They won't even see 60 amps pulled on that service at any given time. Like i said in my experience most existing homes with 200 amp services don't even use half that. A simple back to back service change in se cable is around $2,000.īack to the original topic though. If it has to be done in pipe with copper conductors and a roof mast the price goes up. Also here most services are done in se cable. You are confusing panel swaps with service upgrades. The square d homeline and cutler hammer br series is the bottom end and use aluminum bussing. All have copper buss bars and better connections for the breakers. If you do get the panel changed get a Cutler Hammer/Eaton CH style, or Square D Q/O series, or Siemens brand. I believe they used aluminum buss bars but could be copper too it's been awhile since i replaced one. The only issue you need to look for is corrosion on the buss bars. Just making a point that back then they built things tough made in the USA. If you were worried you could have a commercial bolt on panel installed but seriously that is not necessary. Don't worry though the modern panels are safe just a bolt on breaker is much better. The breakers are also "bolt on" which are secured to the buss bars with screws that makes a much better and secure connection vs modern panels. Those bulldog brand pushmatic panels are tough. I asked a estimator at work the cost of doing a panel swap runs about $2500. Reason I'm not doing it is because I'm already working 45-50 hours a week and dint have the time. Because I would save about 1k from the quotes I got do far. I would love to have you come out and do a panel swap from 100 to 200 amp for 2k. I'll eventually have it done and I guarantee you that I will use that as a sale point when/if I sell When I bought my recent house I immediately came back with 2k (of 3500) as a electrical panel needing to be upgraded. When you sell listing a panel upgrade from 100 to 200 amp is a great selling point and one less thing the buyer is going to hit you on. Sure you pay a bit more now but in the long run you'll get your money's worth when/if you upgrade or sell. People are short sighted when it comes to stuff like that. To do a service upgrade from 100 to 200amp which obviously means changing the service entrance cable outside then you need a 200 amp meter can will cost around $2,000.Īnd if you ever decide to do a remodel or add a room or decide to do some electrical add on now you're stuck because you need to do a upgrade to 200 amp. For me to just to swap that 100 amp with a new 100 it would be around $1,000. No need to have a 200 amp service upgrade on a house that doesn't need it.ĭoing a service change vs a simple panel swap is pretty big cost difference. Yes the cost difference is minimal and it's the same work for a 100 or 200 amp service change but the OP just wants the panel changed. If you sell that's a actual upgrade you can add in as value It's not cost effective to change a 100 amp with another 100 amp. The reason I say upgrade is because there is minimal cost difference if you're doing a complete change out upgrade. You'll still only have a 100 amp service. Lots of times you can change the " guts" (buss bars and in turn upgrade to newer style Square D or GE breakers) without replacing the actual enclosure. What about my needing to upgrade to a newer box simply becasue these older 'pushmatic' breakers are outdated and replacement parts are supposedly hard to come by? Keep in mind we are not interested at all in upgrading from our current 100 amp and in fact use less electricity now being appliances, lights etc are consuming less than ever. The apartment i live in now has 3 apartments on a 200 amp service and again that is perfectly fine same with the last place i lived 3 apartments on a 200 amp service. The only benefit of a 200 amp panel is more spaces. The power company has plenty of data of power usage and they size wire based on that. The NEC has their own codes on sizing service conductors and the POCO has their own code for sizing service drops. For example in PA and NJ a house with a 200 amp service will use 4/0 AL but the service drop from the poco to the house is only a #2 AL. The power company knows this too that's why the wire size they use is much smaller. Most loads in a home are not continuous loads. In the 20+ years I've been an electrician most homes that have 200 amp services do not need it.
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