Adding a new breaker panel to a building.

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Ace18

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I am installing some new refrigeration and HVAC equipment on an older existing building. I plan to have an electrician install a new 200A breaker panel just for this equipment. My question is, does this new breaker panel have to branch off the existing breaker panel in the building? If so it will have to be upsized also. Or can the new breaker panel be tied in at the meter, eliminating the need to upsize the original breaker panel?
 
480sparky

480sparky

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Location
Iowegia
Without know what you have for switchgear (meters, MCCs, MDPs, etc), it's hard to answer your questions.

But if you're going to hire an electrician to install the panel, why not just them him worry about all this?
 
mcclary's electrical

mcclary's electrical

Senior Member
Location
VA
There's no way of knowing if the aditional 200 will push the service over the edge without load calcs. on the entire building, and knowing the existing service size. If he's pushing to do the job without a service upgrade, it's probably because he has no license. If he's pushing you for a service upgrade, he's probably basing it on a NEC load calc.
 
augie47

augie47

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Tennessee
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State Electrical Inspector (Retired)
If, as you mention, the existing panel is unable to carry the added load (by making this a sub-panel), there is almost no chance "fix" will be as simple as "tying into the meter". Although, the 2nd panel can often be added without replacing the 1st provided you don't violate 230.71 & 230.72, both the meter socket (unless it's CT) and service conductors supplying the meter socket would need to be upgraded to carry the added load
 
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Ace18

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augie47 said:
If, as you mention, the existing panel is unable to carry the added load (by making this a sub-panel), there is almost no chance "fix" will be as simple as "tying into the meter". Although, the 2nd panel can often be added without replacing the 1st provided you don't violate 230.71 & 230.72, both the meter socket (unless it's CT) and service conductors supplying the meter socket would need to be upgraded to carry the added load
Click to expand...

Thanks. I have a feeling the power company will have to get involved in this one. This is an old 3 bay garage that is being turned into a convenience store.
 
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Ace18

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I need to give the electrician some info so he can size the breaker panel, should I add up the MCA or MOPD to give him the total?
 
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Ace18

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he will need the info long before I get the equipment. But, I can get the info from the manufactures website. So will he need MCA or MOCD of all the equipment?
 
augie47

augie47

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Tennessee
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State Electrical Inspector (Retired)
If it were me I would want both. Unless you are handling ALL equipment, I would think the E/C and POCO will want a list of ALL equipment.
A lot of counter equipment (coffee makers, micro, etc) need to be taken into consideration.
Unless it's just (heaven forbid) a small mom & pop place, engineering drawings are are wise.
I've seen a number of disasters start like this :)
 
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Ace18

Member
augie47 said:
If it were me I would want both. Unless you are handling ALL equipment, I would think the E/C and POCO will want a list of ALL equipment.
A lot of counter equipment (coffee makers, micro, etc) need to be taken into consideration.
Unless it's just (heaven forbid) a small mom & pop place, engineering drawings are are wise.
I've seen a number of disasters start like this :)
Click to expand...

It is a small mom and pop store.
 
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