Service upgrade cost - Electrical Questions. Read Only. No more posting. - PlanetChristmas! Forums. Read Only. We've moved to http://talk.planetchristmas.com - The Forums of PlanetChristmas have moved to http://talk.PlanetChristmas.com
was doing some general web searching and didn't realize how much a service upgrade might cost me.
I'm looking to upgrade from a 125amp to a 200 amp service
The wires from the main breaker at the meter are buried and run about 10 feet to the house. The main service box for our street is about 12 inches to the right of my meter post along the alley.
will something like this REALLY cost me $1000-$1400 bucks
Philip,
We had our 100 amp service upgraded last year to 200amp. Final cost was just over $1000. That price was the lowest of the 3 quotes I had gotten.
Our neighborhood has all underground wiring but they were able to make it work with existing line from the street. There was enough slack to make it fit in the new power meter on the outside of the house. The electric company had come out to disconnect power to the house while electrician hooked up new meter. I couldn't believe that the junction box was half full of water and lines were under water. They said that happens all the time and somtimes need to pump out some of the water.
The rest of the work was in the new electrical panel inside the basement. The line from the outside meter runs through a hole in our basement wall and is not buried. Now we have a nice new Cutler-hammer panel with plenty of room to grow.
Last edited on Monday April 7th, 2008 05:53 pm by MadHatter
so am I to understand that if you change the main breaker switch, the line from the meter/breaker to the service panel will need altering ???
was the $1000 for the work to the panel also, or just to upgrade the main breaker? I just couldn't imagine the part and labor on changing this one breaker switch to run that much.
I plan on boing my own subpanel additions
Last edited on Monday April 7th, 2008 06:54 pm by Philip
Well, a few years ago, we burned out the electric meter and had to shut the display down for four days.
Finally got an electrician out, upgraded our service from 100 amp to 200 amp (at 240), installed new digital meter, new breaker box, new breakers, 10 20 amp receptacles on the outside, using conduit up under the eaves to contain the wiring. Tied the new box to the inside box (no damage was done to interior wiring or breakers, he checked). I have one switch that can shut off power to the entire lot, or use the switch for the outside breakers only. Totaly cost $1250. Of that $875 and change were for materials (I saw the receipt in fact was provided this with the bill). This covered all labor, inspections, permits, and materials and this was done in a day and a half just a week before CHristmas. He also got the electric company to upgrade the line coming from the transformer to the house to a commercial grade line. They admitted to knowing that the line was bad for at least six years and that was what probably caused the meter fire. Their excuse was they just hadn't gotten around to fixing it.
I figure that $1250 was a good deal. He did an awesome job. Even helped balance the load as we ran the cords to the new outlets before he left. He also checked out our subpanel that we run from the AC breaker, had it inspected and after looking at it both the inspector and the electrician offered my husband a job. They liked what they saw/.
Bottomline. Get a couple of quoptes and make sure that they do the work properly. YOu definitely won't regret it.
Marilyn
____________________ Marilyn Caron
The Christmas Lady
I'm having my 100amp service upgraded to 200amp tomarrow. Where I live the feed to the house is already 200amp and is underground. All that is required is to pull the meter, upgrade the box, replace meter. This is costing me $800 and loss of power for about 1/2 a day. This also includes bringing it up to current code.. 2 New grounding stakes and a ground wire to the water line. This is being done by a large electrical company. I did get quotes for as low as $500, but I felt better having a large company do it.
My electrician did say that with overhead lines the price would have been quite a bit more. It all depends on where you live an how the power company has set up your sub-division. I'm sure it would cost alot more if I lived somewhere that didn't have a main feed capable of 200amp.
____________________ Kevin
Colorado Springs, CO
Moderation is the last refuge for the unimaginative http://www.coloradoxmas.com
There Glows the Nighborhood in the Battle of the Bulbs
Philip wrote: so am I to understand that if you change the main breaker switch, the line from the meter/breaker to the service panel will need altering ???
was the $1000 for the work to the panel also, or just to upgrade the main breaker? I just couldn't imagine the part and labor on changing this one breaker switch to run that much.
I plan on boing my own subpanel additions
I don't have a main breaker like you do on the outside of the house. All I have is the power company meter which for all I know may contain a breaker. I would assume in your instance they might have to replace the wire from you main outdoor breaker to the panel inside.
Yes the $1000 was for all the work including replace outside meter and inside panel with all new breakers.
Philip wrote: was doing some general web searching and didn't realize how much a service upgrade might cost me.
I'm looking to upgrade from a 125amp to a 200 amp service
The wires from the main breaker at the meter are buried and run about 10 feet to the house. The main service box for our street is about 12 inches to the right of my meter post along the alley.
With all due respect Philip, you are asking the wrong people. You need to get quotes from local electricians. Check BBB, Home Improvement Commission (if you have one), inspectors office, etc.
edit: redundency error
Last edited on Tuesday April 8th, 2008 07:23 pm by iresq
To upgrade from 125A to 200A requires new service entrance cable, meter socket, main breaker and distrbution panel plus labor and permits. Depending on your local market could be anywhere from 1000.00 to 2500.00.
Tony
____________________ Do not meddle in the affairs of dragons, for you are crunchy and taste good with ketchup.
