Is 60 Amp Electrical Service An Issue

Do I have sixty amp or 100 amp electrical service?

electrical panel unfinished

Rob Swyrd from Robart Electrical Services Ltd visited our office and shared some actually helpful information on a topic that is very relevant to today'due south home owner. Insuring a firm with 60/70 amp service is very difficult, because (I'thou told) only 1 visitor provides insurance for houses like this (excluding houses that have been grandfathered in), and it will likely price you iii times as much as a house with 100 amp service. Here are the basic things to look for to help yous determine what type of service is in a given firm (keep in mind that I am certainly not an electrician, and I'thousand giving you lot this info as a style to increase your knowledge and non as any kind of info to rely on without first contacting someone who is an industry professional):

The electrical panel (or box)
The Meter socket (that glass thing exterior on the side of the business firm)
The weatherhead (that matter on your roof our exterior wall that connects to the ability line)

The main electrical panel

Some houses have more than one panel, the main and a sub panel or pony panel. They oft accept stickers on them that signal the rating of the panel. This is not necessarily the same every bit the electrical service you have coming into your property. For example, a box that is rated for 100 amp service may well be used in a firm that only has 60 amp service. Recall of it like your auto. The speedometer shows that nigh cars can exercise in excess of 200 km/h, although y'all know darned well they don't (or practice you?)!
The first affair to look for on a panel is a main shut off switch. Information technology will mostly be at the top, separate from the rows of breakers that go to lights and plugs, etc. If there isn't a primary shut off, you lot amend call an electrician. If it does have a breaker, look closely to encounter if the switch is labeled 100 or threescore/70. It will be indented in the switch, so await closely. If information technology doesn't say 100, phone call an electrician.

Panel with no main shutoff

Console with no chief shutoff

100 amp panel with shutoff

100 amp console with shutoff

The meter socket

This is that drinking glass world-like affair outside that is used to measure how much power you lot utilize. Some accept a spinning wheel, some are digital. If it is in a square or rectangular box, it'south probably 100 amp. If it'south but circular with no box, information technology's likely 60/seventy amp, and you should telephone call an electrician.

100 amp meter socket

60 amp meter socket

threescore amp meter socket

The Weather head

Sometime schoolhouse atmospheric condition heads commonly connect under the soffit and eaves to the side of the business firm. Newer weather heads are generally above the roof, extending from a pole, or way upward on the side of a 2-storey house (code is 12′ four″ above the basis or surface you're standing on below it). If it's under your soffits or depression on a apartment wall, call an electrician.

Rooftop weatherhead

Rooftop weather head

How much volition it cost?

Rob says an electrical upgrade shouldn't be more than $2000-$3000, which includes a new panel, meter socket, conditions head, and permits. Always pull your permits, people! If more work is to be washed inside the business firm, of course the cost may get upwards, and so only brand sure you get a detailed quote for what should be washed in order or priority. Rob also said that in houses with aluminum wiring, he can upgrade information technology for roughly $1500.

Advice for buyers and sellers

Sellers, your task is to make buyers want to buy your firm. The fewer obstacles or red flags they encounter, the more than likely is is that they volition purchase your place and not the one down the street. If you have two identical houses except one has electric current electric and the other has out-dated electrical, which do you think they will buy? Even if you discount it, information technology's 1 more thing they have to do before they can even insure the thing. Spend the money up forepart to become the work done, and you volition have a more than successful selling feel.

Buyers, I hope you don't find yourself in this state of affairs. However, it may well happen. If it does, you have a few options:

Run away. I really don't remember you demand to exercise this, merely it's an option.
Ask seller to upgrade it before you move in. Make information technology a condition or even a term of the buy agreement.
Negotiate a disbelieve so that you tin can do the work yourself once you lot take possession (this means y'all'll however accept to insure the business firm at a college premium until the work is done).
Negotiate a greenbacks back rebate in the purchase understanding (the same would employ virtually the insurance equally in #3).
Go a purchase plus improvements mortgage, so you have access to money for renovations. Talk to your mortgage broker for the ins-and-outs on this 1 (you'd yet have the aforementioned insurance challenge, though).

In that location you lot have it. Once more, in that location's no way this postal service will cover all scenarios, so continue that in listen, and find an electrician you trust. Nigh will exist happy to requite you lot advice or even a gratuitous written estimate that could help yous out with a purchase or sale.

60 100 amp electrical flowchart