[MT Stringer]

Over the past several years, we have added several new circuits to our home. Mainly due to my woodworking tool needs. Now the original (circa 1983) 100 amp panel is full. We have swapped out several breakers for the dual type.

We are empty nesters so there is not a lot of things going on at our house at any one time. The big appliances (oven, dryer, hot water heater, central heat) are gas. At the most the microwave might be running while the AC (3 ton) is on and I am in the shop working with the mini split on as well as the 220 volt 3hp table saw and the 2 hp dust collector (20 amp 120v).

So my question is... Is it worth it to have an electrician change out the panel with one that has more slots for breakers?

We have never had any problem with breakers tripping. I am afraid if I upgrade the panel to a larger service, say 200 amp, it would require the light company to run new cable.I just need a few more circuits, say one 120v for the storage shed for lights and power for a security camera and maybe a couple more spares. One of the electricians that has seen the panel before said it needed an upgrade because we are out of slots.

I wonder just how much it would cost to have an electrician replace the panel with one that has additional slots and not a complete upgrade to a larger service.

Note: Our house is paid for so it's all mine.

Your thoughts appreciated.
Thanks
Mike

 

[Jim Port]

If you just need more breaker space a subpanel is a cheaper option. Changing out a panel is labor intensive.

 

[jimn]

Price is going to vary depending where you live. I had 20 slot panel swapped out for 32 slot panel , added a. 30 amp generator back feed and interlock. Total cost including 50 feet of #8 for the gent was under 1000.00 with permits

 

[rjniles]

Price is going to vary depending where you live. I had 20 slot panel swapped out for 32 slot panel , added a. 30 amp generator back feed and interlock. Total cost including 50 feet of #8 for the gent was under 1000.00 with permits

That is a unbelievably low price, especially for Connecticut. Was this done by a licensed electrician and was a permit pulled?

 

[IslandGuy]

Mike, you could go with a sub panel or, if you prefer a new panel swap. A 100a 40 slot panel is an off-the-shelf item available anywhere.

Your situation reminds me of a job I did for a friend over the course of about 10 years: While renevoting his home room by room, I removed his 100a 20 slot panel and installed a 200a 40 slot panel of the same brand. Ignoring the 200a main, I reinstalled the old panel's 100a main in slots 2 & 4 and backfeed it with the existing 100a SEU cable. As the years ticked by, a breaker was added here and there as needed. After renovations were complete, the siding was re-done and then we upgraded the top 1/2 of the service (Standoff, drop, meter) to 200a even though they never tripped a breaker or the 100a main.

 

[MT Stringer]

Thanks for the ideas. I think a sub panel would be a reasonable solution.

I just need to get an electrician to take a close look and see where and if a panel can be added. The portion of the wall where the main panel is is only about 30 inches wide. And there is some conduit running around the corner to the garage part of the house, which is in the front part. Hard to describe, but it is kinda congested. :sad:

And I have conduit running underground out to the storage shed. It has a sub panel in it but we had to take it out of service when doing the other additions. The breaker slots were needed to provide circuits for the dust collector.

To upgrade the electrical service, the power company would have to dig up the incoming line ... maybe 40 feet... and replace it with the stuff rated for 200a. That sounds expensive.

Thanks for your thoughts. I appreciate it.
Mike

 

[Oso954]

To upgrade the electrical service, the power company would have to dig up the incoming line ... maybe 40 feet... and replace it with the stuff rated for 200a. That sounds expensive.

Have you checked with the POCO regarding the digging ?

While your area may be different, in my area you (or your electrician) would be doing the digging.

The lateral conduit is installed by the owner to the property line or other spot, as designated by the POCO. It must be installed per POCO specs. Then the POCO performs the extension/connection of that conduit and will pull their cable into the meter.

Even if the POCO normally performs the work, if they are billing it to you, it is worth checking if they allow the owner to install the conduit. Because of the ways utilities often apportion indirect and overhead costs to labor, it is often less expensive for the owner to do it (even hiring it done).

 

[MT Stringer]

Have you checked with the POCO regarding the digging ?

While your area may be different, in my area you (or your electrician) would be doing the digging.

The lateral conduit is installed by the owner to the property line or other spot, as designated by the POCO. It must be installed per POCO specs. Then the POCO performs the extension/connection of that conduit and will pull their cable into the meter.

Even if the POCO normally performs the work, if they are billing it to you, it is worth checking if they allow the owner to install the conduit. Because of the ways utilities often apportion indirect and overhead costs to labor, it is often less expensive for the owner to do it (even hiring it done).

Thanks. I like the idea of adding a sub panel. Never did like digging. :biggrin2: