New electrical panel question

[erda]

So, completely renovating and adding on to a 1940s farm house.

My question is, what size of service should I go for? 100amp or 200 amp? I've had two different electricians tell me two different things...

Thanks.

 

[davesl708]

Go with the 200 amp. Extra circuits for future needs are cheap compared to upgrading the panel. The cost difference of a 100 amp service panel and a 200 amp panel are negligible.

 

[2ndhalf]

So, completely renovating and adding on to a 1940s farm house.

My question is, what size of service should I go for? 100amp or 200 amp? I've had two different electricians tell me two different things...

Thanks.

The answer depends on what your heating, cooking etc. with.. It is pretty easy to figure it up and not be subjective about it. Probably even web sites to help. Bottom line and I won't get into specifics, you should find a website to do that, if your using a lot of electric high amp draw applicances (HW Heater, Oven, Furnace etc.) you need 200 amp. If you house is mostly gas and you use mostly gas (HW Heater, Oven, Furnace) you could get away with 100. I would probably never do 100, go at least 150 just in case you decide to change any of those things. In fact, I would say 200 just to give you options later..

I have changed two homes from 100 to 200 Amp.

 

[Woody65]

Go with the 200 amp. Extra circuits for future needs are cheap compared to upgrading the panel. The cost difference of a 100 amp service panel and a 200 amp panel are negligible.

What he said.

 

[2ndhalf]

Here is a calculater... if you care to prove it out for yourself.

Service and Panel Size Calculator

 

[2ndhalf]

Go with the 200 amp. Extra circuits for future needs are cheap compared to upgrading the panel. The cost difference of a 100 amp service panel and a 200 amp panel are negligible.

The cost may be negligable or not.. probably only has a 100 amp line going to the house, which means all new run or weather head everything up to 200 amp. That is not cheap upward of 1k - 3k depending on how long his service and a lot of other factors. Yes, the panel costs and labor to switch panel would be negligable difference.

Erda, Is your service under ground or above ground attaching up above the roof? If it isn't underground I agree with going 200 amp hands down. Still have to change out the weather head but it wouldn't be as expensive as all new underground runs.

 

[TnAndy]

What he said.

Yep...dirt cheap now compared to adding on later.

 

[2ndhalf]

I tend to agree with all the posts trending to 200 amp. Since your on a tractor forum you may weld, have a shop etc. However, I don't know your financial situation and you may be trying to get it done at as low a cost as possible. If you can afford the 200 amp estimate, by all means do that for all the reasons mentioned.

 

[teejk]

The cost may be negligable or not.. probably only has a 100 amp line going to the house, which means all new run or weather head everything up to 200 amp. That is not cheap upward of 1k - 3k depending on how long his service and a lot of other factors. Yes, the panel costs and labor to switch panel would be negligable difference.

Erda, Is your service under ground or above ground attaching up above the roof? If it isn't underground I agree with going 200 amp hands down. Still have to change out the weather head but it wouldn't be as expensive as all new underground runs.

Maybe a different meter socket and bigger wire into the house too I think. When I sold my first house the home inspector actually measured the wire gauge and determined it was undersized for my 200a service. Some inspectors do, some don't.

 

[Zerk]

You probably don't need 200. But if I could get it now at about the same price I would. Cost of panel isn't much.

My house clamps at 9 amps when nothing big is running. I have air handler, electric dryer/water heater and well, and 100 amp panel.

Chances are you will never need a 200. If you have any thought of putting a big shop, then it wouldn't hurt.