I have searched the Net and still Need answers) Have old house, slowly changing the old wiring out as rebuild the rooms) My panel is 125 amp, and no more slots for any upgrades, it is 30 yrs old panel) Can I switch to 200 amp? I hear possibly create more heat in wiring? Is this true? Always thot bigger was better, but from what I understand it has Nothing to do with Electricity? If I am going to expand the Panel I certainly want the best panel, so we can stop some of the tripping of the breakers ) Thanks and Sorry for the Confusion)

If you need a 200 amp0 service, the panel, meter and all wiring feeding the meter and in between the panel needs to be changed to 200 amp rated.

Changing a service will not stop branch circuits from tripping.

Each branch circuit needs the load reduced, usually by adding more circuits.

Thanks tk) So if I have a 200 amp panel installed, it creates No Problem for the House, if I understand ? I understand in order to get the Real 200 amp service I need upgrade the wiring feeding the meter and the wiring to the panel) But just to be ahead I have the 200 amp panel and it would be OK to install it, Correct?

Don't think so... changing to 200 Amp panel will require you to pull the meter (kill power from utility)... even if you replace the 125 with 200 the building inspector will have to sign off on the completed work and (in most areas) apply a 'sticker' to the meter base indicating to the utility company that he acknowledges that everything inside is OK before the utility will reinstall the meter... a knowledgeable inspector probably won't do it because 'all the service entrance equipment' should be matched to handle the same load requirements (ie... 200 amps)... the only way to be safe is for service entrance cable, meter base, service entrance conductor and breaker panel to "all match".

Anything else is very risky ! And shouldn't be allowed.

Sorry

Thanks 917) What about a 150 amp, would that be same problem? If I stay with 125 New Panel it leaves me with not many slots to add more breakers. So was trying to upgrade with Newer Style of Breakers and Extra Slots)

Yaker, a few questions for you. How many breaker spaces do you have now? Are you always tripping the same breakers? As you re-do the electrical, what are you doing? Usually on an older home several things are on the same breaker. Has the house been enlarged that you need additional breakers? It sounds like you just may have to re-work a few circuits to keep the breakers from tripping.

Panel is Sq D. 12 breakers w 1 slot left! The hairdryers and Fans in Bathroom Blow if all used at same time , the puters and Tv they put them all on same circuit! Yes the same ones trip n Bathroom Hope to rebuild soon n get them off the same breaker, but as you will see only have 1 slot left ! Have 20, 30, 20, 20, 20, 20, believe these are 220volt, 40, 30, 20 and 3 that are piggy back all 20, 20, 20, 20, 20, 20! So I have the wall and panel exposed and wanted to Upgrade so I can put in more Breakers, that is why I wanted to put in at least a 150 amp if I can, seems sad to stay with even New 125 amp, would really like to move up))

12 slots is quite small. But it seems like your problems are pretty simple, a matter of breaking up circuits. Look for a bigger panel, maybe 20 or 24 breakers, and install a 125amp main breaker. That will eliminate the need for immediate changes to the service and meter wiring. When you get the service upgraded, install the larger breaker. This way you won't overload the existing service wiring.

Are you sure that you don't have a 60 amp panel?

What is the size of your main breaker?

Thanks, MB) Ok I don't even know where to look for that 125 panel? Can you give me a part # or Brand name, does Lowe's Store have it, or can I see it online so I have a better understanding of what You said, (When you get the service upgraded, install the larger breaker. ) Does this refer to just installing the new panel or something else I can do later? Thanks)

All I know is the biggest breaker is 40... I said 125 cause a paper inside of the panel said 125... does that mean I should have a breaker spot for 125? This will tell you what I don't know and Thanks for the help))

Yaker,

Would you mnd taking a picture of the panel with the cover removed?

Also, if you are considering going to 150 Amp, you should just jump to 200 Amp, if the power company will allow that.

Also, please consider getting bids from licensed electricians for this work.

USUALLY your responsible for the approved meter base. That may have to be purchased locally because of the approval sticker.
Your responsible for the panel and all wiring up to the demark point.

If it's a roof entry, then to the roof entry point splice. The power company is responsible for the rest.

I did say usually.

You provide and do all the wiring from the roof to the panel including install the approved meter base. The POCO will install the meter when the inside passes inspection.

yaker56... I've been at this 40+ years and been licensed most of them... haven't seen it all but close... anything short of complete rewire in old house is asking for trouble... trying to figure out ways to 'get by' is even worse... most people don't realize that most fires actually start in junction boxes. Junction boxes are the small boxes all around the attic and crawl space that appear not to do much... they are used to have a contained space in which to make connections... "splices"... problem is... "the very best electrical connection deteriorates with age, moisture, electrical heat load, etc.... after time passes, even the most carefully made splices get old, corrode and then GET HOT ! .... and HEAT CAUSES FIRES !

Just remember..."no electrical box should ever be so hot that you can't put your hand on it and 'leave it there'... if it's hot enough to make you 'jerk your hand back'... there's a problem... turn it OFF !

One more thought... don't complain too much when a breaker trips... it's probably doing it's job... i.e... PREVENTING A FIRE !

Thanks for the All the Counsel)) How do I post Photos? Believe you me 917 I am Very Concerned about the Old Splices, and Old Style wiring)) This is why I am trying to replace as I go along))

Go advanced/manage attachments.

How do I put photo on the site? Thanks)

<I put your photo here as well. I didn't know I could do it. KISS>

At the bottom of the "Answer this question" is a "Go advanced" button. Push it.

You will then see a "Manage attachments" button. Push it.

You then have to navigate to your PC folder and upload the document paying attention to the types accepted and size.

If you need to re-size, you can use the free program IrfanView - Official Homepage - one of the most popular viewers worldwide (http://www.irfanview.com) 640 x 480 usually works.

I can't get system to allow my photo of My Panel(( Would anyone that knows how to post photos, allow me to email the photo to them and then post for me on this site? If so then let me know and I send it to you) Thanks)

You have no contact info. Either email or PM.

Your photo is probably too big and needs to be re-sized.

You can send it to me, but I need to be able to contact you. We don't generally post email address directly to the forum for all to read. When you say email contact it's not listed.

Click on my username in this post and pretend to pay me a tip. My email will be revealed.

Here is your panel. It was too big to upload. It had to be re-sized.

Yaker:

You posted from your cell phone, so the image was too big. If you could download IrfanView - Official Homepage - one of the most popular viewers worldwide (http://www.irfanview.com), then open the image and then go to IMAGE/resize/resample and put 640 for the largest dimension and Save AS, you would have been fine.

Thanks KISS) I was on the Lake when got the message and sent from my cell) You got it looking Great) Now can anyone tell me what Amp it is? Can I replace it with 125 amp? Thanks)

OK so we see the photo of your panel's branch circuit breakers.

The Main Breaker is not shown, so we do not know what size service you have.

While the panel may be rated 125 amps, the rating of the service will be by the size of the Main Breaker.

Does this panel have a Main Breaker at the top or bottom but not shown?

Or is there a Main Breaker at or near the utility meter?

What are you trying to accomplish?

Now U see My Confusion) There is No Main Breaker, largest is 40, Thanks, Now I understand how the amperage is done with a main breaker) Maybe somebody could post a link to a photo for guys like me, that could look at and see what a Real Electric Panel looks like, and edit it with showing this is Main Breaker and so on) Just My Thots as I have struggled with understanding, and the last post from TK cleared up some of my Confusion) Thanks TK) I am rebuilding the kitchen, have old walls tore out, the panel exsposed and easy to get to , so was wanting to Upgrade ,now that I have no main breaker to tell me what amperage, what can I upgrade to without having inspectors and permits) Understand before some of you tell me I have too, have permits and inspectors, this is why we guys come to this site looking for the way to understand how we can safely work on things ourself)) I have run some wire but will have this done by someone of knowledge) I do want to run more wires and add more breakers which means have to upgrade to larger panel, so can anyone tell me what I can do? Thanks again for all the help)

We just discussed a really weird electrical panel which this could be.

The fourth breaker down could possibly be a mini-main. It might kill the 3 slots on the bottom left and right (2 occuped).

Technically legal because less than 6 branch circuits doesn't need a main.

Are you comfortable to take off the cover and look for any numbers and possibly take a picture of the inside of the panel?