I am in the process of Re-wiring my house . There is not enough capacity for everything I want to run with my current AL setup that exists and no I do not want to keep the AL setup I want it out! But don't have the cash to drop on the whole project.


Connect a new breaker panel with a 200A service ( which is available from the hydro)from the road and run a wire to my current 100a service that has the existing wiring with fuses and slowly do one room and a time and upgrade/migrate the whole house to copper and breakers.. yes I know this is the slow way . But I will be redoing all the rooms in the house anyway so ripping down the walls is what I am looking to do anyhow.

Is this feasible ? Are there boxes that will do a 100a relay to my existing AL fuse panel ? If so what would I need to purchase . ( and just a FYI for noting it.. I will not be doing that part myself I just want to know how to do it.. I will be getting a professional to do the hydro and new panel hookup... )

Thanks
Ryan

Its Fine just to do the Service Now, and the 200 Amp Panel, Just be sure to protect the wire sizes for protection, Then Install a 200 Amp Panel and a 2 pole, 100 Amp Breaker to protect your Existing Fuse Panel.
Then do Room by Room as you have the time and the money.
If you have #14, be sure too use 15 amp breakers.

Thanks a lot for your reply!. that really helps !

Good morning.

I've been off in another world actually doing some rewiring for my nephew. There is so much missing information I am hesitant in just saying "Fine".

To begin with, your service from the PoCo is 100 amps? You made the statement that that amount od amperage is to small, how did you determine that? Did you have anyone do a study on the amperage needed or are you just guessing?

Generally speaking, increasing the amperage to a residence begins with contacting the PoCo to see if they have that capability for your area.

Every thing from the PoCo's transformer may have to be upgraded to handle the increased load. If they cannot increase the amperage, then you are SOL.

Once you get that behind you it's time to pull the electrical permit. In my area of the country (Virginia) a home owner is allowed to pull an electrical permit what about your area?

If the PoCo approves and installs the necessary equipment, then you can install the new 200 Amp, Main Circuit Breaker, that is listed as "Service" panelboard.

So here you sit, you have your 200 amp service to your 200 amp panelboard. The way I would do this work is to use the current panelboard as a secondary panelboard off the 200 amp board.

I would install taps off the new board as the source feed to the old panelboard. That means you would need a 4/0 copper conductor (4) to feed the old breaker.

Once I have the new panelboard installed and ready to feed the second panelboard I would begin the change out. Since you are pulling down walls and ceilings, I would start in the room furthest from the new panelboard, shut the breaker down in the old panelboard that protects that circuit. I would then remove the old Aluminum wring and receptacles, rough in the new branch circuit for the room and homerun back to the new panelboard.

I don't know at what point your inspectors will want to inspect your work, so ask them before you start. As each section is approved, install the proper type breaker for the circuit in the new. With that done, turn the new circuit back on at the new panelboard and continue the process until the old panelboard is completely off line. Then I would turn off the new panelbord, remove the circuit from the new panelboard to the old panelboard.

donf,

Thanks for your reply..

I have checked my outside hydro box and it was upgraded to 200a before I moved in to the house but they are only running the old breaker panel off it... so I have the ability to do the upgrade I just needed to know if it was possible to run to boxes and upgraded room by room..

Thanks for the suggestions for starting from the farthest location I will do that for sure.. ( I was actually going to start with the bathrooms and the kitchen first.. ) but after reading this I will do what you suggested .

I am getting a certificated electrician to do the hydro disconnection and hookup for the old and new panel.. I just wanted to know about the secondary panel and what I need to purchased.. the in house wiring will be done by myself and the removal of the AL wiring will be done for sure

As for the permits he will be getting all the necessary ones that are needed up here in Canada

I have done a enough of copper rewiring before and new installs in a that my buddy lived in. I have just not dealt with AL wiring before.

Let me tell you right now, if you do not get the necessary permits, I will rat you out to Mike Holmes in a heartbeat!

I sense a real dislike of AL wiring but I don't understand why. AL wiring is still allowed to be used. Most often the problems associated with AL cabling is at the connections.

The biggest problem is DIYs not getting the proper devices for use with AL. For example, a receptacle goes bad and the guy says, no big deal and tottles off to HD for a new receptacle. But he gets a receptacle that is listed for Copper, not AL. Now you have a potential for problems down the road a bit.

When replacing receptacles for AL wiring, you must use AL listed receptacles or COLAR receptacles.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by donf

Let me tell you right now, if you do not get the necessary permits, I will rat you out to Mike Holmes in a heartbeat!

I sense a real dislike of AL wiring but I don't understand why. AL wiring is still allowed to be used. Most often the problems associated with AL cabling is at the connections.

The biggest problem is DIYs not getting the proper devices for use with AL. For example, a receptacle goes bad and the guy says, no big deal and tottles off to HD for a new receptacle. But he gets a receptacle that is listed for Copper, not AL. Now you have a potential for problems down the road a bit.

When replacing receptacles for AL wiring, you must use AL listed receptacles or COLAR receptacles.

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Lol.. oh yes I know about the permits and I will be getting them for sure I am a stickler about getting things done right ! That is why I am on here asking questions so I get all the information and how to do and what I need !

I have heard a lot about al and how it can be fine . But for safety reasons I want to get rid of it out of the house.

Plus the previous owner that lived here did a lot of "Funny wiring " ( its all original wiring from the 70's and its mixed with copper ) so I just want to clean it up and get it all up to code!.

I had an electrician come into the house when I bought it and he removed a lot of wires and outlets from use because of safety issues he was concerned about.. but at the time I did not have the cash to get stuff done.. so now that I am ready to do it I want to start my project .

Another way to look at it is to do the heavier demands first, Kitchen and Baths.
Do you have an Attic, Crawl space?
I am guessing this is romex.
If you were to do the further runs first, you may be able to pull 2 or more and drop one down to a closer run.