing on the inside of the door?

On the right side about half way down...is that a double breaker? If so, what size?

Can you give us a close up of the door labels?

rjniles

· #11 · Dec 27, 2015

ddawg16 said:
He didn't label anything? Then what is all that writing on the inside of the door?

The poster said in post #7, he has been labeling the panel.

ddawg16

· #12 · Dec 27, 2015

rjniles said:
The poster said in post #7, he has been labeling the panel.

I guess that speed reading course I took didn't work very well

Reactions: 2

jtb587

Discussion Starter · #13 · Dec 27, 2015

2

I think I may have answered my own question. The CL number on the meter is 200. CL corresponds to a max amperage rating. I probably should have checked that before I posted.

I don't know what's in the box with the meter since it is locked with a wire. Either way, I don't see a breaker and even if there is one locked in there with the meter it's pretty useless to me unless I want to bring the wrath of the power company down on me for tampering with their stuff.

I am planning to work on the wiring of this house, doing myself what I can competently do and getting an electrician for the rest. The work done by the guy that came before me doesn't fill me with confidence. I have found an ungrounded circuit where he added a length of grounded for a few receptacles. It only grounded by accident to one of the old metal gang boxes.

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rjniles

· #14 · Dec 27, 2015

There is no breaker in than meter socket and there is no reason to open it. The large gray cable existing the bottom of the meter, can you read any labeling on it?

Are there any 2 pole, 100 or 200 amp breakers in your panel?

Because the meter and socket are rated for 200 amps is not a guarantee the service is rated for 200. It all depends on the size of the grey cable. It is called SE (service entrance) cable.

Ron6519

· #15 · Dec 27, 2015

Is there a box between the meter and your main panel?
If you're comfortable taking off the main breaker panel cover, check out the interior and post a photo.
Are there any inspection stickers on anything?

Jim Port

· #16 · Dec 27, 2015

I really hope there is a main breaker somewhere in that service.

Jump-start

· #17 · Dec 27, 2015

FWIW that 2 pole breaker to the right column half way down does not belong in a Homeline panel. From the looks of it, it does not even fit completely.

123pugsy

· #18 · Dec 27, 2015

rjniles said:
............. It all depends on the size of the grey cable. It is called SE (service entrance) cable.

Not necessarily true.

I had 100 amp wire going thru my service mast into my 100 amp panel and I proceeded to melt down the wires between my house and the hydro pole.

Good thing it blew up my computer as I had just gotten a severe virus before this event. My "frugal" wife was not into upgrading too often, ha.

Ron6519

· #19 · Dec 27, 2015

123pugsy said:
Not necessarily true.

I had 100 amp wire going thru my service mast into my 100 amp panel and I proceeded to melt down the wires between my house and the hydro pole.

Good thing it blew up my computer as I had just gotten a severe virus before this event. My "frugal" wife was not into upgrading too often, ha.

How does this happen if you have a main breaker, properly wired? Sounds more like an issue from outside coming in then inside going out.

rjniles

· #20 · Dec 27, 2015

123pugsy said:
Not necessarily true.

I had 100 amp wire going thru my service mast into my 100 amp panel and I proceeded to melt down the wires between my house and the hydro pole.

.

Not sure of your point. The size of the SE will limit the max capacity of the service. They may be other factors that limit it further.

In the posters case, he has a 200 amp meter socket and a 200 amp panel. Hopefully the SE cable is rated for 200 amps also.

Reactions: 1

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