100 Amp Main Breaker

Going to replace the main breaker on the service panel here maybe tomorrow or Thu. Connections are corroding (very high moisture level in basement summertime).

One leg of the hot coming in was not leaving the panel due to dirty connections (assumption) and after I tripped the main, had to reset it about 5-6 times before it caught and stayed in place.

In addition, after I pull the meter, I'll make sure the bus bars are cleaned before changing out the breaker.

Should probably just start fresh with new service panel, service cable and mast head and be done! It's a good place to start.

 

Be careful...

 

We're planning some upgrades this year, but the panel doesn't have room, so it's time for a new one. Might just stay with a 100 amp, but more spaces.
The spaghetti mess in the old one is fun to look at though.
We're getting all new power lines and transformers down the road. and one of the guys I talked to said the lines at the house would be fine for 200 if I wanted.
Hmmm.....thinking.
Oh, and we'd (meaning, me) love pics.

 

Go with the 200 amp panel- you will thank your self down the road. The new standard is 200 amp in construction of new homes. I can remember when 60 amp was considered enough- those days are long gone. With all the gadgets and HVAC 100 amp is marginal.

 

I added a side panel a few years back for around $60 all said and done. !00 amp main panel and then side panel with a 60 amp feed to it.

In either case, never use anywhere near that much.

 

Thought about an sub, but really no room. It's a weird setup.

 

Yeah, what he did............

 

Don't know really if it'll get a new panel/service or not. May just find a place to move into this summer and then sell this place.

 

I don't even have the replacement breaker yet guys...! Crimeny! Slow the heck down with that popcorn stuff will ya?

 

It's ok, we just bought more.

 

Power company will let you pull the meter? That's a no-no here...they will come out and pull it for free, but they have to do it themselves. Has to be an electrical inspection to have the meter put back in then...

 

Actually with all the energy efficient appliances, led lights, tvs, etc 100 amp is better now than it was 20 years ago. Now to install 200 basically costs nothing from the beginning.

 

You can pull your own meter?? around here you get smacked on the hand.

 

might as well just do it when you go to sell they will probably ding you on it.

 

This x 2

 

If theres a chance you're moving , you could just replace the panel or main breaker and be done. Panels are relatively inexpensive...

A meter socket and a little wire to a new 200 amp panel is probably another 150-200.

If you're doing it yourself, you'll have a good days work but not huge money.

 

If you're paying someone else to do the whole thing, I'd expect a $1200 bill

 

$100 per amp $2000