| Forte Electric |
| Main Electrical Service Upgrades |
There are many reasons to upgrade your electrical
service. Some of them are:
Adding Central Air Conditioning
Addition or Extension
Adding a Pool or Spa
Updating old Fuse panel
Adding room air conditioners
Replace old worn service
service. Some of them are:
Adding Central Air Conditioning
Addition or Extension
Adding a Pool or Spa
Updating old Fuse panel
Adding room air conditioners
Replace old worn service
If you have circuits that you are overloading, that is not a reason to upgrade
your service. Installing a new service to eliminate this problem will most likely
end in disappointment. Overloading circuits that blow fuses or trip circuit
breakers is typically an indication that there is a problem with the branch
circuit and not the service.
your service. Installing a new service to eliminate this problem will most likely
end in disappointment. Overloading circuits that blow fuses or trip circuit
breakers is typically an indication that there is a problem with the branch
circuit and not the service.
In most cases the service should be upgraded to 200 amps. The cost
difference between a 150 amp and 200 amp service is minimal and in this day
in age when we have so many demanding electrical appliances it makes good
sense. There are cases where a larger service is required as well.
difference between a 150 amp and 200 amp service is minimal and in this day
in age when we have so many demanding electrical appliances it makes good
sense. There are cases where a larger service is required as well.
| What to look for in a service upgrade |
We prefer to do our services in PVC pipe. The reasons are it is durable over
time, doesn't rust and gives additional protection, unlike an exposed SEU
service.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
A full capacity main panel. For example in a 200 amp service a full 40 circuit
panel is full capacity.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
In almost all cases a new ground wire will need to be run to the water main
and another to a new ground rod installed outside.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Fire Underwriters Certificate
time, doesn't rust and gives additional protection, unlike an exposed SEU
service.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
A full capacity main panel. For example in a 200 amp service a full 40 circuit
panel is full capacity.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
In almost all cases a new ground wire will need to be run to the water main
and another to a new ground rod installed outside.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Fire Underwriters Certificate
| What to expect when the service is changed |
Expect your power to be out for about 6 hours on the day the job is done,
more if it is more involved.
You probably won't see any noticeable differences after a service change
although we have had customers say the electric bill was lower. I suspect this
is due to water damage causing poor connections in the Meter Pan
One other possibility you may experience is circuit breakers tripping. The
reason for this is on some old services, especially fuses, the circuits were
overprotected by previous owner to eliminate blowing circuits. When we do
the service we install the proper circuit breakers according to the wire size. If
this occurs you may need to have some new circuits run to alleviate the
problem.
more if it is more involved.
You probably won't see any noticeable differences after a service change
although we have had customers say the electric bill was lower. I suspect this
is due to water damage causing poor connections in the Meter Pan
One other possibility you may experience is circuit breakers tripping. The
reason for this is on some old services, especially fuses, the circuits were
overprotected by previous owner to eliminate blowing circuits. When we do
the service we install the proper circuit breakers according to the wire size. If
this occurs you may need to have some new circuits run to alleviate the
problem.
 |  |  |  |  |  |
| (C)Copyright 2003 Forte Electric Inc. |
| Residential - Commercial |
Nassau
Suffolk
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
This page
requires
JavaScript to
display
properly.
requires
JavaScript to
display
properly.