How much will an electrical panel upgrade cost plus a ground wire installed?

Question

My home was built in the mid 1950s. Everytime I plug my portable heater, my power goes out and I have to reset the circuit breaker. I know I need to get my electrical panel upgraded. How much should I expect to pay for a decent panel. I also don't have a ground wire and technically should not have three prong outlets hooked up. How much will having a ground wire ran throught my house cost? My house is on a raised foundation if the matters. Please have the figure include professional installation and not just the parts. Thank you for any info you can provide.

Answer 1

Depending on your area there are many variables that could drastically affect the cost of the installation. But an average cost for a 100amp upgrade with new meter, mast, service head, 20 circuit panel w/main breaker, grounding and local permit fees is typically around $800.00, homes larger than 2000 square feet would require a 200amp service upgrade per the NEC. This would be approximately double the cost. As for the grounding, you should be able to change out the device to a three prong double duplex receptacle and connect the common bare copper ground already installed to the green ground terminal (Not the neutral wire, which is usually colored white). If your home is in conduit your ground path is the metal conduit therefore the screw which holds the receptacle in place also bonds the 3rd prong to ground.

Answer 2

We just had this exact work done 2 weeks ago. Our 1954 1200sf house had an old 60 amp fuse box. This was upgraded to 200 amp breaker box which was also relocated to the side of the house since the patchwork of old service panels and service mast were on and above the deck on the back of the house and did not meet code (not to mention ugly). Our electricians also grounded all outlets and installed new smoke detectors so that we would meet code. They spent three days under and around the house running new wires and relocating old ones. The total cost was $1700. Your location may be different as we are in NC. Get a few opinions and don't automatically go with the lowest bid. Ask lots of specific questions. We had bids from $700-$2700, and opted to go with someone in the middle who listened to what I wanted and offered great suggestions. Go with the one who will do it the way you want but also do it right. Good luck.

Answer 3

You can end up with some very serious problems by not wiring a sub panel properly.If you have a twenty and thirty ckt there will be a difference of 10 amps.If the sub panel is bonded to the neutral from the main panel, the sub panel box can be electrically live and be a very dangerous shock hazard, even if the sub is just a 120 volt system and u r pulling say 25 amps with the neutral tied to the sub panel box then yes the sub box can/will be live to ground. That is why the code says the neutral MUST be insulated/isolated from the ground or metal enclosure of the sub panel the sub panel box

Answer 4

These people here do NOT listen! #1 if blowing a breaker for a space heater is mostly what bothers you all you need is one seperate circuit for that heater or keep other things turned off while running it. Next, If you just want your panle changed but not all the outside wiring down the house from the pole you can get that for $400 if you find a guy on the side, if you want the entrance cable all the way down the wall outside (the whole deal) then you might pay $800-900 ... as far as the grounding that is more difficulkt as they said ... but some poeple just run a ground all around their basement or crawlspace and fish a little ground wire down to it or run a small wire from their plugs down and wrap it around a water pipe although this is not a perfect fix, good luck!

Answer 5

Expect to pay between $1800 and $2500 for a 200 amp panel and the existing circuits switched over...but pulling new wire with a ground is a harder thing to call, because that depends on how accessable things are, how many circuits, re-wiring outlets, etc...

Answer 6

depends on your area .you need the whole upgrade. The labor is the big part of it . It's a lot of work to bring it up to "code" I'guess in my area $2500 & up.