Posted: 3/7/2007 1:02:57 PM EDT
I had a local electrician come over this am and install a dishwasher disconnect and outlet. After doing what they had to do they turned the main power lever back on... Older 60 amp connected to the circuit breaker. I was standing there chatting and then crackle crackle crackle..Sizzle. All the lights flickered , then half my house went lights out. Well, there is a short in the box. Apparently , I had the right people over at the right time. They said it could have caused a fire. Somehow, they managed to rig it so all my house has electircity except the dryer until he calls me back with a parts list and price quote for a new upgrade. I'm nervous about how much this whole project is going to cost. My $550 Dishwasher has turned into a nightmare project. Good Grief.
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It sounds like a service change is in your future. I have done many changes from 60 amp fuses to 100 amp breakers. The whole job (here in Wisconsin) costs from $1,000 to around $2,000 depending on what has to be done. We usually are done with a service change in 6 hours or so depending on how it goes. Upgrading your service is money well spent. |
True. The difference between 100 amp and 200 amp won't be much, but most households don't need it and the power company may not have 200 amps worth of feeders run to your house. Make sure to use Square D components and stay away from Cutler Hammer if possible. |
I went with 150 A as in our locale you get copper wire instead of aluminum--200 A is only available with aluminum feed wires. Edit to correct the 200 A/aluminum error. |
Truthfully, most households don't need a 200 amp service. Most service upgrades we did were for people who were selling their homes and wanted to be able to say that the house had a 100 or 200 amp service. Purely a selling point. |
True--but most of my friends have a shop with a welder, big compressor, and other tools. My box can be upgraded with just new wires and breaker to 200 A--but I will never be happy with aluminum wires.
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