[jshovis]

We are in the process of remodeling the home which we recently purchased. As part of the updates, we had some electrical work done. The electrician which completed the work suggested that we may want to update our electrican service from 200 amps to 300 or 400amps. All of the slots are full in our main breaker box and several of the slots contains double breakers.

We are trying to find out if we really need to do this, especially when the electrician is the one that would likey profit if we did.

We have a relatively large house (2600 sq feet) that is all electric. The biggest users of electric in our house are two heat pumps (3 ton downstairs and 2 tons upstairs) that both may contain 15 KW heating elements. We have an electric water heater, double oven, disposal, dishwasher and a large countertop (5 element) rangetop.

In addition to what is inside the house, we have a barn which is wired into our breaker box on a 50 amp breaker. We also have a large swimming pool with a 1.5 HP pump motor. We also plan to install a hottub next year along with pool deck lighting.

I have done a rough load calculation and we are really close to 200 amps (without the hottub). So it appears to me that an update is in order.

We may replace the rangetop with a gas rangetop which would lesson some of the load. However, I have been told the hottub would likely make up for the difference.

I am not an electrician and have no idea of what might change at the house in the future. I would just like to know what some experts think. Should we upgrade to 300 or 400 amps. I feel 400 amps is probably overkill. However, it is only a few hundred dollars more than the 300 amp service.

[tkrussell]

Why did't the electrician do the load calcs? How did you do yours?

Go 400 amp, which is a 320 amp meter socket, for residential. You can have two 200 amp panels.

[stanfortyman]

If you are even close to 200, and are considering a hot tub then you really have no choice.
Yes, changing the range from electric to gas with lighten the load somewhat, but the calculated load of the spa will be far greater than what the range would be, even though they might both be on 50A breakers.

I have no idea what the electrician is talking about with regard to a 300 or 400 amp service.
A typical residential 400A service is a 320/400A. 320 continuous/400A max.
If he means a true 400A service that is completely unnecessary. It is extremely rare to see a true 400A service in a residence. There is simply very little reason to go that route. If the calculated load is anywhere near 400A the service is usually bumped up to 600A.

[jshovis]

Why did't the electrician do the load calcs? How did you do yours?

Go 400 amp, which is a 320 amp meter socket, for residential. You can have two 200 amp panels.

Russell,

I am sure the electrician would do the calculations and we will likely have him do that. We just wanted to make sure we needed an upgrade first.

We used one of the online calculators and used many of the default numbers.

Jeff

[jshovis]

If you are even close to 200, and are considering a hot tub then you really have no choice.
Yes, changing the range from electric to gas with lighten the load somewhat, but the calculated load of the spa will be far greater than what the range would be, even though they might both be on 50A breakers.

I have no idea what the electrician is talking about with regard to a 300 or 400 amp service.
A typical residential 400A service is a 320/400A. 320 continuous/400A max.
If he means a true 400A service that is completely unnecessary. It is extremely rare to see a true 400A service in a residence. There is simply very little reason to go that route. If the calculated load is anywhere near 400A the service is usually bumped up to 600A.

If a typical 400A service is 320 continuous/400A max, what is a typical 200A service?

Is there a similar setup for a 300A system, such as a certain continuous amps and 300A max?

Again, I am not an electrician. I just want to make sure we really need to upgrade our system before we spend the money.

[stanfortyman]

A 200A service is 200A max. 160A continuous.
Load calculations take this into consideration.


There is no such thing as a 300A service. A 300A service would be 400A equipment fused down to 300.

[jshovis]

A 200A service is 200A max. 160A continuous.
Load calculations take this into consideration.


There is no such thing as a 300A service. A 300A service would be 400A equipment fused down to 300.

So it sounds that if we had to do this, the 320/400 amp service might be the way to go. He told us the 400 amp service was about $200-$300 more than a 300 amp service.

He told us the 400A service would result in 2 200A boxes in the garage while the 300A service would result in 2 150A boxes.

Oh yes. We also have a subpanel upstairs which runs the plug/lights that is currently connected to the current 200A box in the garage.

[stanfortyman]

I see absolutely NO reason to go with two 150A panels.