Upgrading Home's Electrical Service.

 
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EarthWindandFire
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Post by EarthWindandFire » Sat. Aug. 16, 2014 12:38 pm

We bought this house back in 2004 when home inspectors were signing off everything. Because of that, the electrical system in this house is original, most of it dating back to 1947.

I plan on having a new service drop, weather head, service mast and electrical panel installed. The existing system is 100 amps but the new system will be 200 amps.

Does anyone have any ideas or suggestions on what to get done now, during the upgrade?

Here are a few things that I've thought of myself:

1). Whole house surge protection.
2). Arc-Fault circuit breakers.
3). Back-up Generator sub-panel.


 
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Post by Sting » Sat. Aug. 16, 2014 12:50 pm

I enjoyed the advice I received in this thread about grounding

New Smart TV for a Dumb Guy :>)

 
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Post by mozz » Sat. Aug. 16, 2014 1:29 pm

For the generator, you want a transfer box or switch.

 
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Post by grumpy » Sat. Aug. 16, 2014 2:06 pm

mozz wrote:For the generator, you want a transfer box or switch.
This will do..

http://www.interlockkit.com/

 
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Post by McGiever » Sat. Aug. 16, 2014 3:04 pm

Forget the Arc Fault Breakers.
GFCI's are very desirable.

 
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Post by coaledsweat » Sat. Aug. 16, 2014 3:14 pm

I had mine upgraded to 200 amp this spring. The GE panel came with an interlocked breaker for the generator. Nice setup and a lot cheaper than another panel and switch.

 
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Post by EarthWindandFire » Sat. Aug. 16, 2014 3:33 pm

Forget the Arc Fault Breakers.
GFCI's are very desirable.
Ground Fault Circuit Interrupters help prevent burns, electric shocks and electrocution. A GFCI has sensors that measure the current going out and the current coming back in. Normally, the current is balanced as it goes out and comes back in. However, if the current is out of balance, something is wrong. The electric current has made contact with a human, or somewhere else it should not be. The GFCI senses this, and instantly shuts down the circuit, stopping the flow of electricity. Since water is an excellent electric conductor, GFCIs are important in areas where water and electricity could meet, such as bathrooms, kitchens, laundry rooms and garages.

**Arc Fault Circuit Interrupters** help prevent electric fires. Electricity can leak out of damaged or decaying wires and start a fire. These fires spread quickly in the wiring behind walls. Electric fires cause more damage than other types of fire, and are twice as deadly. AFCIs sense that electricity is leaking from the electric system, and shut electricity off before overheating happens.

Basically, GFCI’s prevent shocks, and AFCI’s prevent fires. Both can be installed by a qualified electrician to make your home safer.


 
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Post by McGiever » Sat. Aug. 16, 2014 3:43 pm

Electricity can leak out of damaged or decaying wires and start a fire.
Fear sells. :roll:

 
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Post by coaledsweat » Sat. Aug. 16, 2014 3:53 pm

My grandmother couldn't stand a lamp without a bulb in the socket. She was convinced electricity would leak out of the socket. Must have been from growing up with gas lamps. LMAO!

 
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Post by top top » Sat. Aug. 16, 2014 4:29 pm

***************
Last edited by top top on Sat. Aug. 16, 2014 8:40 pm, edited 1 time in total.

 
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Post by EarthWindandFire » Sat. Aug. 16, 2014 8:14 pm

I just read the proposal that the company emailed to me. If you go line by line, for them to pull the permit it costs 300 dollars. I still have over two weeks of vacation time, can I pull the permit myself?

 
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Post by grumpy » Sat. Aug. 16, 2014 8:20 pm

I'm sure you can but if the cost is the same I would let them do it. Thats a hell of a lot for a permit.

 
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Post by grumpy » Sat. Aug. 16, 2014 8:24 pm

coaledsweat wrote:I had mine upgraded to 200 amp this spring. The GE panel came with an interlocked breaker for the generator. Nice setup and a lot cheaper than another panel and switch.
Yeah , the days of a big old switch are over, but I like having mine.. :D

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Post by coaledsweat » Sat. Aug. 16, 2014 8:44 pm

grumpy wrote:
coaledsweat wrote:I had mine upgraded to 200 amp this spring. The GE panel came with an interlocked breaker for the generator. Nice setup and a lot cheaper than another panel and switch.
Yeah , the days of a big old switch are over, but I like having mine.. :D
I have a good, used 200 amp 250 volt Siemens in stock if anybody is looking. It is huge!

 
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Post by titleist1 » Sat. Aug. 16, 2014 8:49 pm

Regarding the permit, in our NJ township when I was re-habbing a place the electrical permit had to be pulled by the licensed electrician. I was allowed to get the plumbing permit and the HVAC permit (even with propane lines) however. Here in MD I live outside any township and the county is the AHJ and I could pull all permits for the addition and garage we built. So, apparently it depends on your locality!

The AFCI's used to be a pain due to false trips. Don't know if they have improved or not. Is your house wiring new or is it from 1947 also?


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