[rnborja]

Hello I'm a homeowner and I was hoping to get some information on how I go about doing a panel upgrade. I want to go from a 100amp panel to a 200 amp panel but I'm not sure where to start. I've called and left messages at a few electrical companies this morning and I'm still waiting for a response. I just wanted to get some information on the steps and processes. Do I have to go to my county office to get a permit myself? Price ranges I'll be looking at when I do receive phone calls from electrical companies. Thanks in advance

[ballengerb1]

At this point you just wait for some of the pros to return your call, this is not a DIYer project. Try for 3 bids. They will get the permit for you and charge back the cost or you can get it yourself, same price.

[Perito]

Removed.

[stanfortyman]

I used the electrical inspector as my resource. I told the electrical inspector what I was going to do and he told me the wire sizes that he required and the various things I needed to do. I obtained a 200-amp meter socket from the power company (no charge).

On the morning that I started, I pulled the meter myself.

I have to say, these things are not typical and NOT suggested for a DIYer.

NO DIYer should EVER pull a meter themselves. EVER! I amazes me that some areas actually allow this.
Your power company will come out and do this for free. Use them.
Also, meter pans are rarely given out by the power company any more. Many used to, but most have stopped this policy.

Also, and inspector is NOT a teacher and should be used to see what is required. In fact, many will tell you this themselves. They might give you some tips or a little help, but it is NOT their job to explain the project to you and tell you what to use. That is the responsibility of the installer to know ahead of time.
The requirements are not his, they are your local code requirements. He is just there to enforce whatever code your area is under.



rnborja, give the guys you called at least a day or two to get back to you. Contractors are notorious for not returning calls and a day late is not uncommon.

[rnborja]

I will wait for a response from the electrical co. Another question "stan man"... Is it the electricians job or the countys job if I wanted to put the new 200amp panel in a different location. The wires that are coming in from the pole are going to the old 100a panel and I was wondering if it was a big deal to have the electrician cut those wires and feed it to a sepearte location. Is that a big deal. Do I have the electrician do that or the city. Thanks very much guys and I'm going to wait for the electricians to respond back to me... I appreciate this website

[ballengerb1]

I totally agree as I stated in post #2, this is not a DIY project especially when the HO states he doesn't know where to start. Even a very handy Ho should not pull a meter or attempt to install this panel unless they have done similar work before under the supervision of a electrician. rnborja is making a wise decision to wait for the replies. Not sure who he meant when asking if the county would move his drop. The electrican will do that too.

[rnborja]

Thanks ballenger! I meant stanfortyman but u answered my question. Thee electrician can move the panel to whole new location and he can do the drop of the overhead wires himself. Tx

[donf]

Please make sure the power company will allow you to move the panel to a new location. The power company owns the meter and they are the ones that have to approve any type of location change.

[csavage1]

The process for upgrading here in Ny is you call the power company and schedule a upgrade for a new service. They will ask if you are a HO or Contractor and then they will give you a ESO # {electrical service order number} This number tells everyone that a upgrade is sch,where,who,what,and when.

If you request to move the service they will send out a planner and he will OK the move.

They will not allow anyone but them to pull the meter {power company} Then after they cut the line you can do the work and get it inspected by a licensed firm. The inspector will ask for the eso # so he can forward it to the power company with a completed and passed work order. The power company will not energize the line until the inspector puts his sticker of completion on the new meterbox. I agree with the others this is not for the average HO and when a meter is pulled they can tell in the power company as they are digital meters. Good luck


The rates around here start at $ 8.00 per amp and some are $20.00 per amp for just the service job.

[stanfortyman]

The process for upgrading here in Ny is you call the power company and schedule a upgrade for a new service. They will ask if you are a HO or Contractor and then they will give you a ESO # {electrical service order number} This number tells everyone that a upgrade is sch,where,who,what,and when.

If you request to move the service they will send out a planner and he will ok the move.

They will not allow anyone but them to pull the meter {power company} Then after they cut the line you can do the work and get it inspected by a licensed firm. The inspector will ask for the eso # so he can forward it to the power company with a completed and passed work order. The power company will not energize the line until the inspector puts his sticker of completion on the new meterbox. I agree with the others this is not for the average HO and when a meter is pulled they can tell in the power company as they are digital meters. Good luck


The rates around here start at $ 8.00 per amp and some are $20.00 per amp for just the service job.

While this a good general explanation, it is not completely accurate for all of NYS. Each utility has it's own rules, some very specific, and some counties have their own rules as well.

Typically the inspection agency will issue a "pre-release" before work is done so the power company can re-connect power as soon as the job is done. Then the inspector comes back and inspects after.