# Upgrade to 200-amp? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [July 30, 2013, 12:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/upgrade-to-200-amp/664897 "2013-07-30T12:06:56Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 19\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Dinsdale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/97f17d/32.png) [@Dinsdale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dinsdale)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2013, 12:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/upgrade-to-200-amp/664897/1 "2013-07-30T12:06:56Z")
We are replacing the electrical panel on our new-old house, and are debating whether we wish to upgrade to 200 amp service. Doing so would cost approximately $1k more than just replacing the panel. We will be replacing most of the switches/outlets, but 3 electricians have told us the system is solid, properly grounded. We are redoing the kitchen and 1 bath right away - while not doing anything elaborate, I imagine we will likely add some lighting, outlets, etc. The house is a 2300 sq ft split level. Mostly it is just my wife and me living there. In general, I’d say we are no more than average in terms of our energy use. The one thing is that we intend to increase our woodworking, which will involve some power tools, dust collection, etc. So what do you think? Overkill? Or a good idea? ---
**Author:** ![Sparky812](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/eb9ed0/32.png) [@Sparky812](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sparky812)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2013, 2:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/upgrade-to-200-amp/664897/2 "2013-07-30T14:14:46Z")
Probably overkill but what are your demands likely to be in the future? 100 amp is plenty for an average household especially with newer energy star appliances, LED and CF light bulbs, etc… ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2013, 2:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/upgrade-to-200-amp/664897/3 "2013-07-30T14:30:21Z")
Do you have gas appliances? That’s a big consideration. If you have a gas water heater, gas range/oven and/or gas dryer that’s going to take a load off the panel. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2013, 3:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/upgrade-to-200-amp/664897/4 "2013-07-30T15:09:59Z")
When we got connected to the sewer recently I had them dig another trench and put in the conduit for underground wires. Everyone, electricians, contractor, electrical inspector, electrical suppliers, recommended putting in larger conduit to handle the wire for a 200 amp service. It’s not that it’s a necessity at all, but worth doing for the future. It’s not just the total load to consider, but the number of different circuits you can maintain also, and not getting any of them loaded to max capacity. If you want to have a spare refrigerator or add a freezer it should go on a dedicated line. Right now I have to share the same 220V line with the electric stove and my welder, there’s never been a need to use both at once, but if I had more slots in the panel I’d add a seperate line. I’d like to have seperate circuits to put the window air conditioners on, or add a central unit someday. And it increases the value of a house, it’s not a huge amount, but it’s a selling point. ---
**Author:** ![Dinsdale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/97f17d/32.png) [@Dinsdale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dinsdale)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2013, 5:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/upgrade-to-200-amp/664897/5 "2013-07-30T17:45:39Z")
Thanks all. I guess I was surprised when I totted things up, that we were not heavier users - even with the anticipated power tools. Gas stove/water/heat, no plans for a 2d fridge, getting all new appliances… But from my college days buying stereos, I always favored having the powere but not using it. Hell, I’m throwing so much money in every direction, I might as well toss some more at the electrician! 😛 ---
**Author:** ![mozchron](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c2a13f/32.png) [@mozchron](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mozchron)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2013, 10:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/upgrade-to-200-amp/664897/6 "2013-07-30T22:21:38Z")
We juat bought a place and for reasons only God knows, when the previous owners renovated they put in a 400 amp panel. Thing is 5 feet high and almost completely empty. Maybe I’ll put in an electric iron foundry at some point. ---
**Author:** ![Ranger\_Jeff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ranger_jeff/32/2065_2.png) [@Ranger\_Jeff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ranger_Jeff)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2013, 1:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/upgrade-to-200-amp/664897/7 "2013-08-01T01:26:26Z")
In your home repairs and projects, you might find an air compressor a useful thing to have. You might need more electric for something like that. ---
**Author:** ![gotpasswords](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/c57346/32.png) [@gotpasswords](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gotpasswords)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2013, 6:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/upgrade-to-200-amp/664897/8 "2013-08-01T18:54:22Z")
[QUOTE=mozchron] We juat bought a place and for reasons only God knows, when the previous owners renovated they put in a 400 amp panel. Thing is 5 feet high and almost completely empty. [/QUOTE] Did you buy the place from Tim the Toolman? Maybe they or a friend/sibling was an electrician or worked for a supply house and got it cheap? ---
**Author:** ![Inigo\_Montoya](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/inigo_montoya/32/124_2.png) [@Inigo\_Montoya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inigo_Montoya)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2013, 7:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/upgrade-to-200-amp/664897/9 "2013-08-05T19:12:49Z")
> [@Dinsdale](#): > > But from my college days buying stereos, I always favored having the powere but not using it. That’s pretty much why I’d go with 200a. There might be a need for it someday and there might not, but I really hate needing something I chose not to get when it was decision-making time. Not so much that I’d go for 400a in a house, mind you. But yeah–I dream of a massive 200a service with room for like 60 or 80 breakers, all running 12ga 4-wire romex. PITA & spendy? Maybe a little, but it could handle anything I’d throw at it. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Dinsdale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/97f17d/32.png) [@Dinsdale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dinsdale)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2013, 8:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/upgrade-to-200-amp/664897/10 "2013-08-05T20:06:49Z")
Update - going w/ the 200A. One thing I thought of was the possibility of electric cars down the line. Who knows what car technology and our needs will be when it comes time to buy our next vehicle. Meanwhile, we’ll probably be replacing every outlet/switch, appliance, installing lighting, running lines in the basement for shop tools/lighting - just will be nice to know the “foundation” for anything we do electrical is rock solid. Thanks all. ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2013, 9:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/upgrade-to-200-amp/664897/11 "2013-08-05T21:14:00Z")
> [@Dinsdale](#): > > Update - going w/ the 200A. One thing I thought of was the possibility of electric cars down the line. Who knows what car technology and our needs will be when it comes time to buy our next vehicle. Even a CNG car requires 220 and probably more amps to run the compressor if you tank up at home. ---
**Author:** ![Renee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/renee/32/287_2.png) [@Renee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Renee)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2013, 9:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/upgrade-to-200-amp/664897/12 "2013-08-05T21:18:35Z")
I think that’s the right call. We had 100 amp service in our last house, and when we added a hot tub it was kind of an issue. ---
**Author:** ![Zhendroh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Zhendroh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zhendroh)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2013, 1:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/upgrade-to-200-amp/664897/13 "2013-11-08T01:47:08Z")
The first thing to check is the local building code. It might well require an upgrade with any major changes done to the house wiring. 200 amp service is used on all newer construction and should tell you something. It will be put to use at some point even if you don’t see it right now. Selling point for later might be that it will be a requirement in 10 or 20 years when retirement rolls around. Our government finds new ways to confound our lives every day. Enjoy your newly acquired home. ---
**Author:** ![PastTense](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pasttense/32/14550_2.png) [@PastTense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PastTense)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2013, 1:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/upgrade-to-200-amp/664897/14 "2013-11-08T01:55:30Z")
I think an “on demand” electric hot-water heater (in conjunction with what else you are using) could require a higher amp system. ---
**Author:** ![GaryM](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/garym/32/241_2.png) [@GaryM](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GaryM)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2013, 3:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/upgrade-to-200-amp/664897/15 "2013-11-08T03:05:35Z")
I’ve got two 200A panels at my house. One for upstairs and one for down. I’ve got 50A 220V in my garage for compressor or welder and 30A 220V in my ham radio Shack. ---
**Author:** ![Rick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/9f8e36/32.png) [@Rick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rick)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2013, 4:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/upgrade-to-200-amp/664897/16 "2013-11-08T04:11:37Z")
Go with 200A. I upgraded a few years back from 100A and the total cost was about $950. ---
**Author:** ![Mdcastle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/958977/32.png) [@Mdcastle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mdcastle)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2013, 10:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/upgrade-to-200-amp/664897/17 "2013-11-10T22:34:56Z")
We have a 100 amp panel, we have mainly incandescent light bulbs, but all gas appliances so capacity has never been an issue. What is and issue is I like lots of circuits- I have a 20 amp circuit to the outlets in ever room, plus some 15 for lighting, and the number of spaces in a 100 amp panel is an issue, so I had to use a number of tandem breakers. ---
**Author:** ![Ranger\_Jeff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ranger_jeff/32/2065_2.png) [@Ranger\_Jeff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ranger_Jeff)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2013, 3:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/upgrade-to-200-amp/664897/18 "2013-11-11T03:40:27Z")
I don’t understand why you’d have to replace all the receptacles and house wiring. Unless the current receptacles aren’t the 3 hole grounded ones. ---
**Author:** ![Ethilrist](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ethilrist/32/4604_2.png) [@Ethilrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ethilrist)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2013, 4:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/upgrade-to-200-amp/664897/19 "2013-11-11T04:03:10Z")
> [@Ranger\_Jeff](#): > > I don’t understand why you’d have to replace all the receptacles and house wiring. Unless the current receptacles aren’t the 3 hole grounded ones. This… > [@Dinsdale](#): > > The one thing is that we intend to increase our woodworking, which will involve some power tools, dust collection, etc. gives me the impression that they’re more than your typical home-improvement types.