Hi,
I have an old house with old electric. I replaced my downstairs already, which was fairly easy. My upstairs is a bigger question.
I have 4 bedrooms, a kitchen (that will soon become a laundry room), full bath and hallway.
I'm thinking of putting a subpanel in the attic and running new electric from there. Just think it would be easier for running new outlets and switches.
It would probably be a 200 amp panel.
My existing panel is 200 amp
I would run 15 amp breakers to the bedrooms, bath, laundry, and hallway.
Run a dedicated breaker for washer (20 amp) and dedicated for dryer (30 amp). Total 155 amps for subpanel.
I'd be removing 2 20 amp breakers that feed all my bedrooms and bath and a 15 amp that feeds the kitchen from main panel.
Question 1) any problems so far? I haven't been able to find a 160 or 180 amp panel so I'm not sure they are made in that amperage. Which is why I choose 200 amp. That plus looking towards the future, I may need to add an extra breaker for something. Can I just buy an empty 20 space panel and a separate 175 amp dual pole breaker? I'm just not sure what happens when running a 200 amp breaker off a 200 amp breaker...if anything.
Would I need to upgrade the main panel to a higher amp?
2) What gauge wire should be used for feeding the sub from the main panel?
I've googled but it's hard to find a direct answer. I'd be using copper. Is there a site that explains proper gauge for certain scenarios. The run form main to sub panel would be roughly 30-35 feet.
This is all still in planning stage so none of this is set in stone or any thing even bought yet.
thanks for any guidance...
I have an old house with old electric. I replaced my downstairs already, which was fairly easy. My upstairs is a bigger question.
I have 4 bedrooms, a kitchen (that will soon become a laundry room), full bath and hallway.
I'm thinking of putting a subpanel in the attic and running new electric from there. Just think it would be easier for running new outlets and switches.
It would probably be a 200 amp panel.
My existing panel is 200 amp
I would run 15 amp breakers to the bedrooms, bath, laundry, and hallway.
Run a dedicated breaker for washer (20 amp) and dedicated for dryer (30 amp). Total 155 amps for subpanel.
I'd be removing 2 20 amp breakers that feed all my bedrooms and bath and a 15 amp that feeds the kitchen from main panel.
Question 1) any problems so far? I haven't been able to find a 160 or 180 amp panel so I'm not sure they are made in that amperage. Which is why I choose 200 amp. That plus looking towards the future, I may need to add an extra breaker for something. Can I just buy an empty 20 space panel and a separate 175 amp dual pole breaker? I'm just not sure what happens when running a 200 amp breaker off a 200 amp breaker...if anything.
Would I need to upgrade the main panel to a higher amp?
2) What gauge wire should be used for feeding the sub from the main panel?
I've googled but it's hard to find a direct answer. I'd be using copper. Is there a site that explains proper gauge for certain scenarios. The run form main to sub panel would be roughly 30-35 feet.
This is all still in planning stage so none of this is set in stone or any thing even bought yet.
thanks for any guidance...