Electricians - IN HERE!!!!

[tonkadawg]

Alright, so I got my new lighting system installed and I have started testing it. Problem is, when I have everything running, the breaker trips. In my box, I have two open slots, so I am going to add some more breakers. My question is this, can I add whatever amp breaker I need or am I limited to the amount of power that comes in to the house? IE - I have 750 amps coming in to the house, and I currently have a total of 720 amps in breakers, therefore I can only add an additional of 30 more amps.

-hope that makes sense -

Thanks

[scottw]

Correct, you can only run what you have avaiable. so if I were you, go with 1 30amp vs 1 20amp and 1 10amp.

You will just have to run the wire from the box to the wall where you want to add the new line, then your set to rock .

[tonkadawg]

thats what I was afraid of...

now the money question - how do I find out how much I have coming in?

[scottw]

you said you have 750 coming in right?

[tonkadawg]

no that was just an example - I don't know how much I have coming in

[scottw]

oh lol, you dork

You can call your Electric company, they can look and tell you what you have coming in. Thats what you pay them for

[scottw]

also, just to get a rough idea, count up all the switches and add up there amp and that will give you a rough idea.

[tonkadawg]

HAHAHAHHAH

yeah dad was just over at the house and looked - I think he said I have something like 470 amps.

[scottw]

thats not a lot. . Now your talking stupid money to have them run another phase in there for you..

Daddy get out the check book please

[tonkadawg]

ooops typo - 740

[tonkadawg]

yeah, he had a new box put in when he built his workshop - said it was like $1000

[scottw]

oh yeah its crazy, b/c it's not like you can just have a "buddy" do it, b/c the electric company has to come to it, they did it for my house, it was over 4k, and he was a jerk the whole time!

740 is fine

[tonkadawg]

yeah I am just hoping I have enough room so I can put my tank and all equipment on a dedicated circuit and have enough room to grow some if needed.

[o2manyfish]

You need to look at things a little more closely.

Most home panels are 100amps.

Upgraded and very large homes have 200amp panels.


Just cause you have a 20 20amp breakers you cannot run them all at full potential.

In the average home you have mostly 15amp breakers. But that is when they trip. Most circuits in your house carry nominal loads (less than 1amp).

You need to confirm how much current you are actually drawing across your panel.

Dave B

PS - Tool is called a Clamp on Ammeter - About 100 -$200 buck - Clamp it around the primary and each circuit to find out the amps being drawn.

[Catastrofe]

Usually, the inside cover of your panel will show the amperage and how many circuits are available. Most newer homes are built with a 200 or 225 amp service. However, the maximum load you can place on a panel must be de-rated, typcially to 80% of capacity.

You can have your service changed out to a higher amperage for somewhere around $1500, depending on your local market.