I have a 3000 sf home with a service panel that has a 200amp breaker. I want to install a 80 amp subpanel on the patio to supply 4 20 amp circuits. I am planning to hire a contractor to do the work. I want it done correctly and the question is do I need to upgrade the electrical service entrance and is there a calculator online to verify this? Just calling around I have heard no but one guy said yes and it through me off.
Electric Service Entrance upgrade
- Thread starter antonyeo
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- Location
- Lockport, IL
- Occupation
- Semi-Retired Electrical Engineer
There is a residential load calculation spreadsheet within the "Free Stuff" at Mike Holt's main web site. There is a link to that site at the top of this page. But you need to know what you are doing, including what loads have to be counted and whether you enter them as a number of appliances or an amount of VA, in order to make use of the spreadsheet. Your electrical contractor should be able to do that. I did a quick look, and assuming you don't have anything unusual (such as a swimming pool and six separate air conditioning units), I think it likely that your existing service can handle this added load (four 20 amp circuits) without any difficulty. But in order to get the project installed, the inspector is likely to want to see a calculation that proves the load will not be too much for the existing service.
That said, I am closing this thread, in accordance with forum rules. This forum is not intended to be used by persons who are not members of the electrical industry.
That said, I am closing this thread, in accordance with forum rules. This forum is not intended to be used by persons who are not members of the electrical industry.
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