A friend of mine and myself were kicking a idea around and I wanted some more input.

A multi family house I looked at has a 100 amp panel but it has reached its load ampacity and needs to be upsized. The existing work looks fine. There is plenty of room to put a 200 amp panel on the wall also. My question is after I mount the 200 amp panel, which is the better path to go.

1. Install a 100 amp breaker in the 200 amp panel and just refeed the old panlel.
or
2. Remove the old panel, install multipule J-Boxes and reinstall all the branch circits back into the new panel.


Just looking for ideas.
TY

If the existing work looks good and I could easily isolate the grounded conductors from the grounding conductors I would simply leave it in place and feed it with a 100 amp breaker.

You did say



Does this mean it has tripped the main?

If yes I would still leave it in place but move one or two of the largest circuits over to the new panel. A range, dryer, AC unit, etc.

Hard to really say what I would do without having seen everything.
Bob

Thanks IWIRE

The main has not triped, but the owner wants to add another electric range which would make 3 in all. It needs to be upsized! lol It seems like I should be able to isolate the grounding and the grounded wires easier than moving all of the circuits.

Thanks again.

It sounds like a typical service upgrade, where the existing panel would be removed and a new 200 amp 42 ckt. panel would take its place. When the job is done, you have 1 panel there and everything is made neat. Happy New Year

I agree, I would make it all into one panel. It's cleaner looking and less possible future problems to deal with.

Frankft, what does TY stand for? Perhaps Todd?

By the way, welcome to the forum.

I'm betting on 'Thank You'


Bill

If TY is thank you, then YW.

The existing 100 amp panel I'd say was installed in the 1980's. Its is full now and with the new circuits I will be adding, the new 200 amp panel will be close to capacity and then soon there will end up being a sub panel added anyways. I can change out the panel, but with the circuits being extended, I'm not sure that would give the customer the best job when I'm done.

Sounds like you may want to do a load demand calculaion on this home. With that many circuits you may want to consider a 400 amp service with two 200 amp panels. There are also 400 amp double main breaker panels so you can add a second 200 amp MLO right next to it or anywhere it needs to be. This panel also is listed for a second sub feed which allows up to 125 amps.


[This message has been edited by Wirenuttt (edited 12-30-2004).]