Got a question on service. This appears to be a 200 amp service to the house but the main breaker panel is actually under the service meter. The main disconnect for the interior panel os a 90 amp breaker. Would I describe this as 200amp service since the main breaker is outside? Or 90amp since the main breaker to the house is only 90? There are 2 other breakers in this box seperately for the a/c and oven unit. So it seems maybe it’s 200amp there is just a service panel inside for the outlets and lights that is 90
Do you have a photo with the panel cover removed? The label says that “all circuit breakers are service disconnects” which means that there not a single main service disconnect. Also the photo is too blurry to read the amp value on the breaker handles.
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How did you determine the service was 200 Amps?
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If that “Main” breaker is 200 amp, then yes, but a view of the inside of the panel would be nice to verify the rating of the service wire. Also pictures of the inside of the interior sub-panel would help clarify things as well.
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some additional pictures. One of the cover removed from the exterior panel the other is of the inside service panel.
the breakers are top left 90, top right 30, and bottom right 20.
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Since there are multiple service disconnects you could use the service conductor size to determine the service ampacity.
box shape and the service conductor size inside the panel (right side of added photo with the cover removed)
Most people only care about what they can use.
Without changing out the drop or the panels, this one is 90.
I would note in my report that that maximum available amperage is rather limited at 90 amps and suggest they contact a licensed and insured electrician if their needs exceed that and require a panel update.
I see similar setups as this on Manufactured homes where several of the larger draws like the condenser sit under the meter pan and all the house stuff is on a sub. I typically see 125 or 150 amp breakers to the subs though.
very helpful, I think I’ll go that route to keep me safe. Thanks!
That is incorrect with regards to the service. The sub-panel is as you’ve stated 90 amps but that is not the service. The service is the panel within the meter enclosure and can have up to 6 service disconnects so the limiting factor for the service size is the conductors feeding it.
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I agree, not disputing that at all. What I am saying is that people want power inside for stuff and that panel is 90amps. Without added an additional sub or direct circuit off this panel, they are limited to 90.
If he’s reporting on a 4pt, then the conductor size would matter. If he’s just doing a report for someone buying a house who wants to know how much power they have available to them in the home without a bunch of additional work, well, then it doesn’t matter what any of that under the panel is except that it’s usable for updates. shrug
Yeah his question was about the service size so my responses are based on that. The sub-panel is 90 amps which is this case is not relevant to the size of the service but it may be worth noting that as you’ve suggested they only have 90 amps of capacity on the sub-panel. There is still room for additional breakers in the service if more circuits are needed down the road.
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I actually ended up reaching out to a local electrician who said it’s common in our area to have this installation. The service is 200amps but they do a 90amp sub feed to the interior. It used to be 100 but they downgraded the #2 aluminum service cables to only handle 90amps. So the service itself is 200 amps as I described in the report but I mentioned the interior panel is only rated at 90 amps.
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That’s correct. #2 aluminum SE cable is only rated for 90 amps @75° C.
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