My realtor suggested that I upgrade to 200 watt service so I went to the hardware store and bought a new 200 amp breaker box and plan to install it tomorrow morning. I've never done anything pertaining to electricity in my life, and I really don't want to hire a professional. Do I just remove one wire at a time and wrap it with that black tape?
2006-08-23 09:16:56 · 17 answers · asked by I'm that asshole down the st 1 in Home & Garden ➔ Do It Yourself (DIY)
From what you wrote, you are a dead person. I cannot recommend highly enough that you need someone qualified to do the work. There is a LOT more involved besides just swapping electrical boxes.
I hope you've had fun on Earth. Good by.
2006-08-23 09:31:33 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Besides all the good answers that this should only be done by an electrician (even someone experienced with some electrical work should not be doing anything with the service!), I would say there is probably no reason to upgrade to begin with. I would ignore most things said by a realtor. Are you adding electrical loads that would need a bigger service? Are you having problems with tripping the main breaker? If no to both, you do not need a service upgrade.
2006-08-24 10:07:33 · answer #2 · answered by An electrical engineer 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Sweet mother of the unholy....tell me this is a joke.
Most people who have no experience in electricity would ask a question like, "How do I replace a fluorescent bulb?"
......you on the other hand are going to rewire an entire cabinet, change the overhead feeder, balance the phase loads, change out the grounding electrode conductor, upgrade any existing code requirements, and pull in a new 4/0 main, all without contacting the utility company or pulling a permit.
You do know that electricity can hurt you, don't you?
First of all, you have to pull a permit...and you need a licensed electrician to do that....or, some locals have tests you can take to do your own wiring (to ensure that you dont kill yourself.)......it sounds to me like you might not pass that test, so you might as well save yourself the time and just go downstairs and start eating some live wires.
2006-08-23 16:55:01 · answer #3 · answered by rheins2000 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Well, it sounds like your going to learn all of what an electrician would NOT do in one day...
If you don't kill youself doing this (which is likely, since you haven't mentioned having the power company turn off the electricity) you will probably end up frying some or all of your system and possibly burning your house down (and here's the kicker, your hazard insurance won't cover said fire because the electrical work wasn't done by a licensed electrician).
Just pay the electrician to install the box, it will save you money in the long run....
2006-08-23 16:47:24 · answer #4 · answered by Ro-bot 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Does your realtor deal with cemetary plots?...She might give you a 2 for 1.
You will die. Electricity always flows through the dumbest person in the room first and it might arc to you from 3 blocks away.
"that black tape" ?!!?!....you mean electrical tape. Goodness. That alone should convince you of your impending doom.
May God have mercy on your soul, because the 200 Amps that will soon be coursing through your paralyzed body will not.
2006-08-23 20:51:03 · answer #5 · answered by Janna R 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Do yourself a favour and get someone who knows what they are doing. You will be working in a breaker box with probably 100 or 200 amps present. You could kill yourself very easily. If not killing yourself you could set your house on fire. Electricity is nothing to play around with. Replacing circuit breakers is easy but you have to have the proper one and know how to do it.
Spend the bucks.
2006-08-23 16:22:08 · answer #6 · answered by Jerry Dee 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
this is not easy task and risky i'm electrician you have to know what you doing it's no mistake there i suggest only professional can do that you need inspecttor in your area you have to notify hydro company and insurance won't like that this kind of work you not allowed to do if tou have licence.there isa100 amp service which comes as overhead line or goes under ground whe you want to switch to 200 amps sometimes they have to upgrade lines everything depends so think twice and be careful sometimes you need wright tools and expierence remember you got only one life now
2006-08-23 16:26:23 · answer #7 · answered by george p 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Lets see...
Potential risks, fire, death, serious injury, future nightmares with electrical loads, all this to save a couple hundred bucks. Kind of reminds me of the dead guy lying in the drive way crushed under his car because the brake guy wanted a hundred bucks to reline his brakes. He told his wife, I can do it, what's so hard about putting brakes on a car. Well you need tools, training, and safety equipment to do a professionals job and without them you are just another amateur taking a big risk to save a buck.
2006-08-23 16:27:25 · answer #8 · answered by yes_its_me 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
a good way to kill yourself, you need to have the power turned off at the main feed ( only the electric company can do this, also you need to " balance the load" on your home wiring it isnt as simple as one wire at a time with out any home wiring knowledge, most licenced electrician work on the side for cash
2006-08-23 16:20:56 · answer #9 · answered by rich2481 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Jot down the # for the fire dept and have someone handy to make the call. May want to dial 911 and give them a heads up .
Are you insane?
2006-08-23 17:41:26 · answer #10 · answered by Papa John 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋