Sparkies - Fuse panel to circuit board changeout

[polarsusd81]

For a long time now I have been wanting to change out the fuse box and have a circuit breaker box installed. There is a small breaker box that was installed when the AC was added to the house. The range and range top also have separate breakers in the small breaker box. I am thinking the small breaker box is not nearly large enough to run the entire house. Therefore I think it will require mounting a larger breaker box and moving the AC and range circuits over, along with all the circuits on the fuse box.

I know I will need to get a couple of quotes, but what do you think a ballpark figure would be to have this done in good old Blaine? I have been dreading this change out for a while, but I know it is better for the house and our safety. Plus getting it all cleaned up and in one box rather than two would be ideal.

Thanks for any help.

[BobT]

I'm curious, why do you think it would be better in terms of safety?

[polarsusd81]

Mainly because the wiring in the house is shat. If you saw a photo of the old fuse box, you would understand. I know some outlets are wired incorrectly but I can not trace it behind the walls. When I plug the vacuum into the dining room outlet, the light in the kitchen turns on when I power up the vacuum. Turn the light switch on, power gets cut to the outlets.

My fear is that there are more issues that I have not yet discovered. There are three different 15 amp runs in one 11 x 14 room in the basement. Found that the hard way changing light fixtures. Essentially the wiring in the house is a cluster and my confidence in whoever installed the fuse panel is pretty low.

[CAMAN]

I think it's going to be hard for someone to figure a rough estimate seeing as you probably need to rewire a few areas or maybe even all of it. Especially having unknowns you haven't stated like the type of wiring you have in the house, the size of the house, the size of the current box, if you need to replace or get a larger main line for the amperage required to come up to code if it is currently undersized, etc...

Best thing to do is get a few estimates from well known/reputable companies and go with one you feel comfortable with.

[JohnMickish]

I am sure that your fuse box is overloaded and a breaker panel will be a nice upgrade. Now would be a great time to upgrade to a 200 amp panel/meter socket at the same time.

My guess is that a panel upgrade is going to hit your wallet for about $1500-$3500, depending alot on what all will need to be done. My neighbor just had one done for around $2000 but that was also also upgrade to a 200 amp panel and it required a new mast and meter socket.

I know the prices I shot out there are going to rile up a few folks but that's what it's going to cost to get it done right. I have a few co-workers that are into the side job thing (I don't do side jobs) and I know that they won't touch a panel change for under $1200, and thats for a strait out panel change. Sorry for the bad news.

[BoxMN]

FWIW, I believe you can get an insurance break with a 200 amp service if you don't have it already. I know I did in my old house, when I just happened to mention I had 200 amp, he said, "oh, your old agent didn't list that, you qualify for Gold" or something like that. AmFam. Good luck.

[JohnMickish]

That is correct, with a 200 amp panel you are probably not going to overload the system, thus the risk of fire goes down.