Panel upgrade question

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elewis33

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Utah
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Project Manager
My main electrical panel is outside on a covered patio, it's probably circa 1970 and has 20 spaces and I have 100 amp service. I want to upgrade the panel so I can clean things up and get more space to add circuits in the future. I'd like to go to a 40 space panel but most of those, suited for outdoor use, seem to be rated for 200 amp service.

If I intend to stay with 100 amp service, can I use an outdoor panel rated for 200 amps and only put a 100 amp main breaker in it? And as most of you have probably sorted out by now, I'm not an electrician but want to be educated when I talk to my professional electrician about the installation. Thank you.
 
I allowed this question because you are not trying to do this yourself, which is not allowed here.

Yes, you can use any size Main breaker in a panel up to and including the rating if the panel. So a 100A Main in a panel rated for 200A is fine.

A licensed electrician can better advise you on the issue of whether you can keep increasing the number of loads to your 100A service though, that’s a more complex issue than just whether there is a spot in the panel for the breakers.
 
Jraef said:
I allowed this question because you are not trying to do this yourself, which is not allowed here.

Yes, you can use any size Main breaker in a panel up to and including the rating if the panel. So a 100A Main in a panel rated for 200A is fine.

A licensed electrician can better advise you on the issue of whether you can keep increasing the number of loads to your 100A service though, that’s a more complex issue than just whether there is a spot in the panel for the breakers.
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Thanks for allowing the question and your response, it's greatly appreciated.
 
elewis33 said:
My main electrical panel is outside on a covered patio, it's probably circa 1970 and has 20 spaces and I have 100 amp service. I want to upgrade the panel so I can clean things up and get more space to add circuits in the future. I'd like to go to a 40 space panel but most of those, suited for outdoor use, seem to be rated for 200 amp service.

If I intend to stay with 100 amp service, can I use an outdoor panel rated for 200 amps and only put a 100 amp main breaker in it? And as most of you have probably sorted out by now, I'm not an electrician but want to be educated when I talk to my professional electrician about the installation. Thank you.
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Hi Earl, I have literally done a thousand or better service upgrades.
If I am picturing what you are describing your electric meter is right beside the main panel. (A pic would've been helpful) It cost about the same to go to a 200A service.
Do you have underground service from the pole or overhead?
If your service is overhead you'll need to change the service conductors in the mast to be rated for 200A. The meter base will need to be changed to 200A. The grounding electrode to the water main may need to be upsized. You probably do not even have one.
If your service is underground the power compmpany bases their wire size on the load you have used. Not the 200A breaker. So on their end they may not change any thing. Not unless you're adding a bunch of KW (watts) used.
You should give a call to your power company engineer. They'll come out for free and verify what I have just described.
 
Buck Parrish said:
Hi Earl, I have literally done a thousand or better service upgrades.
If I am picturing what you are describing your electric meter is right beside the main panel. (A pic would've been helpful) It cost about the same to go to a 200A service.
Do you have underground service from the pole or overhead?
If your service is overhead you'll need to change the service conductors in the mast to be rated for 200A. The meter base will need to be changed to 200A. The grounding electrode to the water main may need to be upsized. You probably do not even have one.
If your service is underground the power compmpany bases their wire size on the load you have used. Not the 200A breaker. So on their end they may not change any thing. Not unless you're adding a bunch of KW (watts) used.
You should give a call to your power company engineer. They'll come out for free and verify what I have just described.
Click to expand...
I appreciate your response Buck. I have overhead power and it was recently upgraded because we had a PV solar system installed a couple years ago. I believe the meter base is "200 amp ready", because it's brand new (Rocky Mountain Power upgraded to smart meters in the last 3 months) and I checked some specs on the model. Here are a couple photos of the current installation. FYI, I took the cover off the panel to send photos to an electrician. It's not like that all the time. And again, I'm asking my question here so I can talk with my electrician as an informed customer. Thank you so much. I appreciate the answers although I'm not an electrician. Oh, and yeah, that's an indoor panel in an outdoor location. This is probably from the 70s so who knows what the standards were then. IMG_1109.JPGIMG_1159.JPGIMG_1110.JPG
 
That looks like a 200A feed thru meter combo panel. They'll remove the 100A and set a 200A one beside the meter combo.
I would probably lower it to the same heighth as the meter panel. (not required) It's ussually going to cost about $1499.33
plus permit fees.
 
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