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Your One Bullet Point Solution; Electrical Upgrade

Two points; I am well aware of many threads on topic of electrical service. I do not have time to read hundreds of posts, but wish to distill them down with your help. I will also post this on the Misc Forum to get wider response:

Doing service upgrade to 100A. I plan on adding a whole house surge protector, type 2, add on to panel after the service enters house. Panel to the HT/Music room is not under consideration, as it was all updated when the room was built. 

If anyone has important info/contradictory info on that plan, please inform. 

What I would like to know in shorthand form from the community from those who have Done upgrades:

1. Recommended Panel? Brand, any difference? 

2. I currently have sub-panel for HT/Audio room which I'm tempted to keep. I understand that this is a good move. 
Electrician can sum all into a larger panel, but I have reservations. Comments/recommendations? 

3. Particular wiring/breakers for panel/sub-panel for audio use? 

4. Particular surge protector recommend. 

As the topic has been covered much, notation form comments are welcome. Thanks for helping! 


douglas_schroeder
douglas_schroeder OP
3,281 posts
 
I can do either 100A or 200A. The pedestal and panel has not been purchased yet.

If I do 200A, then my 100A subpanel is toast? Need to get 200A subpanel?


FYI for all helping; I added subpanel when building Audio room, as the main panel was too small. The new panel could be large enough to hold the audio lines, but I understand that a dedicated sub-panel is preferred.

I have two 20A lines running to the audio room. Audio room and those lines will not be redone, only panel/sub-panel and surge protection.

douglas_schroeder OP
3,281 posts
 
For clarification, I am replacing 60A main panel with either 100A or 200A main panel, and if necessary/desired, a sub-panel. 

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cleeds
5,986 posts
 
douglas_schroeder
I can do either 100A or 200A. The pedestal and panel has not been purchased yet.
Go for 200A. You'll never regret it.
If I do 200A, then my 100A subpanel is toast?
Nope - it will be fine. You can leave it as-is
oldhvymec
5,101 posts
 
Get the 200 amp. Minimum.

I had a 100 main, the city recommended 300. The problem is a lot of the mains NOW are 400.
They kinda skip 300 and go from 200 to 400, in a lot of the big box stores. You can order them, though.

The sub panels normally are lower than the mains, the 100 for the room is just fine.. Actually it could be quite a but smaller. 30 amp / 220-230
will give you more than enough,

Your going with 220 vac to the sub correct?

The comment about not being able to get the 100 amps, that just isn’t the case..
The amperage is almost unlimited, the voltage is suppose to be 110-120 and 220-240. Be careful, one hand in the pocket time.. 1/10 of an amp in the right conditions, can hurt you, FOREVER..

Regards
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