200A Panel Upgrade

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jeff48356

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Livonia, Michigan
I just looked at a possible job today where the customer bought a house last winter (built in 1962), and it still had the original 100A overhead service drop, meter base, and #2 SEU cable (all worn and frayed). He pulled the meter, changed the panel to a 40-space Square-D Homeline 200A by himself, then put the meter back in place. None of the other work that goes along with a service upgrade has been done. Now he's talking about replacing the SEU cable due to its condition. I explained to him that now that he's installed a 200A panel, in order to do a true 200A upgrade, he would need to get DTE Energy involved so they can trench a new underground service to the house; they no longer upgrade overhead drops. He doesn't want to go to that extra expense, so I told him the best I can do is 150A using the existing drop. Easy enough, but the issue is the new panel itself. My question is, would it be legal to replace the main breaker with a 150A, then go ahead with the 150A upgrade? I don't see a problem since the panel itself is rated at 200A. My understanding is that I can install a breaker less than the panel rating, but not more. Is that correct?
 
You are correct but do you really want to get involved in that mess? If I did do this job I would install a new meter & riser & service conductors to the existing panel.
 
jeff48356 said:
I just looked at a possible job today where the customer bought a house last winter (built in 1962), and it still had the original 100A overhead service drop, meter base, and #2 SEU cable (all worn and frayed). He pulled the meter, changed the panel to a 40-space Square-D Homeline 200A by himself, then put the meter back in place. None of the other work that goes along with a service upgrade has been done. Now he's talking about replacing the SEU cable due to its condition. I explained to him that now that he's installed a 200A panel, in order to do a true 200A upgrade, he would need to get DTE Energy involved so they can trench a new underground service to the house; they no longer upgrade overhead drops. He doesn't want to go to that extra expense, so I told him the best I can do is 150A using the existing drop. Easy enough, but the issue is the new panel itself. My question is, would it be legal to replace the main breaker with a 150A, then go ahead with the 150A upgrade? I don't see a problem since the panel itself is rated at 200A. My understanding is that I can install a breaker less than the panel rating, but not more. Is that correct?
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So the POCO will allow a 150 amp servcie on the existing drop but not a 200 amp? Around here they typically leave the old drop if the existing service was 100 amps. Yes you can replace the main CB with a 150 amp and the SE cable to make it into a 150 amp service.
 
Dennis Alwon said:
You are correct but do you really want to get involved in that mess? If I did do this job I would install a new meter & riser & service conductors to the existing panel.
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Yes, of course, I would do the complete job as if I'm doing a routine 150A service upgrade, with a permit and all. Just wanted to make sure it's legal to use a 150A main in that panel as long as I do all the rest of the work typically involved (meter, riser, weather head, 2/0 SEU cable, grounding system, etc.)
 
You might want to check with your power company before making a commitment.

One of the POCOs in the KC area (Independence Power and Light - IPL) requires all new services to be underground, and they will not reconnect an overhead drop if the meter can gets replaced except in rare cases. They will allow the OH drop to remain only if the meter can does not get removed.
 
James L said:
You might want to check with your power company before making a commitment.

One of the POCOs in the KC area (Independence Power and Light - IPL) requires all new services to be underground, and they will not reconnect an overhead drop if the meter can gets replaced except in rare cases. They will allow the OH drop to remain only if the meter can does not get removed.
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DTE Energy (Detroit area) doesn't care about any of that. In fact, it's the electrician's responsibility to disconnect/reconnect the service drop in nearly all cases.
 
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