electric service to an older home?

[EZB581]

I'm looking into buying an older home built in the late 60's or early 70's. It's a small 3 room 1 bath place. How can I learn how much electric service this place has? Thanks.

 

[cocktail frank]

check the main breaker. it should say what amperage it is.

 

[EZB581]

Well that sounds easy enough!
The place is a VHA repo I think. It's sat empty for a long time & in serious disrepair. I just did get a number for more info. Thanks for the insight Cocktail Frank!

 

[ft100]

i am putting two 15 amp lines in an older home that has 100 amps. do you think this will cost much electrician wise?

 

[Guest]

It will depend on length and difficulty of run.Don't let him get over on you and run 2 seperate circuits with neutrals,require a 3 wire run.I'd go with a 12/3 and 20A circuits but thats me.A 12 wire 16A continuous load offers the oppurtunity of an upgrade in the future.Its almost an extra 1K fixture at 240V on each circuit.Either size you decide on,demand a 3 wire pull and don't take "its not safe" or can't be done as an answer.

 

[ft100]

i really have no idea what you are talking about, if you could just tell me what i should tell the electrician exactly then it would help. I dont minde them being 2 120 volt lines if that is what you were talking aobut. This is all another language to me. thanks again and let me know

 

[Guest]

You will run two seperate circuits on seperate breakers but instead of two different cables the wires will all be in one cable,this saves you a lot of money.Any honest electrician would run a 3 wire cable for two seperate circuits instead of two 2 wire cables,but some may try to cheat you.If you want 2 15 amp circuits you want the electrician to use 14/3 from the panel,if 2 20 amp circuits he should use 12/3.No pairs of 14/2 or 12/2.I dont know how to make it any clearer but if you still dont understand maybe CF or someone can explain it better.You want 3 wire not 2 wire,14 gauge for 15 amp,12 gauge for 20 amp.

 

[ft100]

alright man, that is what i will tell him. I will tell him I want two seperate cicuits on seperate breakers all ran off 1 cable. Then Ill tell him I want it ran 14/3 from the panel so no pairs are used. I think that should be all I need to tell him with what he already knows. Thanks for the help and if you think anything above sounds stupid or incorrect, let me know. He is coming tomorrow in the afternoon.

 

[Guest]

You got it just remember 14 is only rated at 15 amps and 12 is rated at 20.I'd go with 20A 12 wire circuits if I were going to run new circuits,but thats me.

 

[ft100]

the most i will ever run is 2 600 watt lamps. so i think 2 15 amp circuits will be fine. I wont want to expand any. Thanks again for setting me up.

 

[imnotcrazy]

I'd say 90% of sparkies won't even waste their time running 15A lines....You'd be better off just running them 20A. Besides, code designates a 20A DEDICATED line is REQUIRED/room. The difference in price is not much to upgrade the wire size to #12 from the #14 and the breakers are equal/not much difference in price

 

[EZB581]

the main breaker in this house I'm looking at is 100 amps. Is there a sort of safety margin? Meaning the power from the pole "may" be slightly less than 100 amps. Just curious how it works. Can the home buyer be required to increase the electrical service to the home to meet current codes or such? Just currious Thanks.

 

[imnotcrazy]

Any existing work is grandfathered in. 100A is standard Minimum service for single fam. home.

 

[ft100]

well he came over and said he will do 2 independant 20 amp lines for me for 350 bucks. does this sound right?