- 1). Determine the gauge (size) and type (copper or aluminum) of the service entrance wire entering the home. This should be printed on the wire's insulated cover. At no point should you touch this wire as it has enough power to seriously hurt or kill you. The following are gauges with the maximum amperage load each can safely carry. For a copper wire: 4 -100 amp, 2 - 125 amp, 1 - 150 amp and 2/0 - 200 amp. For aluminum wire: 2 - 100 amp, 1/0 - 125 amp, 2/0 - 150 amp and 4/0 - 200amp. If you require higher amps than the service entrance wire can handle you will need to have the local electrical authority upgrade this connection.
- 2). Determine the number of service entrance wires. Two wires (one neutral and one live) will mean you are limited to 120 volt service. This is unsuitable for modern life and will need to be upgraded. Three wires (one neutral and two live) mean that you have 240 volt service.
- 3). Assess your electrical requirements by recording the size of the home and the number of appliances which use a lot of electricity like stoves, water heaters, clothes dryer, air conditioners and saunas. The real load on the system will be how many of these electrical devices you will use simultaneously.
- 4). Used the information above to determine the required service size. 100 amp service is the minimum for our modern lifestyles. It will suite a regular sized home (three bedroom) without electrical heat. 125 and 150 amp service is required for a regular home if you have electrical heat or an average home with more than the typical number of appliances. A 200 amp service would be found on a electrically heated home and a large house.
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