How To Change 100 Amp Service To 200

Linutor [OP]: Newbie; May 24, 2009; 76 posts

Jul 30th, 2009 6:28 am

Upgrading 100 amp service to 200 amp

I'm moving into a new house next month and work was already too far along to consider getting the builder to put in 200 amp service. Anyway, I've read that it's one of the things that can be done cheaper later. Has anyone gotten this done lately? How much did it cost? Any recommendations for someone to do it in the Vaughan area?

Jul 30th, 2009 7:41 am

BuildingHomes: Deal Addict; Mar 21, 2006; 4478 posts; 475 upvotes; Burlington, Ontario

Jul 30th, 2009 7:41 am

Actually it's usually cheaper to get it done at the time of construction.

Do you really need a 200 amp service?

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Jul 30th, 2009 7:43 am

Linutor [OP]: Newbie; May 24, 2009; 76 posts

Jul 30th, 2009 7:43 am

I would have done it at the time of construction if I'd had the option, but we bought an inventory home that was complete except for the finishing inside, so it wasn't an option. It's a big house, 3300 square feet, and we plan to put in a hot tub at some point, so I thought the 200 amp service would probably be needed. Any thoughts?

Jul 30th, 2009 7:48 am

Pete_Coach: Deal Expert; May 10, 2005; 36250 posts; 10441 upvotes; Ottawa

Jul 30th, 2009 7:48 am

Buildinghomes is right. It may require different power lines to your house and Hydro will not do this for free. I have an older house and wanted to upgrade as well but I chose not to and only went from fuse box to circuit breaker panel becasue of the expense.
There are other ways of doing this and the hot tub sales folks know all the tricks. Talk to them.

Jul 30th, 2009 8:35 am

redflagdog: Newbie; Nov 20, 2007; 92 posts

Jul 30th, 2009 8:35 am

If the lines from the hydro pole to your home are rated for 200 amps, then
It will definitely be cheaper to do the work now rather than later.

With the 200 amp panel you will spare capacity for future expansion (ie heat pump, etc), whereas with the 100 amp panel you will be severely limited.

Jul 30th, 2009 8:38 am

bririp: Deal Addict; Dec 27, 2007; 1074 posts; 146 upvotes; Markham

Jul 30th, 2009 8:38 am

If you have the choice, 100% do it with the builder. My builder charges $600 to upgrade it. From my understanding it would be about $2500-$3500 to have an electrician come in disconnect everything, change the panel and the wiring to the meter, re-connect everything and all of the permits.

Also, my current house has the hydro meter on the side of the house, beside the garage and the wires run under the slab. I have been told that the concrete would have to be broken up which would cost even more.

When a builder charges $600-$1000 from the start...do it.

Jul 30th, 2009 9:51 am

Linutor [OP]: Newbie; May 24, 2009; 76 posts

Jul 30th, 2009 9:51 am

No choice, unfortunately. The builder already had the 100 Amp service installed when I bought the house and there is no possibility of doing it that way. If I want it done, it will have to be after the close.

Jul 30th, 2009 11:55 am

venice_it: Deal Addict; Jan 11, 2007; 1259 posts; 177 upvotes; Brampton

Jul 30th, 2009 11:55 am

Linutor wrote: ↑No choice, unfortunately. The builder already had the 100 Amp service installed when I bought the house and there is no possibility of doing it that way. If I want it done, it will have to be after the close.

You might consider natural gas lines for the stove and dryer. It would free up capacity on your existing panel and may be more economical.

Jul 30th, 2009 12:22 pm

loudsubz: Deal Addict; Dec 1, 2003; 1291 posts; 10 upvotes

Jul 30th, 2009 12:22 pm

Adding a hot tub doesn't mean you need to upgrade, since you wont always be using the hot tub. Now unless you like to use every appliance in the home and have every light on then you might be in trouble.

You should call the local utility and see what service size they brought in from the street to your meter to see if its worth while to upgrade. When I did my swap they only had capacity for 125 amp service max, and it was going to be allot of $$ to upgrade the service since they had to trench it back out to mains.

You can also save money if you do it yourself and get an ESA permit.

Jul 30th, 2009 12:24 pm

loudsubz: Deal Addict; Dec 1, 2003; 1291 posts; 10 upvotes

Jul 30th, 2009 12:24 pm

You may also want to do a load calc to see what amperage you will be using on avg anyways. When I did mine for 100 amp it turns out my avg was around 70 amps max so I had room to grow if I wanted.

Jul 30th, 2009 2:30 pm

Tjalfe: Sr. Member; Mar 30, 2004; 919 posts; 11 upvotes; Newmarket

Jul 30th, 2009 2:30 pm

My understanding is that they tend to put in 200A cable to the meter, especially underground service.The builder then pulls the 100A cable from the meter to the panel, so it should not be a great length of cable to be replaced.
Our, not quite as big house as yours, has 100A service and when it comes time to replace the panel, I will put in 200A service, not because I need it really, but it is not much extra cost over replacing it with another 100A panel. I have maybe 5 feet of cable to be replaced from the meter to the panel

We have enough youth.. what we need is a fountain of smart

Jul 30th, 2009 3:59 pm

loudsubz: Deal Addict; Dec 1, 2003; 1291 posts; 10 upvotes

Jul 30th, 2009 3:59 pm

Tjalfe wrote: ↑My understanding is that they tend to put in 200A cable to the meter, especially underground service.The builder then pulls the 100A cable from the meter to the panel, so it should not be a great length of cable to be replaced.
Our, not quite as big house as yours, has 100A service and when it comes time to replace the panel, I will put in 200A service, not because I need it really, but it is not much extra cost over replacing it with another 100A panel. I have maybe 5 feet of cable to be replaced from the meter to the panel

plus you will need to change out the conduit for 2" PVC, and upgrade your ground wires and also pickup the furnace with the ground as well (if it already isn't done).

Theres a few things that need to be changed.

Jul 30th, 2009 8:53 pm

kevv: Member; Dec 3, 2008; 461 posts; 86 upvotes; Hamilton

Jul 30th, 2009 8:53 pm

100 amp is plenty for your house unless you have electric heating, the important thing is that your panel has lots of extra spaces for breakers at least 32 min. then add what you need, hopefully you dont have a cheap panel installed, square D is fairly high quality,
contractors usually buy cheap ones saving maybe 50 bucks

Jul 30th, 2009 8:59 pm

loudsubz: Deal Addict; Dec 1, 2003; 1291 posts; 10 upvotes

Jul 30th, 2009 8:59 pm

Most new installs in the GTA that I have seen use Siemens load centres. 32 circuits min, upg. to 64 using space saver doubles.

Jul 30th, 2009 10:56 pm

applejuice: Sr. Member; Jul 28, 2002; 620 posts; 33 upvotes; Toronto

Jul 30th, 2009 10:56 pm

I have 400 amp and have no idea why...anyone have any idea?

electricians lose their minds when they see it ...and no it wasn't a grow house

99% of the stuff I own comes from RFD!

Jul 30th, 2009 11:39 pm

BuildingHomes: Deal Addict; Mar 21, 2006; 4478 posts; 475 upvotes; Burlington, Ontario

Jul 30th, 2009 11:39 pm

applejuice wrote: ↑I have 400 amp and have no idea why...anyone have any idea?

I have worked in houses with 400A service. Usually they are older homes out in the country with electric heat.

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Jul 30th, 2009 11:41 pm

loudsubz: Deal Addict; Dec 1, 2003; 1291 posts; 10 upvotes

Jul 30th, 2009 11:41 pm

without knowing details its hard to say why you have 400 amp

Ive seen allot of 400 amp in bigger homes in TO with hot tubs, saunas, finished basements with living quarters and dual furnaces and A/C etc

So its not all that uncommon.