Should we upgrade to 200 amp service?

Question

Hi all. We just started rehabbing a 1500 square foot house in an upscale neighborhood. It currently has a 150 amp service and panel box in the basement. My thinking is that we may need to upgrade to 200. Especially since we're adding two zone CAC/Heat, adding more outlets to bring it up to code, and adding light fixtures in a few rooms that didn't have them in the past. With all of this and today's electrical demands will a 150 amp service be enough or should we be looking for 200? I don't want the new buyers home inspector to come in and criticize the 150 amp service we currently have there. Your thoughts?

Jeff Green · Answer

In this area you can buy the materials at Lowes or Home Depot for around $350.00. (2/0 copper @ 2.55ft, 1/0 copper @ 2.19ft, 200amp breaker box around 150.00, joint of emt(2") conduit around 10.00, weatherhead about 10.00, nipple connecting meter base and breaker box about 3-4.00, #4 ground wire @ 1.19ft, my company gives the customer a meter base so not sure what they charge for that at Lowes/HD. So, all that plus tax. We are in a rural area so we usually give the customers a spec sheet and they end up doing a lot of the work themselves instead of spending a lot of money on electricians. Once they are finished they call the office and I go back and inspect their(or electricians) work. If all is good, we hook their service back up and that's it for a new meter loop.

J Scott · Answer

Agreed that arc fault breakers should cost no more in labor...but they do cost significantly more in materials (2-3x as much). Each county may be different, but at least in Howard County (since you and I are both in Maryland) has adopted the 2011 NEC, with a few minor exceptions. 2011 NEC says: "All 120-volt, single phase, 15- and 20-ampere branch circuits supplying outlets installed in dwelling unit family rooms, dining rooms, living rooms, parlors, libraries, dens, bedrooms, sunrooms, recreation rooms, closets, hallways, or similar rooms or areas shall be protected by a listed arc-fault circuit interrupter, combination-type, installed to provide protection of the branch circuit." Interestingly, 120V smokes are excepted from this requirement, at least in Howard County. So, while not every circuit is required to be either GFCI or AFCI, most now are (again, in Maryland) and some are required to be both. Certainly not arguing with you about the fact that the upgrade should be done...just pointing out that as of last year, it's gotten more expensive than it was in previous years due to codes requiring more expensive materials. Seth (or anyone else) - If you have an inexpensive and reliable electrician in Maryland, I'd love to get his contact info...I've been getting some bids recently for new construction, and all the electricians up here seem to be ridiculously expensive!

J Scott · Answer

Keep in mind that these days, many jurisdictions (including Maryland) will require upgrade to AFCI in many rooms of the house if you're upgrading the panel. AFCI breakers can cost $50+ each, and depending on the size/configuration of the house can double the cost of a service/panel upgrade. In Maryland (and Wisconsin and Georgia, where I do some work), you're probably talking $500 in just materials as of this year...

Account Closed · Answer

arc faults are usually only required for bedrooms, but maybe more. All an arc fault breaker does differently (from an install standpoint) than a normal breaker is run the neutral directly into it. a 2 second procedure. Anyone charging additional to install these over a normal breaker (or attempting to) should be fired/never hired.

Account Closed · Answer

upgrade it, youre talking a new service cable, a new panel, an electrician to pull the permit, and time for the service provider to connect it. panel is 200, service cable 100, electrical to convert panel/pull permit, figure 500-1000. 500 is fair (cash) 1000 is high....and you pay permit cost. reason? upscale neighborhood/2 zone heat. Jacuzzi? worth doing it if you question the power requirements even slightly

Jeff Green · Answer

I agree with Seth. I work for an electric co-op and as an inspector I encourage customers in doubt to upgrade to 200 amps. Its a one time investment and you will never have to worry about not having enough amperage especially in a 1500 sq ft house. I've had customers with concerns about their 150 amp services in the past and I told one customer to turn on everything in their house(all electric, 2000 sq ft) and he literally turned on EVERYTHING. Central Air, every burner on stove, oven, well pump, all lights, dryer, and when I measured the amps at the breaker panel it was about 130 amps on one leg and 110 on the other. So he still had room to spare but like I asked him "What are the odds of you ever having this scenario of everything on?" Thanksgiving and Christmas(cooking,family, etc) would be the closest scenario. But like I said, when in doubt? Upgrade! One less worry and a good selling item.

Account Closed · Answer

if its a upscale neighborhood then yes especially if everything is electric on the house, stove, heat, and hotwater. On 1 of my rental have a 60amp panel and was quoted $1300 to bring it up to a 200 amp panel but 60amp is fine....

Rolanda Eldridge · Answer

@Ibrahim S...200 AMP beneficial(future needs), but I would only upgrade if electrician recommends...if there are enough circuits to cover everything you should be good...100 AMP to 200 AMP can be costly...