Quote:
The house I recently bought has 100A electric service. The previous owners had a gas dryer, but I already have an electric dryer, and want to use it. Unfortunately, there's no 240V plug for a dryer, and electricians I've talked to are telling me I need to upgrade my service to 150A if I want to add an electric dryer.


I would install a gas dryer and pocket the instant savings for not upgrading the service
plus the ongoing usage savings (should be about 50-60% of the cost of electricity).

But if you do go for a service upgrade, here's what the pieces are:

(1) Wires from the utility pole to your house --> usually free, courtesy of the utility.

(2) Wires from the outside of the house to the meter, and from there to your panel:
probably need to be upgraded, but they might already be large enough for 150A.
The electricians will know (TEWK).

(3) The meter socket/box: may need to be upgraded (replaced). TEWK.
Note that the meter itself is a freebie.

(4) The panel itself: $50-$100.

(5) A new mains breaker: $50-$100.

(6) New breakers for all circuits: Perhaps $10 per 120A circuit.
If you get a same-brand panel as the old one, then the old breakers
can probably be reused without issues. Specify that to the electricians.

(7) Labour for all of this: just add up the parts, double it, and there's the labour cost
(total parts+labour cost is 3X parts cost alone)

EDIT:

(8) A new grounding rods/plates system may be needed, figure $200 for parts.


Edited by mlord (01/12/2007 12:04)