Otis Singleton
Determining the electrical service to your house is important to know if an update is required or if the service can handle an upgrade. The simplest way to do this is by checking the electrical meter outside your house and looking for the point where the main service wires enter your home. You can then open the panel door to the main electrical panel, where you will find two rows of individual circuit breakers with small toggle levers. The central circuit breaker controls the power to the entire panel, and its amperage rating will be something like 60, 100, 150, or 200 amps.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Amperage rating | 60, 100, 150, or 200 amps |
| Amperage range | 30-400 amps |
| Electrical service range | 100-200 amps |
| Main service wires | Overhead wires or service entrance cable |
| Service entrance cable colour | Grey |
| Meter | Glass dome on a square metal base |
| Main service panel location | Inside or outside the house |
| Main service panel appearance | Grey metal box |
| Main service panel contents | Two rows of individual circuit breakers, a central circuit breaker, and two hot bus bars |
| Main service panel amperage | 15-50 amps |
| Main circuit breaker location | Top or bottom of the service panel |
| Main circuit breaker type | Bolted or snap-in |
| Main service cable width | 3/4-1 1/2 inches |
| Conduit diameter | 1-2 inches |
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What You'll Learn
Check the electrical meter
The electrical meter is an important tool for determining the electrical service to your house. The electrical service provided by the power utility company reaches your house through two 120-volt service wires that offer a combined 240 volts of power. These wires enter your home either through overhead service wires that pass through a service mast and down into an electrical meter, or through underground wires that also pass through an electrical meter.
The electrical meter is usually located outside the house, and you can often determine the size of your home's electrical service by examining it. If electrical service is delivered by overhead wires, they may enter a plastic or metal conduit that runs down an exterior wall and into the meter. They may also connect directly to a service entrance cable, which is usually grey, and feed into the meter base.
The size of the electrical service can be estimated by measuring the diameter of the conduit. A 1-inch conduit can hold up to 6-gauge wires with 60-amp service, while a 2-inch conduit can hold longer wires with 100-amp service. If the meter is a glass dome mounted on a square metal base, the home probably has 100 amps of power. A 100-amp service panel will typically provide enough power for a medium-sized home with several 240-volt appliances and central air-conditioning.
After locating the electrical meter, the next step is to find the main service panel, which is usually located inside the home. The main service panel is the distribution centre that splits the main electrical service into individual branch circuits that run throughout the house. The main service panel is typically a grey metal box located on the opposite side of the wall where the exterior electrical meter is placed. It is usually found in a utility area such as a garage, basement, or furnace room.
Once the main service panel is located, ensure that the floor nearby is dry, then open the metal door. Inside, you will find two rows of individual circuit breakers with small toggle levers. These breakers are numbered and control the individual branch circuits. The amperage of these breakers will typically be between 15 and 50 amps. If your home has fuses instead of breakers, the panel will contain a main fuse block with a metal handle, which can be used to shut off power to the entire house.
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Inspect the main service wires
Inspecting the main service wires is crucial to ensure the safety and proper functioning of your home's electrical system. Here are some detailed steps and guidelines to help you through the process:
Accessing the Main Service Wires
The first step is to locate the main service wires. They can enter your house either through overhead service wires or underground cords, typically leading to an electrical meter. The electrical meter is usually found on an exterior wall, often in utility areas such as the garage, basement, or furnace area. The wires then terminate in the main circuit box, which is usually a grey metal box.
Visual Inspection of Wires
Once you've located the main service wires, start by conducting a visual inspection. Check for any signs of damage, fraying, or chew marks, which could indicate pest activity. Look for any exposed or uncapped wires, as these pose a serious safety hazard. If you notice any issues with the wire insulation, such as cracks or deterioration, it may be wise to consult an electrician.
Checking for Correct Wire Termination
Ensure that the wires are properly terminated and seated at their connection points. Improperly terminated wires are a serious hazard and should be addressed immediately. Check that the wires are securely fastened and that there are no loose connections.
Assessing Wire Condition and Material
The condition and material of the wires are crucial factors in ensuring the safety of your electrical system. Older homes, particularly those built in the 1960s and 1970s, may have aluminum wiring, which is more susceptible to corrosion, breakage, and overheating. If your home falls into this category, consider consulting a professional to evaluate the wiring and recommend necessary upgrades or improvements.
Overhead Wire Inspection
If your home has overhead wires bringing in power, inspect the connection points and ensure that there are no tree branches rubbing against the wires. It is the homeowner's responsibility to maintain the trees on their property to avoid any interference with the overhead wires.
Checking for Unusual Noises
Listen carefully for any unusual sounds, such as buzzing or fizzing noises, which could indicate a damaged wire or loose connection. These sounds may indicate that the electric current is jumping to another conductive object, which can be dangerous. If you notice any such sounds, discontinue using the affected outlet and contact an electrician.
Testing Outlets
Use a tester to check all the outlets in your home. These devices will indicate whether an outlet is properly wired and help identify potential wiring problems, such as reversed polarity or open ground. While testers may not catch every issue, they can identify the vast majority of problems.
Grounding and Neutral Connections
Inspect the ground and neutral connections. If your electrical service has its primary main breaker outside at the meter base, the neutral and ground should be bonded only at that point. When the main disconnect is located at the meter base, ensure that the ground and neutral terminal bars are separate and not connected.
Bonding Jumper Wire
Check for the presence of a bonding jumper wire that crosses over the water meter. Inspect metal water lines bonded near the water heater supply pipe and metal gas pipes close to the panel board. For a 200-amp service, the code typically requires at least 6-gauge copper for bonding metal gas pipes and 4-gauge copper for water pipes.
Service-Entrance Conductors
Examine the service-entrance conductors at the connection point with the main terminals or lugs. According to the manufacturer's recommendations or local codes, these connections may be coated with antioxidant. However, panel boards manufactured since the late 1940s do not require antioxidant paste for aluminum terminations.
Main Service Disconnect
Locate the main service disconnect, also known as the main breaker. This is the master switch that shuts off power to everything downstream, including all breakers and hot bus bars. Ensure that this breaker is functioning correctly and that all electricity entering the house passes through it.
Remember, while you can perform a visual inspection and some basic checks, it is always best to consult a certified electrician or home inspector for a thorough assessment of your electrical service wires. They will have the expertise and equipment to identify any potential hazards and ensure the safety and efficiency of your home's electrical system.
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Identify the amperage rating
To identify the amperage rating of your home's electrical service, you can follow these steps:
First, locate your main service panel, which is usually a grey metal box found in a utility area like a garage, basement, or furnace room. It can also be found outdoors, typically on an exterior house wall. The main service panel is the distribution centre that splits the electrical service into branch circuits that power your home's lights, outlets, and appliances.
Next, identify the main circuit breaker. This is usually located at the top or bottom of the two rows of branch circuit breakers and controls the power to the entire panel. The amperage rating of the main circuit breaker will be something like 60, 100, 150, or 200 amps.
If your home has fuses instead of breakers, you will find a main fuse block with a metal handle. Pulling this handle outward will shut off power to the entire house.
In some cases, your home may have a subpanel in addition to the main service panel. A subpanel is a secondary service panel fed by the main panel and typically has 60 to 100 amps. It will have its own main breaker, which is fed by the main panel.
If you cannot locate the amperage rating through these steps, you can visually inspect and estimate the size of the main service cable. The width of the cable can give you an indication of its amperage capacity. For example, 60-ampere capacity cables are typically between 3/4 inch and 7/8 inch wide, while 200-ampere capacity cables are usually 1 and 1/2 inch wide.
Additionally, you can check the outside of your power meter box for a label indicating the amperage rating. This label is usually affixed inside the panel door and may have been placed there by the manufacturer or an electrician during installation.
Finally, if you are unable to determine the amperage rating through these methods, consider contacting a certified home inspector or a licensed electrician. They will be able to guide you in identifying the amperage rating of your home's electrical service.
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Measure the diameter of the conduit
To determine the electrical service to your house, you will need to measure the diameter of the conduit that houses the service cable entry. This is the conduit where the cable from the electric company enters your power meter box. Depending on whether your electricity supply is from underground or above ground, the conduit will enter the meter box from the top or bottom.
To measure the diameter of the conduit, you will need to use either a tape measure or calipers. If using a tape measure, wrap it around the perimeter of the conduit, ensuring a snug fit, and record the measurement. This will give you the external diameter of the conduit.
For greater accuracy, calipers are recommended. To measure the external diameter with calipers, position them perpendicular to the conduit end with the jaws open wide enough to encircle the circumference. Gently place the calipers around the conduit, ensuring full surface contact without any gaps, then carefully close the jaws until they grip the conduit firmly. The caliper scale will display the precise outer diameter measurement.
To measure the internal diameter, use the internal jaws of the caliper, ensuring they are parallelly aligned within the conduit. This will provide an accurate reading of the inner wall-to-wall diameter.
Conduit sizes are typically indicated in trade sizes, which may not directly correspond to the physical measurements. Common trade sizes range from 1/2 inch to 8 inches, each indicating a specific internal diameter.
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Assess the main service cable
The electrical service cable, also known as the service entry cable (SEC), is the bundle of electrical cables that bring electricity into your home from the utility company's power pole or an underground service system.
To assess the main service cable, you should first determine its type. The two main types of service entrance cables are SER and SEU. SER cables have both neutral and ground conductors and are safe to use after the service disconnect. They are made of copper or aluminium wires reinforced with Style R tape. SEU cables, on the other hand, are unarmoured and often used as panel feeders. They have a neutral conductor but lack a ground conductor, making them safe to use only at the point of disconnect.
The next step is to check the cable's condition. Look for any signs of deterioration or leaks, especially if the cable is above ground. Also, inspect the service cap to ensure it is properly installed and sealed to keep water out of the cable.
Additionally, you should verify the cable's size and capacity. Compare the cable size of the service entry cable with the amp rating of the main disconnect breakers or fuses. The standard cable size for residential electrical service is typically rated for 200 amps, providing 120 volts of electricity each (240 volts across two wires).
Finally, it is important to note that any work on the service cable should be done by a professional electrician. Power in the service cable is live at all times unless the utility company shuts it off. Therefore, attempting any work on the cable without professional expertise can be extremely dangerous.
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Frequently asked questions
The simplest way to determine the electrical service size is by looking at the electrical meter, generally located outside the house. Check for the point where the main service wires enter your home. If these are overhead wires, you will notice metal service pipes running down the exterior wall of your home to the meter.
Most houses receive somewhere between 100 to 200 amps. Amperage can vary, from 30 amps in very old houses, to 400 amps in very large houses with extensive electric heating systems.
The amperage rating of your house can be determined by checking the main circuit breaker. It will usually be 60, 100, 150, or 200 amps. If your home has fuses instead of breakers, you will find a main fuse with a metal handle.
The main service panel is the distribution center that splits the main electrical service into individual branch circuits that run through your home to power lights, outlets, and appliances. It is usually a grey metal box located somewhere along the inside surface of an exterior wall.
The diameter of the conduit that houses the service cable entry is another factor to consider. A 1-inch conduit can hold up to 6-gauge wires with 60-amp service, while a 2-inch conduit can hold longer wires with 100-amp service.
