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Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 4
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I bought an older house/cottage which has 2-wire service from the utility pole. My panel is a Cutler-Hammer model which has 2 60-amp breakers (connected with a bar) as the main disconnect. There is also a 240v electric range wired to the panel. How is this possible? I have read that 2-wire service only allows for 120v service. The range is connected as follows: a red and a black wire connected to a twin breaker (looks just like the main disconnect), and a white neutral connected to the neutral bus. What kind of service do I have? 60A or 120A? 120V or 240V? Thanks
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Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 267
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I beleive your right without looking at it. You have an old 120 volt system which originally was probably a 30 amp service. Whoever tied those 240 volt appliances in, cheated. I highly recommend that you replace this to at least a 100 amp service which includes a grounding system. I'm surprised the home inspector didn't notice this. If you don't have the majority of your major appliances on gas u may want to consider 200 amp service. Hope this helps
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Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 558
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Are there 2 insulated wires and 1 bare wire feeding your house? Or 1 insulated wire and 1 bare wire?
Curt Swartz
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Joined: Dec 2002
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There are 2 insulated wires and 1 uninsulated wire. I assumed that the uninsulated wire is only there to provide physical support to the insulated ones. Is this actually a neutral, and I have 3-wire service?
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Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 2,236 Likes: 1
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<jumping in> Yes, the bare cable is indeed the grounded conductor or "neutral". You have a 120/240V service. </jumping in> Didn't mean to barge in when it suddenly became an easy answer!
-Virgil Residential/Commercial Inspector 5 Star Inspections Member IAEI
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Joined: Dec 2002
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Cool. Is it 120 amp service then, based on the main disconnect as I described above?
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Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 2,236 Likes: 1
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No, most definitely a 60A, the current remains consistant, unless there are 2 double pole breakers tied together, a la GE 200A, but it would be plainly marked at the correct current rating.
I agree with the above posts that an upgrade to 200A should be considered.
[This message has been edited by sparky66wv (edited 12-06-2002).]
-Virgil Residential/Commercial Inspector 5 Star Inspections Member IAEI
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Posts: 7,382
Joined: April 2002
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