Is my electrical box maxed out or over?

[oxmanwi]

Hi I have a electrical question. I lived at my 1961 ranch home for a few years. I decided to update the breaker label sheet and find out what is on each line by walking around the house and checking every Receptacle and light switch. I've done some research and I think my box is maxed out or over.

I have a Eaton CH 100 amp 240 for my main. But if you look at my box, I have a 50 amp 240 for my garage, 40 amp 240 for my stove, 15 amp 240 for well pump, FOUR 15 amp 120 and SIX 20 amp 120 for the rest of the house.

The 100 amp 240 volt MAIN is 24,000 watts

If you add up the rest of the box its 46,800 watts.

Honestly I don't think I'll ever have a bunch of stuff running at once, but this doesn't make sense. Is this ok? Why did they overload the box? What are my options?

Pictures.

 

[Bert_]

It's normal. As you said your not maxing out all the circuits at once. This is why we do load calcs when determining service size.

 

[nh_yota]

Sizing is based on calculated load not breaker total. You could fill a 100A panel with 50A breakers and it would be fine if the load was calculated correctly.

 

[nh_yota]

The brown CH panels were fairly top of the line back in the day and I think they still are.

 

[oxmanwi]

Ok so it's normal? I was worried for a second. For piece of mind, could I upgrade the 100 main for a 150 amp?

 

[nh_yota]

Ok so it's normal? I was worried for a second. For piece of mind, could I upgrade the 100 main for a 150 amp?

Yes its normal.

Short answer - no.

The sizing of the main breaker is based on the capacity of the service (conductor size) and the capacity of the panel. The breaker was likely sized for the service conductors.

 

[oxmanwi]

So if I ever wanted to upgrade my box, I would have to call up the electric company and have them upgrade the conductor size to the box?

 

[Bert_]

So if I ever wanted to upgrade my box, I would have to call up the electric company and have them upgrade the conductor size to the box?

Depends on the company some will take care of everything up to and including the meter box. Others it would be your responsibility all the way to the weatherhead

 

[wyliesdiesels]

Not an issue.

Its all about load diversity.

 

[exranger06]

In the extremely unlikely event that you were using a ton of electricity all at once (over 100 amps), the worst that would happen is the 100 amp main breaker would trip and shut off the power to the whole panel. That's the whole purpose of the main breaker. If that has never happened to you before, then it probably never will. Unless you plan on adding significant loads to the house, you don't need to upgrade the service.

 

[sberry]

I don't even need to do a real calc to know you will not trip a 100A. Lots of stuff running doesn't draw what the breaker is rated for, air cond,,, 30 breaker, 13 load, lots of light circuits,,, 15 and 20 breakers, amp or 2 load especially with the advent of LED. Welder circuit, 50, modern welder 25 or less. Comps, 30-40 breakers, 15-22 load. Even water heaters, dryers, 30A circuits, 25 load, some less. A stove, 40 or 50 and I bet a good share never seen 30.

 

[Lightman]

Hi I have a electrical question. I lived at my 1961 ranch home for a few years. I decided to update the breaker label sheet and find out what is on each line by walking around the house and checking every Receptacle and light switch. I've done some research and I think my box is maxed out or over.

I have a Eaton CH 100 amp 240 for my main. But if you look at my box, I have a 50 amp 240 for my garage, 40 amp 240 for my stove, 15 amp 240 for well pump, FOUR 15 amp 120 and SIX 20 amp 120 for the rest of the house.

The 100 amp 240 volt MAIN is 24,000 watts

If you add up the rest of the box its 46,800 watts.

Honestly I don't think I'll ever have a bunch of stuff running at once, but this doesn't make sense. Is this ok? Why did they overload the box? What are my options?

Pictures.

Load Diversity,
Ex Utility, common in this area to size outside equipment example 200 amp main, all electric house, heat, air, water heater, stove, house service equipment (Transformer and wire) sized for 60 amp continuous.

Other words using your 100 amp Watt loading 24000 @ $.10 per Kwh, and ignoring the 80 % loading factor. Bill for the month, without Add ons, taxes and fees etc.

$=Kwh x .10

24 Kw x 30 (Days) x 24 (hour per day) x .10= $1720.00

Total of individual breakers 46800 watt

46.8 Kw x 30 x 24 x .10 = $3369.60

Wish my power was only .10 per Kwh, and glad we only use a fraction of the breaker capacity.