# Requirements for 200 amp? **URL:** \ **Category:** Exterior Inspections\ **Created:** [November 19, 2009, 3:00am UTC](https://forum.nachi.org/t/requirements-for-200-amp/44083 "2009-11-19T03:00:33Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 9\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![sfogarty](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/internachi/user_avatar/forum.nachi.org/sfogarty/32/58235_2.png) [@sfogarty](https://forum.nachi.org/u/sfogarty)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2009, 3:00am UTC](https://forum.nachi.org/t/requirements-for-200-amp/44083/1 "2009-11-19T03:00:33Z")
Wrong place sorry! ---
**Author:** ![sstanczyk](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/internachi/user_avatar/forum.nachi.org/sstanczyk/32/175851_2.png) [@sstanczyk](https://forum.nachi.org/u/sstanczyk)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2009, 3:03am UTC](https://forum.nachi.org/t/requirements-for-200-amp/44083/2 "2009-11-19T03:03:22Z")
Didn’t have 200 amp service. May have had a 200 amp panel but the 2/0 AL SEC would have made it 150 amp service. ---
**Author:** ![sfogarty](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/internachi/user_avatar/forum.nachi.org/sfogarty/32/58235_2.png) [@sfogarty](https://forum.nachi.org/u/sfogarty)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2009, 3:20am UTC](https://forum.nachi.org/t/requirements-for-200-amp/44083/3 "2009-11-19T03:20:59Z")
So why the 200 amp panel? ---
**Author:** ![rmaday](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/internachi/user_avatar/forum.nachi.org/rmaday/32/581_2.png) [@rmaday](https://forum.nachi.org/u/rmaday)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2009, 3:29am UTC](https://forum.nachi.org/t/requirements-for-200-amp/44083/4 "2009-11-19T03:29:06Z")
> [@sfogarty](#): > > So why the 200 amp panel? 200 amp panel can be used **up to** 200 amp service. ---
**Author:** ![jbraun](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/internachi/user_avatar/forum.nachi.org/jbraun/32/536_2.png) [@jbraun](https://forum.nachi.org/u/jbraun)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2009, 3:46am UTC](https://forum.nachi.org/t/requirements-for-200-amp/44083/5 "2009-11-19T03:46:52Z")
If the panel has a 200 amp breaker would it be okay? ---
**Author:** ![sstanczyk](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/internachi/user_avatar/forum.nachi.org/sstanczyk/32/175851_2.png) [@sstanczyk](https://forum.nachi.org/u/sstanczyk)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2009, 3:55am UTC](https://forum.nachi.org/t/requirements-for-200-amp/44083/6 "2009-11-19T03:55:30Z")
The meter can be 200, the panel can be 200, the main disconnect can be 200, and the SEC can be 2/0 aluminum. You have 150 amp service. No defect. ---
**Author:** ![sfogarty](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/internachi/user_avatar/forum.nachi.org/sfogarty/32/58235_2.png) [@sfogarty](https://forum.nachi.org/u/sfogarty)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2009, 4:31am UTC](https://forum.nachi.org/t/requirements-for-200-amp/44083/7 "2009-11-19T04:31:18Z")
Wouldn’t that be like saying its okay to put a 30 amp breaker on 14 awg wire. What would be the difference. ---
**Author:** ![sstanczyk](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/internachi/user_avatar/forum.nachi.org/sstanczyk/32/175851_2.png) [@sstanczyk](https://forum.nachi.org/u/sstanczyk)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2009, 4:51am UTC](https://forum.nachi.org/t/requirements-for-200-amp/44083/8 "2009-11-19T04:51:07Z")
Not the same thing at all. With the SEC, it is supplying the main breaker. A smaller rated wire cannot overload a higher rated breaker. Now when a breaker supplies a conductor, that is different. It is supplying more amperage than the conductor can handle. Home Inspection 101. ---
**Author:** ![rmaday](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/internachi/user_avatar/forum.nachi.org/rmaday/32/581_2.png) [@rmaday](https://forum.nachi.org/u/rmaday)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2009, 5:06am UTC](https://forum.nachi.org/t/requirements-for-200-amp/44083/9 "2009-11-19T05:06:40Z")
In other words, the main disconect is not an overcurrent protection device for the SEC. 😉