I would like change the service at my house. Right now I only have 100A circuit box and would like to get a 200A box, but it is going to cost about $1100. I need to convince my wife to let me go ahead and have it done. Does anybody know if this will increase the value of my house? If it does, then I can tell her that and she will be more likely to agree.
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Thanks
shawn
Replies
Better to tell her that it's a safety issue ! She doesn't want a house fire does she. And Yes, It would be an added value to the house. Especially if you have major electrical items, (heatpump, many shop power tools, etc.) I have an all elec. house and shop and have 200A service.
Work Safe, Count to 10 when your done for the day !!
Bruce S.
Edited 5/21/2007 5:21 pm ET by BruceS
thanks, good point about the fire safety aspect. The main tv is on the same circuit as parts of the garage, so I will tell her it might interfere with her food network if I am working.
Shawn
It should increase the value of your house, as nowadays people run alot more electrical items than in the past, especially in a kitchen with appliances, etc.....
As far as asking your wife..........why? Get your balls out of her purse, pull up your suspenders, and just do it.
Btw, that's free marital advice. <g>
Jeff
thanks for the advice, but I hope you don't mind if I don't take it!
Shawn,DONTtell her any lies once you start that ther is no end to the stupid things you may do. Be up front with her . Explain that because everyone else around has 200a installed thers a danger that if there is an electrical SURGE the house will be burned to the ground. In the long term it's always best to be Truthful
ALL IN THE CAUSE OF LOVE.I'm never always right but i'm always never wrong. Boysie
yeah, I don't want to start any lies. Too hard too remember what I said and what is true!
Shawn: I'd say it depends on a number of things: Is the old service falling apart? Do you need more circuits? Most home shops can get along fine with a 100 amp service that is in good shape. If it's not necessary that $1100 would buy lots of other nice tools, wood, etc.
Duke
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It is a new house, but they only put in a 100A box. I have already tripped the breakers a couple times, so I want to get a larger box and also add some dedicated circuits. I am looking at getting a new table saw and would need 220 somewhere. I figured I would try to get the service changed at the same time.
"I have already tripped the breakers a couple times"You almost most certainly did not trip the 100amp mains.I suspect your residence will never use more than 30amps@240V peak. That leaves 70amps@240V for your peak shop load. More than enough for most shops.
I didn't trip the main breaker, but the garage outlets share the line with others in the house. So when I have used my table saw a couple times, and the tv was on or other things, the breaker would trip.
You did not say how old your house is but if you or anyone else in the future wants to do a new kitchen or a room addition you probably will need to add a lot of circuits. When SWMBO and myself bought our current house (built 1931) we upgraded to a 100 amp service and 10 years latter when we added a bed, bath and laundry room we ended up having to change to a example service. As far as resale value I sell real-estate as my day job and in my area it is a big plus to have a upgraded service. As for price on in the San Francisco bay area (the right coast if you are looking south from Seattle:)) The price for this kind of upgrade seems to run about 2500 dollars. If you can I would do it and add a couple of 220 circuits for the shop. Good luck either way.
Troy
The house is new, built in 2006. I had an electrician come out last night and take a gander at it. He was surprised it was so small. It won't cost too much (about $700) and the wife gave her approval already! I want to add several 220 and a couple higher amp 120 also.
Sounds like a go I don't think you will regret it at all.Troy
We are moving into a new (old) house and the service 100amp. One of the first things I'm going to have done is to upgrade it to 200 amp. I can add circuts myself but the panel is something I will have done.
For some people things inside walls and such don't really hold much value. Should they be deciding these things. I mean, I don't go into other peoples area of expertice and tell them what to do.
Come on, this is the 21 century. A 200 amp service is minimal.
I agree. There are more and more power hungry items in peoples houses, 200 is necessary. Since you are adding circuits yourself, can you tell me a good source of information for doing that? I would like to do most of the work myself for adding 220 and 120 in the garage, and just have the electrician terminate at the box. thanks
Hi Shawn,
I just did the same upgrade on my house this year.
It will increase the value of your house -- I don't know your locale, but most folk expect a 200 amp service on their house, especially if it was built in 2006.
If you're tripping non-shop related breakers, have your electrician do a load calculation on those circuits. Breakers tripping are a warning sign; a warning that you need to correct the overload on that circuit.
$1100 seems to be a pretty good price for the upgrade. I certainly spent that amount and probably more even though I did the work myself.
Have your electrician check the grounding on your current system. It may need to be upgraded with the step up to 200 amps. My memory is a little fuzzy, but I seem to recall that the NEC allows for smaller grounding lines on a 100A service vs. 200A. IMHO, you can't overdo grounding anyway.
In any case, my end advice is do it! I'm very happy I upgraded and wished I had done so sooner. Your 100A service panel is likely maxed out already and leaves you little to no room for growth.
Glen
thanks for the advice. I will have him check everything and run a load calculation. My currect box is about maxed out, so I would either need to upgrade my panel or put in a sub-panel to add my extra outlets. I figured I might as well get 200A. more never hurts.
Yes, more power never hurts but an electrician can probably tell you if it's really necessary. I've run an 1,800 sq. ft. house plus a 400 sq. ft. professional shop off of a 100 amp box for 30 years. Alright, the shop has a 60 amp sub-panel (which, by the way, powered a whole house at one time) and I can't add much more to the main box in the house but, for $1,110, I wouldn't put in the 200 amp service unless I absolutely had to.
Chip Tam
thanks for the information. I am going to wait a while before make any real decision. I will think about the sub-panel more.
We needed more juice in the garage for lighting and receptacles as well as adding a 220 circuit , our electrician ran a sub panel off our existing 200a service . The sub panel added little to the cost .
As far as added value , it will be more valuable to you , but in reality could make your home easier to sell but not drive the price any higher . On an older home a new roof or paint job really does not add to the assessed value like square footage will , but again may make it more desirable and easier to sell , just like new tires on a used car .
regards dusty
Thanks all for your replies and advice. I will get the electrician out in a couple weeks to add the 200A service and a some extra work I need done.
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