HI, I need some help! I just purchased a home that was built in 1930. The wiring is VERY old, covered in cloth and breaks off easily. I decided to rewire it one room at a time. Therefore, here are my questions:
1. Can I rewire the house with each room having its own circuit breaker and wire the outlets together THEN ending at the light or ceiling fan in each room?
2. I purchased a 100 amp circuit box; will 100 amps be enough power an electric stove, and electric dryer? It had a gas dryer previously. The house is 3 bedroom, 2 bath and 1200 feet.
I appreciate all the help! Thanks. :)
-Tony

Tony,

Are you familiar with any of the residential electric codes as described in the NEC?

Based on your questions, I strongly urge you to contact several local licensed electricians in your area and collect bids.

What you are describing is going to require a full upgrade of services along with a requirement to bring the entire residence up to current code.

Please seriously consider calling a professional.

Totally agree Don's assessment that this job requires a licenced electrician.

More than likely there only a 60Amp service there and you have a 100A panel. The wires that run from the meter to to the top of your service entrance where they are spiced in to the line coming of the pole are only rated @ 60A. IF you put that 100A panel on it will cause the service entrance wire to heat up and glow red like a burner of a stove and catch fire.

With that 100A panel upgrade, this is what needs to be done and changed:

Bigger wire that runs from the meter to the top of the service entrance, then you will need bigger service entrance conduit, the power needs to get turn off from the pwr company side so the lines from the hydro pole can be cut where that are joined @ the top of your service entrance.

A ground wire needs to be connected from the new panel to 2-10' rods driven in the ground or a ground plate which is buried in the ground in a 2x2x2 hole.

That just to have that panel installed correctly.

If you are rewiring the house room by room, it is best to rewire floor by floor for It is more economical. It is best to have your electrical circuits maps out before running any wire. There a maximun # of items allowed on one circuit, and once reaching that limit a new circuit is required.

You have Insurance on the home? Just curious for around here the insurance company will not insure a home that is under 100A and they require the paper work that the electrical is all up to code and passed before they will insure it.

Is the 100A panel sufficient? That all depends on the load of the house. The stove is 40A and an dryer is 30A. Heating? Oil.wood.electric? If electric then 20A are required for your heating circuits, the # of heating circuits depends on the # and watt rating of the heaters, which in turns depends on your location and the winter temperatures there and how often they will used.

A lot of preparation is needed before attempting any electrical work in order to have a safe home.

Make sure you have the total load of the house usuage before any altering of your service entrance. Be a lot of $$$$ wasted if you got all this only to have your main trip due to improper ampheres calcuations.

Maybe an option is to get an licenced electrician to do a total house load and install the panel with a new service entrace. Once the panel in installed and power connected you can then proceed to re-wire the interior of the house.