PDA

View Full Version : Old fuse box need to be upgrated and wires?


gerardo tapia
Apr 21, 2014, 09:47 PM
I recently purchased a 1936 house. The electrical passed inspection, how-ever the main fuse box is equipped with two 30 amp fuses. Then it goes to to the secondary fuse box, that has the additional fuses six in total, three are 20 amp, two 15amp,and one 10 amp. I'm replacing the secondary box with breakers and additional spaces for washer, dryer, and other heavy appliances, yes of course I'm will be running new lines for these items. My concern is the main box, and the wires leading to it from the meter, would the handle the heat from the additional loads, and yes I will be replacing the main fuse box, but how much do I need? Its at 60 amps (two 30 amp fuses)? Could the wires from Eddison handle the jump to 100 amps?

creahands
Apr 21, 2014, 11:07 PM
You will have to have Con Ed come in and evaluate the service you have and have the wire up graded to handle new load. I would recommend raising to a 200 amp service. It will not cost much more then a 100 amp service. It will also let you accommodate the many electrical things that are used in the home today.

This work would have to be done by a licensed electrician.

Chuck

donf
Apr 22, 2014, 04:07 AM
The current code requirement for a residence is 100 amps. But if you have to increase your service, then you take the service to 200 amp as Chuck recommends in the previous response.

You will need two things to happen. One PoCo (Power Company) needs to come in and verify that their existing feeders are capable of handling 100 or 200 amp service. The meter base may also have to be changed out. Usually the PoCo will supply the meter base (they do here in Virginia).

From there, a licensed electrician will have to change out the meter base and the feeders from the meter base to service panel. Once the panel is installed, there should be no need for the downstream panelboard that you have now.

hfcarson
Apr 22, 2014, 04:19 AM
Where is this location?
In most places, the electrical contractor can take care of it all...
no need to involve the Poco. If you are in the City the process may
by more challenging but again, a good electrician will know...

donf
Apr 22, 2014, 08:04 AM
I was answering based on Virginia. Here, at least in Virginia Beach, PoCo owns the cable from the service drop or lateral to the meter. To the best of my knowledge they enforce the ownership.

But you raise a good thought. I will ask them.

hfcarson
Apr 22, 2014, 08:40 AM
Don, I believe that would be true for most parts of the country. Cities can be interesting as sometimes it is an underground network with "HUGE" short circuit with access tightly controlled by the Poco.
Most of the time the existing cable from the pole serving a 60 ampere to 100 ampere service can be upgraded without the cable from the pole needing upgrade. If you double the size of your house, maybe they would care but you might be surprised...

donf
Apr 22, 2014, 01:43 PM
:) If I double the size of my house it would still be the size of a postage stamp.

For this neighborhood, Dominion Power ran 4/0 (AL) to the homes even though most of the homes were built with 100 amp service.

hfcarson
Apr 23, 2014, 03:47 AM
4/0 AL is good to 280 amperes in free air....
smart power company, use a robust cable that's less likely to incur
storm damage, a cable size for residential services with capacity for
most dwellings short of a small castle, one size fit's all cable..

donf
Apr 23, 2014, 04:38 AM
We have underground (lateral) service. I think they actually planned this out so they wouldn't have to dig the cable up when the service was upgraded. Who would think that a PoCo would "Plan".

hfcarson
Apr 23, 2014, 06:10 AM
Someone hired a smart "sparky"...