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NH.Solar · 06-30-2022, 01:06 PM

Look up at the pole transformer and see if you can spot a two digit number about 8-10 inches high on it, and also note how many homes that transformer is feeding. If it is a single home right now(not including yours) it will likely be a 10kW. If there are multiple homes connected to the transformer then it will likely be a 25kW.
If it is the first case scenario and you are hookiing a second home into a 10 kW transformer you will likely be responsible for the upgrade.
If it is a 25 and there are currently three homes tied into it you will again likely have to foot the bill, but if there are only two the point is arguable. How large a home will it be and how heavy are your loads going to be? Are you going to heating with a minisplit? Will you have an EV charger? If not you might be able to argue an upgrade by downgrading your main electrical panel size. Most new homes are automatically equipped with 200 amp mains but in a lot of cases that is overkill and done mostly to have the luxury of a lot of breaker slots. I believe that a 100 amp service panel is the minimum allowed by NEC code and that would give you twelve circuit breakers, is that enough for your planned home? Talk your anticipated loads over with your electrician carefully.
There are a lot of neat tricks that can be applied through a solar application that can provide much more power than a transformer limitation can provide and we frequently legally employ them, but only as a benefit and never as a dodge. Upgrading the transformer will probably be your least expensive option as a start.

06-30-2022, 01:06 PM	#9
NH.Solar Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2017 Location: Jackson Pond, New Hampton Posts: 210 Thanks: 37 Thanked 128 Times in 69 Posts	Look up at the pole transformer and see if you can spot a two digit number about 8-10 inches high on it, and also note how many homes that transformer is feeding. If it is a single home right now(not including yours) it will likely be a 10kW. If there are multiple homes connected to the transformer then it will likely be a 25kW. If it is the first case scenario and you are hookiing a second home into a 10 kW transformer you will likely be responsible for the upgrade. If it is a 25 and there are currently three homes tied into it you will again likely have to foot the bill, but if there are only two the point is arguable. How large a home will it be and how heavy are your loads going to be? Are you going to heating with a minisplit? Will you have an EV charger? If not you might be able to argue an upgrade by downgrading your main electrical panel size. Most new homes are automatically equipped with 200 amp mains but in a lot of cases that is overkill and done mostly to have the luxury of a lot of breaker slots. I believe that a 100 amp service panel is the minimum allowed by NEC code and that would give you twelve circuit breakers, is that enough for your planned home? Talk your anticipated loads over with your electrician carefully. There are a lot of neat tricks that can be applied through a solar application that can provide much more power than a transformer limitation can provide and we frequently legally employ them, but only as a benefit and never as a dodge. Upgrading the transformer will probably be your least expensive option as a start. __________________ Peter NH Solar Last edited by NH.Solar; 06-30-2022 at 04:38 PM.