What makes a residential breaker panel rated at 200 vs. 100? (i.e. available slots only?)?

Question

for clarification, if I have 4/0 aluminum feed coming into a 100A-rated panel, what is limiting me from replacing the main breaker with a 200A one and adding a subpanel (with right-sized feed) to expand the available slots?

Again, what is the difference in the panel construction that makes a 200A electrical panel better than a 100A panel. that is the main thrust of my question.

Answer 1

Nice initials, by the way)

There are several factors that contribute to the size of an electrical panel. You already mentioned the first one. The panel is rated in the number of breakers you can put into it, but other factors are the size of the bus, and the main disconnect in the panel.
Other things that affect the size of a panel are the size of the service coming into the house. This includes the size of the wire and the meter actually bring power into the panel.

Answer 2

You are better off switching to a 200 Amp panel with the maximum number of breakers.
THEN:
1- You will need to pull the meter in order to make the change.
(Electricians Job)
2- If the 200 Amp panel is not big enough (30 to 40 single spaces) then you add a sub panel (60 Amp) with 6 to 8 single spaces that is fed from a 60 Amp 2-pole breaker in the Main Load Center.
3- A good job done right the first time will save you a lot of trouble. Good Luck ! ! !

Answer 3

The current available to be used in a residence is determined by the size of the service entrance cable, the electric meter and by the main circuit breaker. The ratings of all of these devices should match. The easiest way to determine the size of the electric service is to read the value of the main breaker in the breaker panel. It is almost always located at the top of the panel and it's rating is usually stamped on the handle.
You CAN NOT add up the values of all of the individual breakers to obtain a value for the electric service available. A 200 amp main breaker may be in a panel with thirty or forty 15 or 20 amp breakers for the individual house circuits. Obviously they can not all be carrying maximum current at the same time but their main purpose is to protect the wiring and electrical devices in case of a local overload.

Answer 4

The 4/0 aluminum wire size is correct for 200 amp service. You need to make certain that the service panel, mainly the buss bar (the metal bar that circuit breakers plug into) is rated for 200 amp service. There should be a label on the panel door which will tell you the boxes rating. If the box is rated for 200 amp, you then need to contact your power company to temporarily disconnect the service so you can safely make the change.

Answer 5

it's the amount of amps the breaker can handle. each slot has a maximum number of ampage that it can hold. And the total summed together is the maximum for the breaker panel.