Re: Are Circuit Breakers Over-rated?

Posted by Jeffy3 on November 4, 2009, 8:50 am

OP Here: So here is the $800 estimate:

Removing the existing 60-amp fuse box, meter socket and service
cable.
Install a 100 amp service with a 20 circuit panel
Run 30 ft. of 1-- amp service cable and install a new meter socket.
Install an 8 ft. ground rod and wire it to the panel.
Supply new connectors, straps, circuit breakers and a service head.
Mark the main appliances in the house.

Anything I should question? Thanks again

Posted by hallerb@aol.com on November 4, 2009, 8:53 am

> OP Here: So here is the $800 estimate:
> Removing the existing 60-amp fuse box, meter socket =EF=BF=BDand service
> cable.
> Install a 100 =EF=BF=BDamp service with a 20 circuit panel
> Run 30 ft. of 1-- amp service cable and install a new meter socket.
> Install an 8 ft. ground rod and wire it to the panel.
> Supply new connectors, straps, circuit breakers and a service head.
> Mark the main appliances in the house.
> Anything I should question? Thanks again

more breaker capacity is always a good thing.....

Posted by RicodJour on November 4, 2009, 11:08 am

> OP Here: So here is the $800 estimate:
> Removing the existing 60-amp fuse box, meter socket =A0and service
> cable.
> Install a 100 =A0amp service with a 20 circuit panel
> Run 30 ft. of 1-- amp service cable and install a new meter socket.
> Install an 8 ft. ground rod and wire it to the panel.
> Supply new connectors, straps, circuit breakers and a service head.
> Mark the main appliances in the house.
> Anything I should question? Thanks again

Is it Oppie of Jeffy...? ;)

Not sure where you are, but around here if an electrician gave me that
number I'd either kick him out the door figuring he was not legit and/
or crazy, or kiss the guy. Are there permits involved? How does the
utility figure into the changeover?

In any event, figuring materials are roughly the same, and the amount
of time involved, it is a good price wherever you are.

I would suggest that marking all circuits would be a good idea, and
should be done at the time of changeover. It's easier if you start
identifying circuits at the time of the disconnect. Put on all the
lights and plug in some low wattage things to most of the receptacles
(radios and lamps are good) and turn them on. When he turns off a
circuit, you'll be running around making a list of what got killed.
Staying in contact with the guy on a cell phone or walkie talkie helps
a lot while you're doing this.

To the extent that the existing wiring allows it, put lighting and
receptacles on different circuits (might not be possible at all).
Have a GFI breaker installed to cover the kitchen wet location
receptacles unless you already have GFI receptacles. If it's only one
outlet, such as in a bathroom, ask the guy which he would do more
cheaply, swap out the receptacle or install a breaker. It's kind of
an odd question normally as a single GFI is about four times cheaper
than a GFI breaker, but he'll already be in the basement and won't
have to go messing about elsewhere in the house. Obviously if you can
protect a number of outlets, the GFI breaker is the way to go.

I think you are going about this in an intelligent way. Asking the
questions up front and posting back with follow up information. Going
off half-cocked can get you half-killed or half-angry. ;) Good luck
with the project.

R

Posted by Jeffy3 on November 4, 2009, 3:09 pm

> I think you are going about this in an intelligent way. =A0Asking the
> questions up front and posting back with follow up information. =A0Going
> off half-cocked can get you half-killed or half-angry. =A0;) =A0Good luck
> with the project.
> R

Thanks. I appreciate the kind words. I always tell my friends that
these forums are the way to go to get all kinds of information,
especially when it comes to home repair and computer problems. You
just need to be careful at sorting out the information because you
never know who the guy on the other end is!

My electrician has always been reliable. It's a nice quote as the
neighbor across the street paid $1200 for essentially the same job,
but with a different contractor.

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