Electrical

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Subject

Author

Date

Electrical

J.C.

02-06-2007

hallerb@aol.com

Doug Miller

hallerb@aol.com

J.C.

RBM

J.C.

Bud--

gfretwell

RBM

gfretwell

RBM

Tom Horne, Elec...

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Posted by J.C. on February 6, 2007, 11:33 am

There is a workshop, an office and an old house, three separate buildings
setting in a somewhat triangular orientation to each other. All three get
their electricity from a single pole with a 100 amp box.

We're building a new house right beside the old one. (the old one will be
torn down)

What I want to do is use the existing line (underground) from the 100 amp
box to the old house and connect it to a 200 amp box for the new house. Can
I do this without having to run a new line? I looked at the incoming line
from the electric company pole. It said AWG 4 but it looked very small. The
line going from the box to the old house is multi wire aluminum (about 160
feet) but I can't read anything to tell what it is. It is about the size of
a penny, circumference wise. Also, can I keep the 100 amp box to supply the
workshop and office and have a new 200 amp in the new house?

Thanks for your time.

--
J.C.

NewsProxy used here,
crossposters are blocked.

Posted by hallerb@aol.com on February 6, 2007, 11:48 am

> There is a workshop, an office and an old house, three separate buildings

> setting in a somewhat triangular orientation to each other. All three get

> their electricity from a single pole with a 100 amp box.

> We're building a new house right beside the old one. (the old one will be

> torn down)

> What I want to do is use the existing line (underground) from the 100 amp

> box to the old house and connect it to a 200 amp box for the new house. Can

> I do this without having to run a new line? I looked at the incoming line

> from the electric company pole. It said AWG 4 but it looked very small. The

> line going from the box to the old house is multi wire aluminum (about 160

> feet) but I can't read anything to tell what it is. It is about the size of

> a penny, circumference wise. Also, can I keep the 100 amp box to supply the

> workshop and office and have a new 200 amp in the new house?

> Thanks for your time.

> --

> J.C.

> NewsProxy used here,

> crossposters are blocked.

you spending megabucks on a new home, congrats.

You will need a new 200 amp main service in the new home and feed the
old lines with a breaker sized to the wire to the other now sub
panels, and probably have to upgrade those sub panels too with proper
grounds and new panels.

once you begin changing things upgrading to current code is smart and
may be required by law for excellent safety reasons.

Most likely all the existing stuff is old, time for a overall upgrade
$ well spent!

Posted by Doug Miller on February 6, 2007, 12:51 pm

>What I want to do is use the existing line (underground) from the 100 amp

>box to the old house and connect it to a 200 amp box for the new house. Can

>I do this without having to run a new line?

Probably not -- depends on what the existing line is, but it's doubtful that
any electrician would have installed wiring heavy enough for 200A when your
existing service is only 100A.

> I looked at the incoming line

>from the electric company pole. It said AWG 4 but it looked very small.

AWG 4 copper wire is fine for a 100A service entrance -- but can't be used for
anything over that. You need a minimum of 2/0 copper, or 4/0 aluminum, for
your new 200A service.

>The

>line going from the box to the old house is multi wire aluminum (about 160

>feet) but I can't read anything to tell what it is.

Keep looking -- it's there. Probably molded into the insulation, though, not
painted or printed on it.

> It is about the size of

>a penny, circumference wise.

Meaningless. If you can accurately -- and safely -- measure the diameter of
the conductor (not the insulation), then you can figure out what gauge it is.

> Also, can I keep the 100 amp box to supply the

>workshop and office and have a new 200 amp in the new house?

Yes.

--
Regards,
Doug Miller (alphageek at milmac dot com)

It's time to throw all their damned tea in the harbor again.

Posted by hallerb@aol.com on February 6, 2007, 1:17 pm

> > Also, can I keep the 100 amp box to supply the

> >workshop and office and have a new 200 amp in the new house?

> Yes.

> --

> Regards,

> =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 Doug Miller

Note depending on your existing setup you MAY have to upgrade those
outbuildings, for codse compliance, but 100 AMP should serve them
fine.

If your building a REALLY NICE home you might want to put the main
service underground for appearance sake. Since the main service line
from the road will need replaced anyway for 200 amp service.

I suggest you call your power company and ask them to take a look

Posted by J.C. on February 6, 2007, 2:36 pm

Thanks Doug, appreciate the help.

JC

>>What I want to do is use the existing line (underground) from the 100 amp

>>box to the old house and connect it to a 200 amp box for the new house.

>>Can

>>I do this without having to run a new line?

> Probably not -- depends on what the existing line is, but it's doubtful

> that

> any electrician would have installed wiring heavy enough for 200A when

> your

> existing service is only 100A.

>> I looked at the incoming line

>>from the electric company pole. It said AWG 4 but it looked very small.

> AWG 4 copper wire is fine for a 100A service entrance -- but can't be used

> for

> anything over that. You need a minimum of 2/0 copper, or 4/0 aluminum, for

> your new 200A service.

>>The

>>line going from the box to the old house is multi wire aluminum (about 160

>>feet) but I can't read anything to tell what it is.

> Keep looking -- it's there. Probably molded into the insulation, though,

> not

> painted or printed on it.

>> It is about the size of

>>a penny, circumference wise.

> Meaningless. If you can accurately -- and safely -- measure the diameter

> of

> the conductor (not the insulation), then you can figure out what gauge it

> is.

>> Also, can I keep the 100 amp box to supply the

>>workshop and office and have a new 200 amp in the new house?

> Yes.

> --

> Regards,

> Doug Miller (alphageek at milmac dot com)

> It's time to throw all their damned tea in the harbor again.

Page 1 of 3 1 2 3 > last >>

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