I just bout a house that has a 60 amp breaker service. I am going to install electric heat and was told that I would need 200 amp service. I was told that the new furnace runs off a 60 amp breaker. There will also be a breaker for a stove and another for the dryer. Will 100 amp be enough or will I have to go to 200 amp service? Also is this fairly easy? Disconnect power to the house, remove the old breaker box and install the new larger one? Any information will be greatly appreciated. Thank you.
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fothergillfred,
first off, you should consider what your paying per KWH , here it is almost $.12 , and electric heat is probably THE most expensive way to heat.
first off, you should consider what your paying per KWH , here it is almost $.12 , and electric heat is probably THE most expensive way to heat.
next, a home's electrical needs are 'sized' to what is called a 'Demand Load Calculation' , which basically takes the square footage & appliances into consideration.
last, you should not simply upgrade one piece of your electrical service like the panel, as the main wire from the poco to the meter, the meter itself, as well as the wire from the meter into your panel, and all grounding conductors must follow suit for a safe installation.
With Electric Heat and the other Appliances you mentioned you will most assuredly need more than a 60 or 100 Amp Service. And, as mentioned, an Upgrade involves quite a bit more than simply changing out the Panelboard.
BTW, I am in the Northeast (Long Island - almost .14/KWH) and the Utility (Power Co.) here requires the House to have certain Insulation values before they will approve installations of Electric Heat. If your set on this it might be a good idea to check with them to make sure that there will be no problem.
Bill
[This message has been edited by Bill Addiss (edited September 28, 2002).]
