How Many Amp Service Do You Have

SAB1 · 09-22-2016, 04:53 PM

Your actually wrong desert dweller. Ask any fireman. It's for them.

DesertDweller · 09-22-2016, 04:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SAB1

Your actually wrong desert dweller. Ask any fireman. It's for them.

That's what my contractor told me as well. Just also posting what the electricians website said.

camp guy · 09-23-2016, 02:23 PM

Interestingly enough, you are both right, and I hate to see a skirmish develop over a safety issue.

For years and years, local fire departments usually had some staff who knew how to remove the meter on the outside and 'kill' the power, but this was inherently dangerous for unskilled personnel. To address the danger issue, the practice of putting the breaker outside at the meter was established. Throwing a breaker is much safer than removing a meter from the socket.

So, regardless of how the NEC reads, and notwithstanding the skill level of some fire department personnel, having the main breaker outside, accessible to anyone, is much safer in the long run.

Remember, when it comes to electricity, safety is the name of the game.

Kamper · 09-23-2016, 04:38 PM

Here's a few things I've noticed... I am NOT an expert)

An old house in Nashua, with fuses, that needed to be brought up to code per the lender had the slots for the major switch left vacant and a small box installed under the meter. I suppose a redundant cut-off could have been put in if desired but I wasn't part of that conversation.

There is a tool that looks a lot like a limb cutter whose function is to cut a live-wire at the pole. I have seen these used at fires, perhaps because the meter was inaccessible or an exterior switch was not apparent.

And now a question... (not a job I would try myself)

I have 100amp service. Changing to 200 amps would make some things easier for me, like installing central air, without having to drop anything like the hot-tub. Do I need to get a second meter for that? I have heard it both ways. Any recent

Hot-Tub and A/C are wife's ideas. "If mama aint happy, aint nobody happy!"

wifi · 09-23-2016, 08:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kamper

I have 100amp service. Changing to 200 amps would make some things easier for me, like installing central air...

I have 60A service and I have a mini split cooling my very mini mansion, no blown fuses in many years. Its all how you use it, not the size of the, errr, breaker

ursa minor · 09-23-2016, 08:32 PM

Kamper, usually an upgrade like that will mean changing out your entire service entry cable, meter socket and main panel. There's a pretty big difference in the conductor size from 100 to 200 amps for starters. Definitely not a DYI project.

Sure wouldn't want to be the guy cutting a live service with that tool. Having cut a live wire with my linesmans pliers once " back in the day", it gets your attention!

Kamper · 09-24-2016, 09:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ursa minor

... Definitely not a DYI project. ...

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kamper

... (not a job I would try myself) ...

Thanks for your support!

09-23-2016, 02:23 PM	#3
camp guy Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: formerly Winter Harbor, still Wolfeboro Posts: 1,197 Thanks: 303 Thanked 529 Times in 296 Posts	How many AMPs... Interestingly enough, you are both right, and I hate to see a skirmish develop over a safety issue. For years and years, local fire departments usually had some staff who knew how to remove the meter on the outside and 'kill' the power, but this was inherently dangerous for unskilled personnel. To address the danger issue, the practice of putting the breaker outside at the meter was established. Throwing a breaker is much safer than removing a meter from the socket. So, regardless of how the NEC reads, and notwithstanding the skill level of some fire department personnel, having the main breaker outside, accessible to anyone, is much safer in the long run. Remember, when it comes to electricity, safety is the name of the game.

09-23-2016, 08:32 PM	#6
ursa minor Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Tuftonborough & Franklin MA Posts: 265 Thanks: 99 Thanked 143 Times in 64 Posts	Kamper, usually an upgrade like that will mean changing out your entire service entry cable, meter socket and main panel. There's a pretty big difference in the conductor size from 100 to 200 amps for starters. Definitely not a DYI project. Sure wouldn't want to be the guy cutting a live service with that tool. Having cut a live wire with my linesmans pliers once " back in the day", it gets your attention! __________________ " Any day with a boat ride in it is a good day"

09-22-2016, 04:53 PM	#1
SAB1 Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Tuftonboro Posts: 1,251 Thanks: 193 Thanked 334 Times in 242 Posts	Your actually wrong desert dweller. Ask any fireman. It's for them.

09-23-2016, 04:38 PM	#4
Kamper Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Thornton's Ferry Posts: 1,309 Thanks: 67 Thanked 172 Times in 128 Posts	Here's a few things I've noticed... I am NOT an expert) An old house in Nashua, with fuses, that needed to be brought up to code per the lender had the slots for the major switch left vacant and a small box installed under the meter. I suppose a redundant cut-off could have been put in if desired but I wasn't part of that conversation. There is a tool that looks a lot like a limb cutter whose function is to cut a live-wire at the pole. I have seen these used at fires, perhaps because the meter was inaccessible or an exterior switch was not apparent. And now a question... (not a job I would try myself) I have 100amp service. Changing to 200 amps would make some things easier for me, like installing central air, without having to drop anything like the hot-tub. Do I need to get a second meter for that? I have heard it both ways. Any recent Hot-Tub and A/C are wife's ideas. "If mama aint happy, aint nobody happy!"