Ballpark estimate of circut breaker upgrade? My parents and I are looking at upgrading the circut breaker in...
My parents and I are looking at upgrading the circut breaker in our 1960's home. I believe they said that we would only inevitability to upgrade the box, and wouldn't have to worry more or less replacing the wiring as it is still in well-mannered condition. Are there any electricians or people who hold recently done the same out in attendance who could tell me about how much it will cost?
I'm asking this because I plan on paying at most minuscule 1/3 of the costs to upgrade because part of the reason it is vital is the amount of electronic equipment I have, and how much power it all pulls.
Answers: As it requires respectively and every thing in the house to be inspected and tested, consequently a ball park figure is 4-500 quid, depending on location.
That will include the count of an RCD, and I would be concerned that all your 'electronic equipment' may end up leak so much current, that the RCD is forever tripping out.
And quite honestly, electronics pull relatively LITTLE power, I feel It's more likely you are short of socket outlets, if anything.
Telly 2-300Watts (~1-1.5 Amp)
DVD player 40Watts (0.2 Amp)
PC's another 300Watts.
It's Heaters/Driers/Cookers that pull a massive current, not the HI-Fi/ electronics/ PCs...
I would say you're looking at around $1000. A 200-amp panel itself is about $250. You may involve to replace some old breakers. And, then you hold an electrician's labor to do the job. $1000 - $1200 sounds about right. You will own to get the panel, A new meter socket (most likely), the riser pipe (where the line comes in from the telephone pole) along near a new weather head, and later much bigger more expensive service entrance wire. You can get a foreign 200 amp panel kit with the breakers at lowes for $125, meter socket $30, 2" rigid riser and weather boss $50 +/-. If your keeping your wiring throughout the rest of the house the electrician will probably also use a "troth" near the spanking new panel to extend your wiring. Sorry, maybe for a time too much info but maybe not