toolman9w
Well-known member
I bought a 1930 house and the wiring has been redone but the fuse panel needs upgraded to a breaker panel. I have wired a garage but never a house.
DIY or professional electrician
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AntonLargiader
Well-known member
If the existing wires are long enough to pull into a new panel it's not that big a job. Post a pic of what you have.
Hard to believe that the house was really rewired and the old fuse panel was left in place.
Hard to believe that the house was really rewired and the old fuse panel was left in place.
Stuart in MN
Well-known member
As for the whole side job thing...whatever you do, make sure the electrician is licensed and insured, and pulls the proper permits. If you're paying some guy under the table you may or may not be getting those things.
It's not hard, if you're a technical person and can understand the code.
You do have to kill the service somehow, which for moat people is the most difficult (and dangerous) part. Up here, my utility would do it for a small fee, or in most cases it is waived.
You do have to kill the service somehow, which for moat people is the most difficult (and dangerous) part. Up here, my utility would do it for a small fee, or in most cases it is waived.
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Screams handy man rewire to me.
Keep in mind the meter box and the wire on the side of the house probably need to be replaced also if it's the same age as the fuse panel.
Don't get me wrong you could do it yourself but a pro will probably be able to get it put back together faster and do a better job with the service riser and stuff.
The outside meter part should be handled by the electric company. At least it is in my area, PNW.
75gmck25
Well-known member
About five years ago I found an older electrician who still did occasional local work, and had him replace my old panel with a new 200 amp Square D QO panel for about $1850, including permits. Of course at that time I only had nine circuits for the entire house, so it was not that hard to move it all over.
My panel is a 30/40 space version, where you can replace 10 of the lower single breakers with dual breakers. I plan to add a new bathroom next spring, and I am now at the point where I have to go back and start installing dual breakers to get all the circuits I need. It all adds up over time when you start upgrading your house.
Bruce
My panel is a 30/40 space version, where you can replace 10 of the lower single breakers with dual breakers. I plan to add a new bathroom next spring, and I am now at the point where I have to go back and start installing dual breakers to get all the circuits I need. It all adds up over time when you start upgrading your house.
Bruce
If you get quotes from a few of the largest guys in town you may learn something about what they think needs to be done.
I understand that in NC an electrician must bring to code any circuit that he works on. Not sure how that may affect the amount of work needed. Of course you may not have this requirement in IN.
I understand that in NC an electrician must bring to code any circuit that he works on. Not sure how that may affect the amount of work needed. Of course you may not have this requirement in IN.
Wanna Ride
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If you satisfied all requirements when you wired your garage, you should be able to handle this. Just call your power company... believe it or not, ours was very helpful with info.
acer66
Well-known member
Here in WNC they just changed it so that the homeowner can do all electric work including permits except for the meter box without taking a test so that might be something you want to look into.
Suppose it depends on the area. In this area there is a couple municipal power co's that take care of the meter box but for the most part the owner is responsible to the weatherhead.
Jim greengo
Well-known member
How about a picture of service outside feeding panel?
AntonLargiader
Well-known member
I cast my vote firmly on the DIY side. Unsecured wiring, missing NM clamp, and just general untidiness. Can you post a pic of the whole thing? Sure seems like it would be nice to replace it all with one new panel.
rd65
Well-known member
the other question is how long can you be without power? You may or may not be able to do in a day. An electrician shouldn't have any problem and would know if what he is seeing with that wiring is ok.
Very typical as to what we see at work in older services, a bunch of 30A fuses screwed in and people wonder why they have electrical fires.
The electrical tape/tape measure (yard stick ?) reinforcement for the Buss fuses is pretty sweet too.
There's many services like that out there and mine used to be one of them. If you don't think you are capable of doing it, hire it done.
I'd venture to say off hand, you probably need a new service entrance with meter base and breaker panel. . . . money well spent.
alfredeneuman
Well-known member
It's that way all over.
Only a homeowner that does his own work without any outside labor, or a licensed Electrical Contractor can apply for permits.
In the case of a service change, the POCO won't hook up to anything until the inspector releases the job (a signed permit card).
Bretny
Well-known member
I have done my own service. We ran new pannel next to new and ran it as a sub pannel until we could have the power company switch it over. Its a bit of a project but doable if you can screw screws in.
I got a guy coming at 5:30 tonight to give me a quote. I cant be without service for very long. It was a rental so I need to get the paint and cleaning people in there. It will be my Daughter and 4 of my Grandchildrens home. The more I looked at it the more henky stuff I found.
Falcon67
Well-known member
I did our old 1926 built house - all knob and tube with 5 boxes on the exterior. Placed a 150A box and pulled new cable to the attic to a row of boxes, then started replacing/configuring one circuit at a time. Hella lot of work with careful scheduling to keep the house running during the work.
Bretny
Well-known member
I think i was with out power for a total of about 4hrs switching from old to new. All i had left to do was hook up the new main lugs. Transfering circuits over could be done later.
wyliesdiesels
Well-known member
wyliesdiesels
Well-known member
if thats the main straight behind the meter, you will need PoCo to shut off power to replace it.
May need permits depending on AHJ.
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alfredeneuman
Well-known member
What size service was the $2400 bid for?
Jim greengo
Well-known member
$2400.00 just for a panel change out is pretty steep,especially if you need to also change service on top of that.
alfredeneuman
Well-known member
He said the bid was also for some junction boxes.
If it wasn't installed on the existing circuit it would need wire.
Depending on the size of wire (and price of the breakers), the distance from the panel, degree of difficulty, conduit if and where needed, the bid could differ greatly from the service price.
If it wasn't installed on the existing circuit it would need wire.
Depending on the size of wire (and price of the breakers), the distance from the panel, degree of difficulty, conduit if and where needed, the bid could differ greatly from the service price.
Doug19
Well-known member
When I bought my house two years ago my home inspecter pointed out that the breaker box that was installed was know to have breakers that failed to trip. So when I moved in I had the 100 amp panel upgraded to 200 amp. Panel, inspection, nee grounds and new line from meter to panel cost me $1200 and took two guys about 6 hours to do.