What are the benefits of upgrading to a 200 amp electrical panel?
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you can plug in more electrical appliances without the breakers tripping, like you can run a toaster oven a Microwave and a coffee pot at the same time without it tripping
You can have for circuits is really the only benefit
It's hard to have central air conditioning and run many other things in your house with less than 200amp..
With all the electrical devices we all use today, it helps to not drain the electrical supply. I have a 100 amp service, and lights dim when an appliance comes on. Have a few circuits with too much load.
According to the Code, there are only a limited number of outlets on each circuit (6), and you are only supposed to have a certain number of amps capability in the box (although it is more than the rated capacity in the box - you are not expected to use all the circuits at capacity at the same time). Therefore you can run out of capacity without upgrading. When I redid the service, I intended to provide lots of individual circuits, so most have one or two outlets only. The kitchen has a different circuit on each wall and on either side of the sink (total 5) so anything - griddles, deep fat fryers, coffee pots, heavy mixers, be on at the same time.
The "200" refers to the maximum amp draw for the panel. If you are using that much I would hate to see your bill. I upgraded my old house from a small panel which only had 4 breakers. The house is old. I installed a 200 amp main, panel and rewired my house w/ MC 4hr. rated metal sheathed wiring and installed GFCI's at wet locations. The benefits of upgrading the panel are that you can expand the structure, add central heat and air and have plenty of room left to run a cicuit to your workshop or shed. I also added power to where my gas range was located and purchased a dual fuel range for cooking.
this is a typicalload calculation per national electrical code
4.5 kw - 1500 sqft * 3 watt / sqft for lighting
3.0 kw for two 20 a. appliance outlet 1.5 kw each
1.5 kw for laundry circuit
12.0 kw for electric range
2.5 kw for water heater
1.2 kw for dishwasher
9.0 kw for space heater or a/c
4.5 kw for clothes dryer
total = 38.2 kw
1st 10 kw demand factor 100% = 10 kw
remainder demand factor 40% 28.2*0.4=11.28 kw
calculated load service size= 21.28 kw or 21280 w
21280 w /230 v = 92.5 amp service
100 amp service is good enough unless the re-calculated load say differently.
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