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jj4284 · Mar 29, 2009, 08:13 PM

I am in the process of upgrading appliances in my home. I currently have a 100 amp breaker box and I am thinking of upgrading to a 200 amp box. The electrical cables coming into the meter from the electric company are burial cables that are not in conduit. The size of the cables are #2. Are #2 cables large enough to handle a 200 amp load if I were to ever max out the box? Also what is the correct wire size coming from the box to the new appliances? One appliance is 40amps and the other is 30amps. The distance from the appliances to the box is approximately 130 feet. I have received some conflicting information from different electricians and I am a little confused.

Tev · Mar 30, 2009, 11:09 AM

1. That cable will need to be replaced to upgrade to 200 amp service. Ask the power company what they require since it may be different from what the NEC calls for. The NEC would require 2/0 copper or 4/0 aluminum but the power company isn't held to NEC rules.

2. Assuming for now that you sized the circuit correctly you would need 6AWG copper for the 40A circuit and 8AWG copper for the 30A circuit to keep voltage drop within suggested levels.

3. How did you decide that 40 and 30 amp circuits were the sizes you need? Please tell us the type of appliances, any ratings from the nameplates of the appliances and the manufacturers and model numbers.