To: MainFrame65
My house has a 200 amp panel. It would probably be quite fine with a 100 amp panel, but 200 amps is the minimum they install anymore.
As another example of how the panel rating may bear no resemblance to how much power you'll be likely to use:
If you were to decide to do something crazy like put a 400 amp panel in a 1500 sq ft home, the power company can and does figure out how much power you'll actually be likely to use, and size the service entrance conductors accordingly.
They may well end up feeding your 400 amp panel with the same gauge wires that would have fed the 200 amp panel you didn't want.
To: brianl703
Protecting a 200 Amp service loop with a 400 amp (dual 200) circuit breaker (or fuse pair) would be a code violation.
I think 400 amp service is common in new houses in Memphis now, and it is overkill for most. My AC has 60 amp, long delay fuses, so I know it is the biggest energy hog around, but a lot of newer homes have two smaller units. That has some advantages.
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson