electrical panel upgrade

[dkhedmo]

Me again, with the 50's ranch-on-a-slab. Electric panel needs an upgrade and my plumber (the one who put in the pump and plumbing through the attic) recommended an electrician who has come back with an excellent price. He listed two options/prices: a 100 amp 20 circuit panel for $965, or a 150 amp 30 circuit panel for $130 more.

We are currently running the basic household appliances, gas where applicable. One tv, one computer and occasional laptop, misc. audio, telephone, small stuff. Above ground pool. No AC right now, assume we'll add that eventually. One or two window units until then.

Which way should we go?

-Karen-

[Frank]

I'll bet you have a furnace, refrigerator and freezer too. Well also takes a lot of amperage. I'd get the higher service as it is not much more and price seems good.

[Eric in North TX]

Why stop there, 200 amp and be done with it.

[Todd H.]

Definitely 150amp. That incremental cost is peanuts vs ever facing the need to bring someone out again to do a panel.

[EXT]

Check your circuits, will 30 allow for current useage plus additions. Note that many take double, sometimes 4 positions for one circuit. Also check out what brand and model circuit breakers the new panel uses to be sure they are a good brand and readily available. If you need more than 30 positions, either a larger panel box or a subpanel box can be added, be sure it takes the same breakers as your main panel so they can be moved around without having to buy two different brands. You may need arc-fault breakers for the bed rooms and GFI breakers for the kitchen, bathroom, garage and outdoors, as you may have to upgrade to current standards when you change the panel box.

[Joseph Meehan]

I am not sure they will even OK a 100 amps around here. I would consider 150 a starting point.

[Goedjn]

You will never say to yourself, "gee, that service panel is too big. I wish we'd gone for the smaller one when we had the chance". If the price difference isn't painful, go for the biggest panel available. (is this including replacing the service drop, or is that big enough already?)

[scott21230]

Get the bigger panel. Over time you or the next owner of the house will tend to add things or split things off (like dedicated circuits for appliances, the misrowave, and toaster oven). Plus if you have GFCI or AFCI breakers in the panel they take up a lot of room so it's always best to have the room.

[barbarow]

At Lowe's a 32 circuit 200AMP service entrance is about $125.00

See

[RBM]

Currently, it would appear that you don't need more than the 100 amp, however if you plan to install central a-c and other who knows what equipment, I would opt for a larger service. IMHO, 150 amp services are as useless as... The equipment necessary to increase to 200 amp costs only a few dollars more, in fact you can get a 30 circuit or 20 circuit panel with

200 amp main breaker, although, I'd go with a full sized 40 circuit panel

[Tom The Great]

Request a service Calc, per the NEC.

Then start from there.

later,

tom @

[Tom The Great]

Why not class-320?

tom

[hallerb]

200 amp 40 circuit, a sales feature at resale time when say a shopper has a hot tub.

Years ago I weent with 100 amp major dumb move.

pricing 200 amps.

consider a panel that accepts a special generator lockout protective breaker.....

in case you ever want a emergency generator.

costs nothing now nice feature for future use

[John Grabowski]

I agree.

Go with a 200 amp service and a 40 circuit panel and now would be the best time to consider some sort of generator hook-up.

[Mortimer Schnerd, RN]

13% more money for 50% more capacity? If you can't afford the extra $130, sell one of your daughters.

[jackson]

I was wondering that one myself. If you're going to do it, go for 200A...

[Tom The Great]

huh?

[Steve Barker LT]

200A No need to do it twice.