Another blinking light

[gadfly56]

Presuming there was also an increase in size in service drop or lateral which was a big factor in reducing voltage drop?

Actually, no. I had originally intended to put in a 200 amp panel, but my electrician said that the overhead conductors wouldn't support more than a 150 amp panel; that, or a new meter would have had to have been installed, or both. In any event, there was no upgrade to the service conductors.

 

[Little Bill]

Actually, no. I had originally intended to put in a 200 amp panel, but my electrician said that the overhead conductors wouldn't support more than a 150 amp panel; that, or a new meter would have had to have been installed, or both. In any event, there was no upgrade to the service conductors.

It's not up to the electrician to determine overhead conductor size, that's up to the POCO.

It's usually cheaper to get a 200A panel because they are most common.

 

[kwired]

Actually, no. I had originally intended to put in a 200 amp panel, but my electrician said that the overhead conductors wouldn't support more than a 150 amp panel; that, or a new meter would have had to have been installed, or both. In any event, there was no upgrade to the service conductors.

It's not up to the electrician to determine overhead conductor size, that's up to the POCO.

It's usually cheaper to get a 200A panel because they are most common.

Many POCO's won't upgrade the drop if the load hasn't changed. If you were adding electric heat or some other significant load, and tell them about it, they might increase the drop size. If you are putting in a 320 meter they might ask if you are increasing load, but a 200 amp meter they don't even think about it most cases.

 

[gadfly56]

It's not up to the electrician to determine overhead conductor size, that's up to the POCO.

It's usually cheaper to get a 200A panel because they are most common.

I can only assume that he knew what he is talking about; that's why I hired him. Since I wasn't adding a spa or anything I didn't push it. Even if I was adding a spa, the 150 was probably plenty.

 

[kwired]

I can only assume that he knew what he is talking about; that's why I hired him. Since I wasn't adding a spa or anything I didn't push it. Even if I was adding a spa, the 150 was probably plenty.

If your blinking light problem was minimized you probably had poor connections that got replaced or re-made then that were a factor in the voltage dropping.

 

[growler]

My previous home had a 1930's vintage 60 amp fuse panel. Every time I ran the washer, the (incandescent) lights in the whole house would blink in time with the agitator. When I upgraded to a 150 amp panel and put the washer on a dedicated breaker, that nonsense stopped.

If your blinking light problem was minimized you probably had poor connections that got replaced or re-made then that were a factor in the voltage dropping.

When you go from a 60 amp service to a 150 amp service you don't just upgrade the panel the entire service has to be upgraded so as Kwired says there is a good chance that the original problem (loose connection ) was repaired during the upgrade.

 

[gadfly56]

When you go from a 60 amp service to a 150 amp service you don't just upgrade the panel the entire service has to be upgraded so as Kwired says there is a good chance that the original problem (loose connection ) was repaired during the upgrade.

That's entirely possible. I had noticed on the fuse panel that several fuse locations were double-tapped. Replacing a porcelain fixture one time I got bit by 70 volts coming from somewhere even though I had removed the fuse from the circuit I thought was the correct one. I'd had a radio plugged into the fixture with an adapter. When it went quiet I thought I was good to go. Lesson learned; always check for voltage with the proper instrument.