We are having an addition onto our house. We doubled the size of the home to about 2,950 square feet. I have wired the new addition up and need to switch out the fuse box to a breaker box.

Now, let me start by saying I don’t have the money to pay someone to do this for me. We are tapped out as far as funds so I am doing much of the work myself. That said, I have to switch this out myself.

My house was built in 1942 and the fuse box and wiring have no ground. I installed an 8’ grounding rod. I have a 200 AMP breaker box and all of the circuits are labeled and ready to be installed.

My current service coming in is cloth wrapped (fraying I might add), and I believe I am required to install conduit from the meter to the new breaker box. I am choosing to install plastic conduit.

My electric company said they will not provide any servicing to my home’s electrical service lines (from the street, above ground) until the breaker box is installed and inspected.

My question is this; do I disconnect the service from the fuse box live?

Disconnect at the fuse box - NO!!

Usually service is disconnected by having the utility pull the meter base and then put the tamper tags back in place, but I'll bet you may need to upgrade that too.

The only other safe place to disconnect is live above the street level.

I'd talk to the utility/inspector with complete plans so that you can replace from the service drop through the meter. Have the utility cut power.

It also might be possible to have an electrician do just the service cable replacement.

You may have to provide generator power during the changeover.

I am an older, resourceful DIY. I have gotten to be an older DIY by not going too far. Remember, there are old pilots, and there are bold pilots, but no old, bold pilots. I wouldn't touch a hot service line.

I don't see how you can do this yourself without having the power off for quite a while. Getting the power company to cut the power, make the change over, have the inspector come approve it, and the power company to restore power all in the same day will be tough. At least some of those you will need cooperation from will do all they can to keep you from doing it yourself. So it is 2 in the afternoon, the inspector says you have to change something and the electric people quit at 3?

As in the first answer, you may find it expedient to scrape up the money to pay to have the meter to box work done professionally.

I might go further with the generator mentioned in the first answer. It won't be cheap either. Start with installing either a double throw switch or an interlock on the new panel. For more details on this, I have summarized the options at https://www.askmehelpdesk.com/electr...se-123290.html Square D and GE sell interlocks for their panels, otherwise you have to go with a third party. I think the generator panels are very expensive for what you get.

One you have the generator ready, have the power cut, and you can manage without it until the pickiest inspector is happy. Of course, you will be already to go whenever a power outage happens too.

You can get advice here that will ease satisfying the inspector.