Fair price to upgrade electrical service

[JohnnyHigh]

What should I expect as a fair price to upgrade from 100amp to 200amp service?

Essentially I need a 60 amp 240v circuit and a 40 amp 240v circuit plus some various 120v circuits. I figure 200 amp would be plenty

So what do you think guys?

 

[Marshall]

there are alot of variables.

Does the service to the house have to be upgraded?

Does the wiring from the meter to the panel need to be upgraded? What is the distance (if yes to the previous question, then this almost automatic)


I suggest you call an electrician and get some quotes

 

[JohnnyHigh]

I would definitely be calling an electrician. I just was just looking for what it would cost so I know what to expect when they come out.

 

[Marshall]

well is possible it could be a large project. Wiring from the pole to the house, meter box changed out, and wiring from meter to panel replaced.

Then you can replace the panel, add a sub panel etc. I have seen some setups where it splits after the meter and can go to a second panel from the meter area.


Or you may just have an undersized panel and it may be an easy upgrade.


I suggest you go to craigslist and post an ad under "gigs". You will get a good deal there but do your homework on the electrician and ask alot of questions, how will the service change go? will he contact the electric company? will he pull a permit?

 

[Throwgar]

Do it yourslef! Educate yourself, and be safe, but it is definitely within your realm of possibility. The 60-100 amp breaker for your main box will be about $50. The sub-panel will be about $100, and a handfull of breakers for the new sub-panel ~ $50. Don't forget the romex, go 10 gague to be sure, another $50. Then there's miscellaneous tea, like outlet boxes, 240v plugs, etc.

You could do this yourself for about $250, give or take.

 

[Lazyman]

Throwgar, you're suggesting he climb the pole, upgrade the circuit to 10GA wire (which you think will support 200A??!!!) and string it down to his main panel himself. No offense, but are you NUTS??

 

[Teeg420]

Lazy I think he is talking about just running a sub from his existing panel, which is what i would recommend unless he absolutely needs all 200 amps or 160 amps when following the 80% continous load rating.

Yea you could get away with a sub, find out if you got room in your existing panel might have to get the slim breakers to free up a couple slots.

 

[Marshall]

Do it yourslef! Educate yourself, and be safe, but it is definitely within your realm of possibility. The 60-100 amp breaker for your main box will be about $50. The sub-panel will be about $100, and a handfull of breakers for the new sub-panel ~ $50. Don't forget the romex, go 10 gague to be sure, another $50. Then there's miscellaneous tea, like outlet boxes, 240v plugs, etc.

You could do this yourself for about $250, give or take.

This is why people should read the whole thread. Hell at least read the OP. Obviously you are not paying attention. The OP said he wanted to UPGRADE from 100A service to 200A service because he needed to add a 60A and 40A circuit plus some 120 circuits.

It is possible he could run all this off the main panel if NOTHING else in the house is running. I am thinking if he plans on adding those type of circuits, he plans on using them and needs the upgrade

Also are you suggesting he use #10 to run off the 60-100A breaker to his sub-panel? If so, that is WAY wrong.

 

[Teeg420]

yea the #10 definitely wrong fire waiting to happen all that wire is rated for is 30 amps!

 

[JohnnyHigh]

It's a multi-family house, first two floors are occupied (my patient, and myself). The third floor is vacant and is staying that way. Each floor has it's own DEDICATED 100A main panel and I would like to upgrade the third floor electrical service from 100A to 200A. I would be hiring a electrician to do the work, pulling permits aren't a problem. It's a legal medical grow, so I would welcome the electrical and fire inspections (probably help me sleep a little better at night too )

I just don't want to take it in the a** because I'm not a electrician so I don't really know what a fair or average price for the work would be. I'm not looking for a quote or anything, just a ballpark figure that's honest.

Hope I cleared things up or explained it a little easier.

Thanks

 

[JohnnyHigh]

Lazy I think he is talking about just running a sub from his existing panel, which is what i would recommend unless he absolutely needs all 200 amps or 160 amps when following the 80% continous load rating for growing.

Yea you could get away with a sub, find out if you got room in your existing panel might have to get the slim breakers to free up a couple slots.

I probably need a total of about 100A or so. 60 - 70A of that would be continous load. The rest would be for various things like fans, pumps, A/C, dehumidifier, etc...

I figured just go to 200A for a nice window of comfort and in-case things change.

 

[Teeg420]

your trying to run 10K - 12K in lighting?

Either way Im not sure what a service panel upgrade would cost you, sorry. Do you own the home?

 

[swordfish]

Do it yourslef! Educate yourself, and be safe, but it is definitely within your realm of possibility. The 60-100 amp breaker for your main box will be about $50. The sub-panel will be about $100, and a handfull of breakers for the new sub-panel ~ $50. Don't forget the romex, go 10 gague to be sure, another $50. Then there's miscellaneous tea, like outlet boxes, 240v plugs, etc.

You could do this yourself for about $250, give or take.

wow bro its stuff like this that people read and end up killing themselves or starting a fire! This is a big project and not for the armchair handyman. Please think about stuff before you post..

 

[JohnnyHigh]

your trying to run 10K - 12K in lighting?

Either way Im not sure what a service panel upgrade would cost you, sorry. Do you own the home?

Teeg420, thanks for being honest.

About 10k total in lighting. About 8kw in flower and 2kw in veg.
I don't own the home, however the patient for whom I'm a caregiver for does.

wow bro its stuff like this that people read and end up killing themselves or starting a fire! This is a big project and not for the armchair handyman. Please think about stuff before you post..

Agreed.

 

[Throwgar]

Okay, since people take everything out of context, I'll be a little more clear. Anything before the main breaker is not so easy, but you can do 10k with 120amp service.

Running a sub panel IS armchair handyman stuff. All you naysayers should try the empowerment route. Always tell people what they CAN do, not what they can't.

This is easy:

 

[Yankee Grower]

wow bro its stuff like this that people read and end up killing themselves or starting a fire! This is a big project and not for the armchair handyman. Please think about stuff before you post..

LOL

Do it yourself! Educate yourself

My bold and italics and thx to peeps like Throwgar you can learn a thing or two.

I've done virtually all of my own wiring and had virtually no experience before. I didn't start anything till doing my own research.

Hey Throwgar...nice meter

 

[Throwgar]

yea the #10 definitely wrong fire waiting to happen all that wire is rated for is 30 amps!

This is correct, and is NOT what I am suggesting. I had a long run from my primary sub-panel, 50', so I used #2 to my secondary sub-panel. I was suggesting #10 for running the 240v lines.

A moron can take perfect information and kill himself through misapplication. Just do the reading, there are people out there who have done the same or similar thing and wrote about it on the internet.

 

[Yankee Grower]

A moron can take perfect information and kill himself through misapplication.

Yeah like driving a car.

 

[Throwgar]

It's a multi-family house, first two floors are occupied (my patient, and myself). The third floor is vacant and is staying that way. Each floor has it's own DEDICATED 100A main panel and I would like to upgrade the third floor electrical service from 100A to 200A. I would be hiring a electrician to do the work, pulling permits aren't a problem. It's a legal medical grow, so I would welcome the electrical and fire inspections (probably help me sleep a little better at night too )

I just don't want to take it in the a** because I'm not a electrician so I don't really know what a fair or average price for the work would be. I'm not looking for a quote or anything, just a ballpark figure that's honest.

Hope I cleared things up or explained it a little easier.

Thanks

I still say do it yourself, but if you want to pay someone to do it...

... assuming that you don't need to upgrade the main line into the building to support the extra load. If you also have your electrician run all of the romex, install all of the outlets, timers, switches, and any additional wiring ...

I'm not licensed, and this is only hypothetical, but as a contractor I'd do this job, labor and parts included, for about $2000-$3000.

 

[Metalhead419]

Everyone is really scared of electricity and rightfully so. It is dangerous, very dangerous. With that said, throwgar is spot on. Do it your self for 200-300 or pay an electrician 2000 to 3000. I personally am not rich, so I chose to do it myself. Went to the home depot and got busy, and I'm still alive to tell about it lol.