I am finishing up a 203K write up and saved electric for last.
1- 100 amp fuse box with 2- 60 amp fuse boxes for 1 bedroom apartments. My scope of work will mandate it all be changed to 3- 100 amp breaker panels. Maybe even a 200 amp for the main floor unit and 2- 100 amp for the 1 bedroom apartments.
I wrote 220A coming in with 120/240 volts. The service is fed with an overhead supply.
All panels have a main shutoff.
I guess my question is would anyone else recommend a 200 amp panel for the 2 bedroom main floor and 100 amp panels for the 2 apartments. My concern is they homeowner will need new wires run to the home anyway so I propose running underground and 400 amps. Meters will go outside as part of the work.
Paul, I defer to Jim and Robert as they are the experts, but my thought (as I see many of the same properties that you do) is… As far as the supplied Amps, 100A & 60A are/have been sufficient for the size apartments you mentioned. Seeing as an upgrade to breakers should happen, and apartment dwellers tend to like their electronics (especially “Gamers”), I would prolly suggest 100/100/100 with a higher slot capacity for the mainfloor 2 bedroom, assuming that it’s panel also serves the common areas… or… add a seperate 4th panel for the common areas and size all 3 apartments with the same panels at 100A. IMO, 200A is overkill for a “standard” apartment.
Mandate for me is I have to make mandatory health and safety items. This home needs other electrical wok so a service upgrade to present code requirements would be more cost effective in the long run with a breaker panel. Neither apartments (2 apartments) has air conditioning and to install an effective energy saving install I might as well call for a 100 amp service to each unit. I will ask the electrician what makes the most sense but the fusue have to go. Unlike a regular home inspection I can call for mandatory items such as, clean the flues (chimney sweep), boiler tune up, AFCI or GFCI, smole and CO2, railings, remove torn carpet and so on.
I agree with 100, 100, 100. Thought I’d ask the guys who know more about electricity than me.
The guy buying the place is an IT professional and I will ask him what his energy needs are. For all I know he will fill the utility room with servers. Also, the upstairs apartment is over 1600 SF and is being cooled with 3 mini splits.
This is a rambler style home with a walk out in front. On the 60 amp fuse boxes, they have to go and for the same money I can get 100 amps protected by breakers. This is an insured loan so I have always asked fuses be replaced with breakers.
Jeff and Christopher’s suggestions are good. I didn’t think about 125 or 150 amps.
Electrician will chime in also but I need to deliver my report tomorrow, electrician will not be there on time.
For those who don’t know what I do, I estimate costs before the contractors show up to see if the loan is feasible.
Yeah, I know, I know. I am not an expert in all fields.
Still, I must be doing something right though as I have been doing this for 10 years.
Not in Minnesota. 100 Amp is the norm. 200A in larger homes, but 125A/150A are more common. Even Dual 100’s! Typically I see 200A on larger new builds only (and yes, there are always exceptions).
Fair enough. From an electrician’s or electrical inspector’s perspective simply eyeballing the service size wouldn’t be good enough. A load calculation performed according to Article 220 of the NEC would be needed but I do see where you’re coming from and if it’s acceptable to the parties that you’re dealing with then all is good.
I much appreciated the responses, as well as the suggestion of a load calculation which I have done but not for the 203K rehab loans. I think I will consider load calcs from now on though. It would make for a better report on some projects.
