Custom Home Nightmare

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sgr1

Senior Member
This is a 3 year old custom built home about 3000 sq ft. plus. I haven't done a load calc yet. It has a 200A service. All of the breakers are full and some of them have two an one has three wires on it. It has 2 electric water heaters 2 AC units. 3 Bathrooms.4 bedrooms. It has a porch on three side with lights and ceiling fans. A swimming pool and sauna.
The panel is in the garage and no easy access to it other than cutting Sheetrock. Most of the wire is run in #12 except for the ones that go the farthest and they are #14. on 15A breakers.
This guy wants it fixed but all I can think to do is RUN I'm more of a commericial industrial guy.
What do you think?
 
peter d

peter d

Senior Member
Location
New England
It's impossible to provide an answer to this problem without a load calculation. That is the only sure footing that you have.

What exactly does the owner want "fixed?"
 
Rockyd

Rockyd

Senior Member
Location
Nevada
Occupation
Retired after 40 years as an electrician.
Are your bidding skills being shopped, to get a cheapy in behind you, or is this a ligit project you want to take on, providing the money is right?
 
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sgr1

Senior Member
Think he is is legit. It's tripping breakers. I'm going to do a load calc first though. That's what I was thinking of doing replacing the breakers with split breakers so it only has one wire pre breaker and putting the load on and check the amps.
 
Dennis Alwon

Dennis Alwon

Moderator
Staff member
Location
Chapel Hill, NC
Occupation
Retired Electrical Contractor
If breakers are tripping it has nothing to do with the service size unless the main is tripping. I seriously doubt you have a service size problem unless you have electric heat with all the items mentioned above.
 
C

ctmike

Senior Member
sgr1 said:
Think he is is legit. It's tripping breakers. I'm going to do a load calc first though. That's what I was thinking of doing replacing the breakers with split breakers so it only has one wire pre breaker and putting the load on and check the amps.
Click to expand...

Maybe a sub pannel first then you could check the load.
 
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sgr1

Senior Member
This house is so cut up in the attic. some of the parts you can't get to. It has cathedral ceiling everywhere. If I need to replace some wiring do I just need to cut the Sheetrock until I can get it through?
 
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sgr1

Senior Member
Bradley if I did that which I might be able to then I would have to change out the meter base also. Change it to a 400A
 
T

Teaspoon

Senior Member
Location
Camden,Tn.
I agree with Dennis, If the main is not tripping. you probably don't have a service over load. A load calculation can tell you the answer to this question.
If you are in tolerance on your load calculation.
You are ready to tackle the problem.I would definately get every circuit on it's own breaker. Tandem breakers might help if the panel will accept them.
A small sub panel might also be an option.If your load calculation comes up close to 80% of the rated load , Iwould be thinking Up-Grade
 
cadpoint

cadpoint

Senior Member
Location
Durham, NC
Teaspoon said:
...

I would definately get every circuit on it's own breaker. Tandem breakers might help if the panel will accept them.
A small sub panel might also be an option.If your load calculation comes up close to 80% of the rated load , Iwould be thinking Up-Grade
Click to expand...

Now if every space is full and if they touch this panel where does this leave them in respects to AFCI's ? ...

Do they have the orginal house circuit layout > ?
 
electricalperson

electricalperson

Senior Member
Location
massachusetts
how about adding in a 60 amp subpanel right next to it and running a piece of 6/3 romex to feed it and put a bunch of circuits inside of it to free up the doubled and tripled up breakers. you can probably just cut out a big piece of sheetrock and he would just have to get it repaired later
 
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sgr1

Senior Member
cadpoint your right. If I uprade this panel. This house would have been wired based on 2005 and they didn't even do that no gfi outside. No plug at AC. No Disconnect on the electric water heaters. there is 5 regular plugs outside. This whole house is a mess.
 
cadpoint

cadpoint

Senior Member
Location
Durham, NC
sgr1 said:
cadpoint your right. If I uprade this panel. This house would have been wired based on 2005 and they didn't even do that no gfi outside. No plug at AC. No Disconnect on the electric water heaters. there is 5 regular plugs outside. This whole house is a mess.
Click to expand...


My Father always said, you can't do much without a road map! (in speaking of electronic's/electrical work)


Your mind or on paper, its just work!
Besides, as long as your not dreaming about it, I don't see the horror :wink:
 
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