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Post by toshtego on Nov 25, 2022 14:34:46 GMT -5
This being a colder than normal Winter, I have a larger than normal electrical load in the huse.
I am tripping the inside panel main breaker. This has happened several times now. Upon closer examination I see it is a 100 Amp Breaker. I have not seen one that low for a long time. The house was built in 1996 and has supposedly inspected wiring.
So, my question is, can I change over to a 200 AMP Breaker like most every other modern house has?
Opinions, please.
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Post by Ronv69 on Nov 25, 2022 14:44:17 GMT -5
It depends on the wires to the house. Check with your electric company on what amperage they are supplying. If they are supplying 200 amps then you can simply swap the main breaker. Worst case you add another box. I've done both. One house had 3 phase. I added a new box just for the unused leg. 300 amps! We have 200 amps here and that's plenty.
You can go ahead and swap the breaker anyway as I doubt it would hurt the outside wires which have their own breaker. If it's tripping often it might be a bad breaker. I don't see a downside to replacing it with a 200 amp.
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Post by Legend Lover on Nov 25, 2022 17:55:19 GMT -5
It's beyond me. But given that your winters are pretty bad, I can't imagine how bad it must be this year.
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gav
Junior Member
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Post by gav on Nov 25, 2022 18:46:40 GMT -5
Is it tripping when you turn anything specific on? dryer, microwave ect
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Post by toshtego on Nov 25, 2022 19:23:47 GMT -5
This has all the appearance of an overloaded 100 Amp Service.
Three room heaters,
electric hot water heater,
electric oven,
electric hotplates for a range,
lights.
I was under the assumption this was 150 or 200 Amp service. I cannot imagine someone installing a 100 Amp service in 1996 but they did.
Thanks for the advice. I will check the Breaker on the outside Meter and hope it is a 150 or 200.
The inside Panel is a Square D, so I am hopeful that it can take a larger capacity breaker. I have not tripped any of the individual cricuit breakers. So, it looks like combined load.
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Post by Ronv69 on Nov 25, 2022 19:50:49 GMT -5
This has all the appearance of an overloaded 100 Amp Service. Three room heaters, electric hot water heater, electric oven, electric hotplates for a range, lights. I was under the assumption this was 150 or 200 Amp service. I cannot imagine someone installing a 100 Amp service in 1996 but they did. Thanks for the advice. I will check the Breaker on the outside Meter and hope it is a 150 or 200. The inside Panel is a Square D, so I am hopeful that it can take a larger capacity breaker. I have not tripped any of the individual cricuit breakers. So, it looks like combined load. I think any breakers on the power company side would be at the transformer. No need to worry about it unless it blows.😉 |
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Post by mgtarheel on Nov 25, 2022 20:03:44 GMT -5
You might have to change over your whole service.
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Post by toshtego on Nov 25, 2022 20:50:05 GMT -5
This has all the appearance of an overloaded 100 Amp Service. Three room heaters, electric hot water heater, electric oven, electric hotplates for a range, lights. I was under the assumption this was 150 or 200 Amp service. I cannot imagine someone installing a 100 Amp service in 1996 but they did. Thanks for the advice. I will check the Breaker on the outside Meter and hope it is a 150 or 200. The inside Panel is a Square D, so I am hopeful that it can take a larger capacity breaker. I have not tripped any of the individual cricuit breakers. So, it looks like combined load. I think any breakers on the power company side would be at the transformer. No need to worry about it unless it blows.😉 Th Panel Breaker is in the house well on my side of the Meter. |
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Post by Plainsman on Nov 25, 2022 22:47:55 GMT -5
If that were happening to me I would think the Big Kahunas were unhappy. Time for a blood sacrifice. Maybe a neighbor?
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Post by roadsdiverged on Nov 26, 2022 9:16:38 GMT -5
All the heaters are drawing too many amps. 100 is really low in this day. Switching to a 200 SHOULD be ok, but there are instances where things are just too old and need to be upgraded.
Switching to a 200 and leaving everything else the same would be the ideal scenario. You're not tripping the small ones, so they're not overloaded. It's a simple fix if your box can handle it.
Without knowing what your working with, it's hard to give solid advice. Electrical = safety first.
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Post by sperrytops on Nov 26, 2022 13:59:45 GMT -5
200 has been the standard since about 1995. That's because of the draw of central heating and air. If you're running a greater load than usual I'm guessing that means heating. However, if its just too much draw that would really only hit one circuit, not your main breaker. Best to check with the power company, though they may tell you to call an electrician. Pulled this off the web:
It is not possible to upgrade from 100 amps to 200 amps simply by replacing your breaker panel. To upgrade to 200 amps from a smaller service, you will need a new breaker panel, circuit breakers, meter socket, service conductors, grounding electrodes and bonding conductors.
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Post by toshtego on Nov 27, 2022 14:56:07 GMT -5
The Breaker at the Meter Panel on the pole outside is a Double 60 AMP!!!
I guess I am stuck rationing power use inside. OK.
Since the indoor panel is aa Square D, I might be able to upgrade to a 125 AMP breaker.
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Post by Ronv69 on Nov 27, 2022 15:18:51 GMT -5
The Breaker at the Meter Panel on the pole outside is a Double 60 AMP!!! I guess I am stuck rationing power use inside. OK. Since the indoor panel is aa Square D, I might be able to upgrade to a 125 AMP breaker. That's probably enough to stop the tripping. An old breaker trips easier after the first couple of times. Even a new 100 amp breaker would probably be an improvement. Note that just because the meter breaker is only 65 amps it does not mean that the wires aren't big enough to handle more. Call the electric company and find out. |
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Post by toshtego on Nov 27, 2022 16:23:37 GMT -5
The Breaker at the Meter Panel on the pole outside is a Double 60 AMP!!! I guess I am stuck rationing power use inside. OK. Since the indoor panel is aa Square D, I might be able to upgrade to a 125 AMP breaker. That's probably enough to stop the tripping. An old breaker trips easier after the first couple of times. Even a new 100 amp breaker would probably be an improvement. Note that just because the meter breaker is only 65 amps it does not mean that the wires aren't big enough to handle more. Call the electric company and find out. I would have more success with an experienced Electrician. Our REA co-op is not helpful when it comes to questions on my side of the meter. I can measure wire gauge as well as anyone else. |
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Post by Ronv69 on Nov 27, 2022 17:50:29 GMT -5
That's probably enough to stop the tripping. An old breaker trips easier after the first couple of times. Even a new 100 amp breaker would probably be an improvement. Note that just because the meter breaker is only 65 amps it does not mean that the wires aren't big enough to handle more. Call the electric company and find out. I would have more success with an experienced Electrician. Our REA co-op is not helpful when it comes to questions on my side of the meter. I can measure wire gauge as well as anyone else. Is the 2x65 amp breaker on your side or theirs? The internal breaker in your box should be the first piece that belongs to you. |
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Post by roadsdiverged on Nov 27, 2022 19:03:45 GMT -5
I dunno about there, but here it's anything on the house side if the meter box.
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Post by toshtego on Nov 27, 2022 19:09:39 GMT -5
I would have more success with an experienced Electrician. Our REA co-op is not helpful when it comes to questions on my side of the meter. I can measure wire gauge as well as anyone else. Is the 2x65 amp breaker on your side or theirs? The internal breaker in your box should be the first piece that belongs to you. The double 60 Amp breaker is on my side of the meter. |
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Post by Gandalf on Nov 27, 2022 19:58:49 GMT -5
Wish I could help, but my experience is from the other end, at the generating station.
But it is true, that after a breaker trips several times, it will trip sooner/easier - and should be replaced.
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Post by johnlawitzke on Nov 27, 2022 20:02:10 GMT -5
As an electrical engineer, my professional advice is to engage a certified electrician.
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Post by trailboss on Nov 27, 2022 20:34:28 GMT -5
As an electrical engineer, my professional advice is to engage a certified electrician. I agree. Unless you choose to get a charge out of life, let an electrician check your shorts. |
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Post by Ronv69 on Nov 27, 2022 20:42:12 GMT -5
As an electrical engineer, my professional advice is to engage a certified electrician. I agree. Unless you choose to get a charge out of life, let an electrician check your shorts. I always hire a certified electrician. To check my work. Haven't failed yet. |
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Post by adui on Nov 27, 2022 20:53:25 GMT -5
I agree. Unless you choose to get a charge out of life, let an electrician check your shorts. I always hire a certified electrician. To check my work. Haven't failed yet. Years ago I built a set of false walls to partition a HUGE room in my home. We had the entire upstairs of an old commercial building, the room was 28 feet wide and 33 feet deep. I was going to run outlets in these walls, so I checked with my younger sibling who was at the time a journeyman electrician. Glad I did because the way I was going to do it (within my budget) was going to create quite the fire hazard. Since then, I will still do the occasional replace an outlet or switch, but if it has to do with wiring or such I always ask someone who knows before proceeding. |
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Post by Ronv69 on Nov 27, 2022 21:43:51 GMT -5
I may not be a certified electrician, but I read the same books they do. I had to pull out the first couple of jobs I did, but I learned. I have rewired 2 houses and 3 shops, plus added numerous circuits, additional breaker boxes, etc.
Plus too many ceiling fans and light fixtures to count. This started because I hired a licensed electrician and had to redo the job he screwed up. I also was told to do electrical work for three printing companies I worked for, hooking up film processors and such. I used to do air conditioners until the refrigerants changed.
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Post by toshtego on Nov 28, 2022 11:14:28 GMT -5
As an electrical engineer, my professional advice is to engage a certified electrician. Thank you for your comment. That is generally a wise decision. Let the pro make the call. The Licenses Electricians I know here would not be among my first choice having worked with the two of them in the past on barn and home wiring. Having had to replace some of their work, I ended up taking a Journeyman class in Electrical Wiring at the University of NM in Taos. I can do simple jobs, including some panel work. Circuits with multiple switches I leave to the pros. There are wiring things I know and there are those I do not know. Then, there are those things I know I do not know, so that is when I seek advice from those who know more than me. |
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Post by johnlawitzke on Nov 28, 2022 18:27:36 GMT -5
There are wiring things I know and there are those I do not know. Then, there are those things I know I do not know, so that is when I seek advice from those who know more than me. Definite words of wisdom. |
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Post by dervis on Nov 29, 2022 8:53:10 GMT -5
All the heaters are drawing too many amps. 100 is really low in this day. Switching to a 200 SHOULD be ok, but there are instances where things are just too old and need to be upgraded. Switching to a 200 and leaving everything else the same would be the ideal scenario. You're not tripping the small ones, so they're not overloaded. It's a simple fix if your box can handle it. Without knowing what your working with, it's hard to give solid advice. Electrical = safety first. This. I heat with those small heaters and they pull so much. Even if they can all "run" at the same time. If there is ever a window where they "kick on" at the same time throws the breaker ever time. |
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jay
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Post by jay on Nov 29, 2022 18:02:29 GMT -5
As an electrical engineer, my professional advice is to engage a certified electrician. I agree. Unless you choose to get a charge out of life, let an electrician check your shorts. I would prefer that someone else check my shorts. The electrician can look at the wires and stuff. |
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