Electrical Panel Upgrade to 125amp for 5Kw install?

[inetdog]

It sounds like, there is a market for 300A bus bars that can swap out 225A bus bars. Bruce Roe

I would think so, but:
Unfortunately they either would not fit or would not accept the same breakers. Especially the main. (You cannot make them thicker, so they have to be deeper or wider.)
And the volume would be too low to make the production economical. Yet....

[bcroe]

It sounds like, there is a market for 300A bus bars that can swap out 225A bus bars. Bruce Roe

[acamato]

Figure out your elect load to size your panel needs. I doubt most residential 200A panels do see a load close to 200A.

You are looking are replacing your subpanel. It could be any rating. It will still be fed from a 90A breaker in the main panel. I would install a 200A panel and leave the 90A breaker in. Down the road you could upgrade the service to 125, 150 or 200A if needed.

Assuming your solar will backfeed your into your subpanel, your elect usage from the power co will be reduced, so your main (90A) breaker will see less of a load than it currently is seeing.



I currently have 150A service. I have an elect stove, hot tub, pool, central ac. I have never had an issue with the main breaker tripping.

I did replace my panel but didn't upgrade the service. I installed a Square D 225A panel and installed a 150A breaker.

The reason I replaced mine was because I couldn't find a bus bar rating on the panel and a new panel would ensure I met the 125% bus bar load calc in the NEC. Also, I wanted more space. (old panel was full had a bunch of double breakers and one quad).

[foo1bar]

I need a recommendation for an electrician to replace my electrical panel. Checked Tremmel and they only work on one kind, so need another recommendation.

Ask a RE agent in the area.
Or ask someone who has done some remodeling who their electrician was.

I could tell you who I've gotten a bid from - but unless you're near San Jose, CA, that's not going to help you much.
(Maybe you should add where you are and/or start your own thread)

[Kleinero]

Electrical Panel Upgrade to 125amp for 5Kw install

I need a recommendation for an electrician to replace my electrical panel. Checked Tremmel and they only work on one kind, so need another recommendation.

[solar_newbie]

LOL with your link. I would agree for the upgrade. The quote of $2600 is not high. My friend upgrade from 100A -> 125A costs $3000.

[foo1bar]

I would say "yes" on your answer. Both jobs cost less labor then re-do the current panel.
Then, why to replace the current sub-panel? Just install a new sub-panel... You have plenty places to put a new equipment in.

Why replace it?
Because it's a zinsco panel.

http://inspectapedia.com/electric/Zinsco_Electric_Box_Notification.php

http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=%22Zinsco+electrical+equipment+%22+hazard

Is it better to keep things separate as there is no problem for the current panel? Separate the house from other new things.

IMO it doesn't matter whether the solar (and/or a new EV) goes into a panel shared with rest of the building or a separate panel.
As long as it is up to code, having 2 panels or 1 is not important IMO.
But since the subpanel should be replaced (because it's zinsco), this is probably a good time to do the replacement.

[solar_newbie]

I would say "yes" on your answer. Both jobs cost less labor then re-do the current panel.
Then, why to replace the current sub-panel? Just install a new sub-panel... You have plenty places to put a new equipment in. Is it better to keep things separate as there is no problem for the current panel? Separate the house from other new things.

[foo1bar]

Couple installers I talk to told me that they install a new sub-panel for FREE. They also install the EV car charger for free. The material cost is very small 100-200 for them. What is the point to pay $2500 for sub-panel when you already pay a lot of solar .

Installing EV charger is pretty easy and won't take much time.
A new sub panel is a lot easier than replacing an existing one.
So both of those are significantly less labor.

But I think the thing to ponder is whether they really are "FREE".
Or is it more that they just make sure they have more than enough profit on each job so that they can do these additional items?

I'd bet on the latter - they have enough profit built in to their pricing that wiring an EV charger ($50-$100 in material? $400 in labor?) is something that doesn't affect their bottom line that much - and gives them something to use for marketting themselves.

[solar_newbie]

Couple installers I talk to told me that they install a new sub-panel for FREE. They also install the EV car charger for free. The material cost is very small 100-200 for them. What is the point to pay $2500 for sub-panel when you already pay a lot of solar .

[foo1bar]

It sounds like upgrading to a 200 amp service, if it isn't needed right now, doesn't make sense since it would require a new underground line from PG&E (i think).

[/QUOTE]

IMO find out what you have - if it's easy/cheap to upgrade, go for it.
Whether it's cheap/easy will depend on how big the conduit is and what wire size is there already.
Probably the conduit and wires are just the minimum size needed for 100A or 125A service (whatever it is you have now)
And probably you'll need to replace both conduit and wires.
But maybe you're luckier than me.
And you can check wtih PG&E to see what they say - maybe they'll replace those wires for you. (I doubt it - but I only have had experience with 1 POCO with underground service - before that I dealt with overhead and then the POCO would replace the lines up to the weatherhead.)

[foo1bar]

Is there any reason why I shouldn't put in a 200amp sub-panel, even though the main breaker is 90amps? Wouldn't that be a cheap future-proofing (I'm assuming the cost between a 125 panel and a 200 panel is minimal). Or does that break the code?

It's not going to help much for "future-proofing".
The wires from the main to the sub aren't being upgraded.
Therefore you can't put more than 90A through them.
I'd make sure there's sufficient breaker space in the new panel for future circuits. That would be good inexpensive future-proofing.

If you really think you will want to have more than 90A going to the subpanel, then you should upgrade the wire from the main to the sub at the same time as upgrading the panel to 200A.

Also - I'd check your main panel - if that's zinsco, then you may want to replace it too.

[anilr]

Thanks everyone for your comments.

Yes, the subpanel I have is a Zinsco so it should be replaced regardless. It sounds like upgrading to a 200 amp service, if it isn't needed right now, doesn't make sense since it would require a new underground line from PG&E (i think).

So perhaps sticking with a new 125 amp sub-panel, but making sure PG&E agrees to the setup before installation.

Is there any reason why I shouldn't put in a 200amp sub-panel, even though the main breaker is 90amps? Wouldn't that be a cheap future-proofing (I'm assuming the cost between a 125 panel and a 200 panel is minimal). Or does that break the code?

[emartin00]

Upgrading the service at no cost?
Let me guess - Overhead service, right?
I found out the hard way that I am responsible to pay for the underground wires and conduit (and installation) from the small pit/utility box at the edge of my property to the meter at my house. When I called before upgrading my service I asked about the service - and unfortunately we were miscommunicating - because they told me that "Yes, your wires are big enough. You are fine for up to 400A" But what they were referring to was the wires going to the edge of my property, not the ones going to my meter.

Yes, most residential service around here is all overhead. Some of the newer neighborhoods are underground, but those were all built with 200A service anyway.
If they used conduit, and it is large enough, they may be able to just replace the wires without having to dig it up. Not sure what that would cost though.

[foo1bar]

In my area, the utility will do the upgrade at no cost, because it usually means that you will be using more power. You're still on the hook for the panel upgrade though.

Upgrading the service at no cost?
Let me guess - Overhead service, right?
I found out the hard way that I am responsible to pay for the underground wires and conduit (and installation) from the small pit/utility box at the edge of my property to the meter at my house. When I called before upgrading my service I asked about the service - and unfortunately we were miscommunicating - because they told me that "Yes, your wires are big enough. You are fine for up to 400A" But what they were referring to was the wires going to the edge of my property, not the ones going to my meter.