Have a commercial application where the customer wants to bring power to a tent area next to his building. Filing for a permitted new service is extremely costly and not time efficient. Would it be possible to tie into the existing service and put in an additional 200 amp panel, safely without disturbing or causing a power drop at initial panel?
Adding a sub-panel to an existing service.
Mar 11, 2020
6 Replies
You can't put 10 lbs of stuff into a 5 lb bag. If the existing panel is
200 amp, then the service is highly likely rated at that capacity. If you really need another 200 amp capacity, then you either run a new service or increase the capacity of existing one.What's going on in this tent area that requires a 200A panel?
Sure, if you have existing 400 or more already. If you have 200 you can't get 200 twice from it.
To get a good answer you have to give good information, such as the existing panel size and real load needed, load already used.
Think we know the answer from the question..."another" is the key word, methinks.
The guy is trying to cheap out and bypass his local inspection process, etc., it would appear.
He'll get caught out sooner or later and probably end up being far more expensive in the end than what could save to try to get by.
The short answer is what does a load calculation tell you? Anything else is a guess.
On 3/11/2020 11:42 AM, snipped-for-privacy@aol.com wrote: ...
Wouldn't be any fun at all if we never guessed, pontificated nor otherwise hobnobbed with fellow wizards... :)
If I was hob nobing I would look at the electric bills, try to determine when it is being loaded and when the lights are off and then guess.
Join the Discussion
Have something to add? Share your thoughts — no account required.
Didn't find your answer?
Ask the community — no account required