How Many Amp Service Do You Have

Kamper · 09-23-2016, 04:38 PM

Here's a few things I've noticed... I am NOT an expert)

An old house in Nashua, with fuses, that needed to be brought up to code per the lender had the slots for the major switch left vacant and a small box installed under the meter. I suppose a redundant cut-off could have been put in if desired but I wasn't part of that conversation.

There is a tool that looks a lot like a limb cutter whose function is to cut a live-wire at the pole. I have seen these used at fires, perhaps because the meter was inaccessible or an exterior switch was not apparent.

And now a question... (not a job I would try myself)

I have 100amp service. Changing to 200 amps would make some things easier for me, like installing central air, without having to drop anything like the hot-tub. Do I need to get a second meter for that? I have heard it both ways. Any recent

Hot-Tub and A/C are wife's ideas. "If mama aint happy, aint nobody happy!"

wifi · 09-23-2016, 08:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kamper

I have 100amp service. Changing to 200 amps would make some things easier for me, like installing central air...

I have 60A service and I have a mini split cooling my very mini mansion, no blown fuses in many years. Its all how you use it, not the size of the, errr, breaker

ursa minor · 09-23-2016, 08:32 PM

Kamper, usually an upgrade like that will mean changing out your entire service entry cable, meter socket and main panel. There's a pretty big difference in the conductor size from 100 to 200 amps for starters. Definitely not a DYI project.

Sure wouldn't want to be the guy cutting a live service with that tool. Having cut a live wire with my linesmans pliers once " back in the day", it gets your attention!

Kamper · 09-24-2016, 09:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ursa minor

... Definitely not a DYI project. ...

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kamper

... (not a job I would try myself) ...

Thanks for your support!

09-23-2016, 08:32 PM	#3
ursa minor Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Tuftonborough & Franklin MA Posts: 265 Thanks: 97 Thanked 143 Times in 64 Posts	Kamper, usually an upgrade like that will mean changing out your entire service entry cable, meter socket and main panel. There's a pretty big difference in the conductor size from 100 to 200 amps for starters. Definitely not a DYI project. Sure wouldn't want to be the guy cutting a live service with that tool. Having cut a live wire with my linesmans pliers once " back in the day", it gets your attention! __________________ " Any day with a boat ride in it is a good day"

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09-23-2016, 04:38 PM	#1
Kamper Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Thornton's Ferry Posts: 1,314 Thanks: 67 Thanked 172 Times in 128 Posts	Here's a few things I've noticed... I am NOT an expert) An old house in Nashua, with fuses, that needed to be brought up to code per the lender had the slots for the major switch left vacant and a small box installed under the meter. I suppose a redundant cut-off could have been put in if desired but I wasn't part of that conversation. There is a tool that looks a lot like a limb cutter whose function is to cut a live-wire at the pole. I have seen these used at fires, perhaps because the meter was inaccessible or an exterior switch was not apparent. And now a question... (not a job I would try myself) I have 100amp service. Changing to 200 amps would make some things easier for me, like installing central air, without having to drop anything like the hot-tub. Do I need to get a second meter for that? I have heard it both ways. Any recent Hot-Tub and A/C are wife's ideas. "If mama aint happy, aint nobody happy!"