what is involved in changing a 100amp service panel to a 150 or 200 amp service panel?

Question

or at least just changing old one

Answer 1

I will echo the safety precautions you have been given by your previous respondents. I am assuming that you are going to have the work inspected and that your power company has disconnected the service back at the line. If you are going to upgrade the service you will need to start at the panel and go to the service entrance. Your wires for an upgrade will not fit in the standard conduit for a 100 Amp Service. If your service comes in overhead from the power pole on the street you will have to change your weatherhead, conduit, wires, and panel. Sizes of course will depend on the size of service you are installing. Ground wires may also have to be upgraded. If your state allows you to do your own work you could do it. The purpose of the inspection is to be sure that you have done it right. By all means DO NOT attempt this project if the power has not been disconnected by the power company at the power pole and you are not having your work inspected. The very fact you had to ask what needs to be done shows you don't have the knowledge and experience for this major of a job without a safety net described above. Then, of course, you have to rewire all of your circuits into the new panel and breakers being sure to mark the circuitsin the box and properly attaching hot leads, neutral lead and ground wires for the circuits. Be sure the bare ground copper wires are isolated on different wiring blocks than the white neutral wires. If the electrician whooriginally wired the home used any white wires for hot leads be sure you tape them with black tape and connect them as they came out of the old panel. If you are not 100% certain that you understand your project PLEASE do not attempt this job. Good luck.

Answer 2

This is not for amatuers - there are serious consequences if you do it wrong. Someone could lose a life, or a property could burn down.

All of the requirements are spelled out in the National Electric Code. Your city/county may have additional requirements above and beyond. (Taunton Press has a good series of books called "Code Check" for electric, plumbing, mechanical etc. that can give you an overview. But don't try to exchange a panel unless you *really* know what you are doing.)

Having said that, consult or hire a licensed electrician. To save money, hire a retired one or someone who can do it as a side job.

You will probably need to pull a permit from your city or county. You also need to contact your electric utility. If they are smart, they won't re-energize your panel until they see your completed and signed permit.

Upgrading the service panel requires an initial assessment to see what circuits you have (how many, what capacities, etc.) If you have old fuses, they all have to go. If you have circuit breakers, maybe some of them can be reused, but if they are old, get rid of them. If you have any circuits wet areas (kitchen counters, bathroms, outdoors, and some other areas) you'll need to have GFCI breakers - either remote, or in the main panel. Each situation is unique - it's impossible to be more specific.

You will need to understand bonding and grounding to properly connect the new panel. You might need to install a new copper rod in the ground, and large diameter copper wire to bond the panel. Depending on your cold water and gas piping, there will be additional grounding requirements.

You may or will have purchase:
- new input meter housing
- new input (mains) breaker panel
- new distribution panel for all the breakers
- new circuit breakers for existing circuits, as determined by initial assessment.
- new input cables from your meter housing to the utility pole
- and lots of other incidentals specific to your application (conduit, weatherhead, etc etc etc.)

As said before, it's not a job for amateurs. Do it wrong and it could kill you. Consult and hire a licensed, insured electrician.

Be careful and safe.

I am *not* an electrician, nor am I in the building trades, so I have nothing to gain by recommending one. If anyone tells you it's easy to do, they are misleading you.

I just don't want to see anyone get hurt.

Answer 3

150 & 200 are different. choose which one you are doing then you will need to change the following:
1. the wires that go from the utility pole(where the meter is-maybe on side of house) to the circuit breaker panel. more power=bigger wires.
2. change the circuit breaker panel. different panels are rated at different amounts of power.
3. depending on where you are. this may require permits/be done by licenesed electricians.
4. rewire the new panel.
there will be very little difference in cost between 150 & 200 so if you're going to spend that kinda money go for the 200

Answer 4

As Tom above has said, please hire an electrician for changing a panel. There is major work involved and all existing wiring will have to be bought up to code. From the lines off the street to the mast to the meter, all breakers, ratings on interior wiring, grounds, ground fault breakers,dedicated lines and on and on. A service upgrade permit is required by law. If the person doing the job is not a licensed electrician expect major problems with the electrical inspectors.

Answer 5

An electrician who is licensed and certified. When my Dad and I wired our camp, he called in the expert to do the service panel.

Answer 6

You really need a professional here.. Look in the yellow pages. This a not do it yourself unless your are very qualified.

Answer 7

THIS IS WHY ELECTRICIANS MAKE THE BIG BUCKS!! do the job wrong and your house burns down maybe killing your family!!! HIRE A PROFESSIONAL SO YOU CAN SLEEP WELL @ NIGHT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!