De-railed

Ouch. Don't you just hate it when life gets in the way of having fun with trains. That's not a bad price for a new 200 amp service but it still sucks to shell out the money. Good move not getting the 100 amp. I have an old house I let my son use for college. Still has fuses. I know the day is coming to upgrade but hopefully I will sell it by then.

 

I do need to run some wires, maybe a sub panel, to my basement for my layout. Too many extensions cords need to clean it up. Although trains don't use a lot of amps they do need lots of outlets. I must have 15 different train related things plugged in for my layout.

Jeff, the side benefit is that at some point I need to add a circuit to the garage where my trains are, so this is one of those things I was hoping to not have to do for a couple more years. The bigger issue is when a Zinsco goes bad, they are dangerous.  No need to burn down my house and endanger my family.

WOW!  In my first house, I put my own panel in and then had an electrician come inspect and stamp the installation.  He also tied the new leads into the overhead wires, I don't go past the meter box.

 

It ended up costing me about 20% of what the whole job would have cost if I just had it contracted, the the quality was assured.

Can't do that know. The only one who can sign off is the Electrical/ Building inspector. And a lot of places used to let homeowners pull permit and install as long as they follow procedures. But you still had to pass inspection. Now most municipalities require a license to pull a permit. And unless he is a friend, he is going to want the profit. Plus it is his license and insurance on the line. Still the inspector will need to sign off before permit is closed out. I think the plumbers were the first to get this monopoly going. I have heard of plumbers driving around on trash day and turning in homeowners if there is a toilet or water heater in the trash. Homeowner gets fined and has to rip it out. Nice and friendly way to drum up business. Not all plumbers of course. Fred.

Actually, the electrician had to certify the work before the inspector came out.  You're right, you have to have the inspector as well, but the electrician's signoff was important in greasing the wheels, not to mention I wasn't climbing up and wiring into the street feed!

 

I didn't leave any evidence of my panel installation in the trash.

I have done many home improvement projects here at my house.  I am very good with plaster

I can do electrical work, I have done a lot in the past, but the panel and new riser for the overhead feed - no thanks, I'll go sell another house which is what I should be doing with my day anyway and hire out.  Saving money is great for this tight wad - but this time, the money I would save on trying to do most the work on my own would be a losing proposition on what a couple new clients would provide if I spent that time helping a couple of families buy or sell a home.  I think it is called stepping over dollars to pick up nickles.

My boss actually let's me throw my renovation debris in the dumpster at work!

 

Jerry

I replaced the 60 Amp Service at my present home with 100 Amps about 10 years ago.  My next home will have 200.  I'm not sure I need more than 100 Amps, but the cost difference as noted above is negligible.

Don't forget whole house surge protection.  Everything comes with a microprocessor.  Had to replace the board in the refrigerator.  I found the SquareD 80kA for $129 at Home Depot online only.  You can't search for it under Surge protectors, look for Square D by Schneider Electric Home Electronics Protective Device (HEPD). There are cheaper ones but they are not as good. Your electrician my want ~$500 to add one, I will be installing my own.

Dan

Also, with 200 amp service you get a bigger panel which will hold more breakers.  I still had to add a sub panel for the house I built 7 years ago.

Gentlemen,

    Each state has different laws, make sure you know them as you do your installation, I installed my new breaker box in both my homes along with the

switch transfer box for my Generators.  One of my good friends is a Master Licensed Electrician, he simply signed off on the work after inspecting and testing it. 

If you know how to do the work and have friends, you can save a lot of money.

 

TMack,

  Having watched your home train video, IMO you are a very lucky man.  If I lived near enough I would install your new breaker box for you, for no charge.  Make sure you get your new breaker box ASAP, what you have to loose, only God could replace.

 

 

PCRR/Dave