[beamar]

I am remodeling one of the bathrooms in my house and figure now is a good time to upgrade my panel.

It's an old pushmatic style box. There is nothing wrong with it, just I need to use a GFCI breaker for the bathroom.


I will hopfully have a friend that is an electrician help me with the job.


For some reason in my head I had the house being rated at 60 amps. But I pulled the box cover today and it looks like it is 100 amps.

Also, The meter looks to be good for 200 amps?

Can I swap the box over and put an 100 amp main breaker into the box for now and just use it till I have comed come out and upgrade?


Is the wire going from the meter to the panel ok for 200 amp service? It looks to be alumin, not sure on guage.

Any tips or suggestions would be great.

Thanks,
Brian

 

[Techy]

a GFCI receptacle in the bathroom would be much cheaper than a new panel, but yes that appears to be 100A Wire, you can replace that with a new 100A panel

The rating on the actual meter doesn't mean anything, they all use the same base, so the POCO usually doesnt stock meters for all the service sizes.

 

[beamar]

It would, But I want to upgrade all the wiring in my house anyways. ATM ALL of the electrical on my second fllor home is tided into 1 15 amp breaker. IT also ties into a bunch of stuff on the first floor. Thr wiring in the house is form the 50's.


My main concern atm I guess is if I need to replace the wire from the mter to the panel so that it will handle 200 AMp service.

 

[Techy]

Yes the wire between the meterbase and Panel will need to be replaced, and possibly the meterbase itself, to be rated for 200A

 

[sirsparksalot]

Yes the wire between the meterbase and Panel will need to be replaced, and possibly the meterbase itself, to be rated for 200A

everything up to the weatherhead, correct?

 

[beamar]

I BELIEVE in Chicago the POCO does everything up to and including the meter.

 

[frenchelectrican]

I am suprised to see one of very few Pushmatic that neat and not even loaded much at all.

I know Pushmatic did make a GFCI breaker but it will be tricky to find one and they are not cheap BTW.,

So if you really want to do the breaker box changeover the way I see the load you have on there you can actually stay with 100 amp service I know few readers may disagree with me but that few a breaker in Pushmatic is pretty much giveaway key there.

Do a load caluation to make sure you are on the safe zone and have a electrician give you a estamae for the cost for 100 amp modern breaker panel vs 200 amp upgrading service with new panel so after the load caluation and what your project down the road to add more circuit or some pretty hevey power useage like hottub or others items BTW make sure you get the permits line up good due I know Chicago is very picky on it.

Merci,
Marc

 

[beamar]

Yea, I have seen used GFCI breakers on eBay in the $100 range. As stated, have no problems with the box at all. I know alot of electricians like the pushmatic boxes as the breakers screwed into the rail.

I'm thinking about adding a tankless hot water heater soon and from what I have read, you should have 200 amp service.


as for an electrical permit....

Q: Can owners do their own electrical work?
A: No. Due to the potential for electric shock or fire hazard, only Electrical Contractors licensed by the City of Chicago can perform electrical installations.

 

[frenchelectrican]

I know Chicago is one of few Métros that I know they will not let the homeowner do any service changeover at all.

It will be wise to upgrade to 200 amp as you mention whole house tankless water heater verison.

And just make sure you mention that to the electrician so they can prepare for it. ( from my past experince in state side the smallest service you get by with electrique whole house tankless water heater is 200 or larger it not too unuseal to upgrade to 400 amp service }

Merci,
Marc