Ask Experts Questions for FREE Help !
Ask
    red_lover's Avatar
    red_lover Posts: 2, Reputation: 1
    New Member
     
    #1

    Jan 2, 2012, 01:35 AM
    Tankless water heater requires 300 amp service! Do I have it?
    Want to get a tankless water heater that requires a 300 amp service, and 3 60 amp 2 pole circuits. I have 2 large 200 amp panels in a 5000 sq/ft house built in 1995. Am I fairly safe to assume that if it was built to code, that the service is at least 300 amp? Wouldn't the county, power company (or whoever had to inspect and approve it) know? I really don't want to have to pay just to find out. Is there an easy way to tell? Couldn't really see an "Amp" rating on the meter or the transformer box outside, or on the big metal box located below the circuit breaker panels that has the inspection labels and plastic tamper seal things on it.

    Also, when I went and looked at the meter, I was surprised to see that the conduit going into it is only 1 inch in diameter, now, I always thought that all the electricity going to the house has to go through that meter. Seems to me that 1" is a little small to be servicing 2 200 amp panels! Am I right? Or just making assumptions based on a lack of knowledge?

    Any help or reassurance would be appreciated!

    Thanks
    tkrussell's Avatar
    tkrussell Posts: 9,659, Reputation: 725
    Uber Member
     
    #2

    Jan 2, 2012, 03:58 AM
    You really should have an electrician survey your service, and do a service rating calculation to see exactly what you have for connected load, service rating and what is needed to add the new water heater.

    What you have told us is no help in determining the total size service you currently have. Perhaps photos may help.

    We certainly cannot do a load calculation, and therefore cannot tell you if the existing service can handle the additional load.
    stanfortyman's Avatar
    stanfortyman Posts: 5,598, Reputation: 279
    Electrical & Lighting Expert
     
    #3

    Jan 2, 2012, 03:14 PM
    A 5000 sq/ft home will be adequately served by a 320/400A service (which is what you have), BUT, add a HOG of an appliance like the beast you are proposing and even that may not be enough.

    No way I'd try and use a whole house electric water heater in a McMansion like this.

    Who is selling you on getting one?

Not your question? Ask your question View similar questions

 

Question Tools Search this Question
Search this Question:

Advanced Search

Add your answer here.


Check out some similar questions!

Tankless water heater versus regular water heater [ 2 Answers ]

I need to know basic water heater tank maintenance

Is a 300 or 400 amp electrical service better? [ 7 Answers ]

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...

240volt water heater w/ 100 amp service pannel? [ 2 Answers ]

Is it possibble to hook up a 240volt electric water heater when I only have a 100 amp service? It will use 18.8 amps

Connecting a tankless water heater and separate hot water heater [ 6 Answers ]

What I have is this. An oil fired boiler that generates hot water for my house baseboard heating system. Contained within the boiler is a tankless heater that is heated by way of the firebox in the boiler. The tankless heater is used only for domestic hot water. It has a separate CW supply to the...

Electrical 300 amp service [ 1 Answers ]

I recently had a house built and paid $500 extra for 300 amp service for a future pool. Today, I bought a hot tub which uses 220 volts and must be hook up to a 50 amp breaker dedicated. I went to my electrical circuit breaker boxes out in the garage and see no available spaces to install a 50 amp...


View more questions Search