Is Your Electric Service Panel Big Enough

Electrical Panel Capacity
Electrical Question: Is my electric panel big enough for all my appliances?

• I live in a mobile home park and my model home which is plugged into 50-amp service.
• Is this sufficient to have an electric kitchen stove?
• I have an electric water heater and all the usual small appliances and electronics, and we also have an air conditioner.

Thank you.

This electrical wiring question came from: Judy, from Desert Hot Springs, California.

Dave’s Reply:
Thanks for your electrical wiring question Judy.

Home Electric Service Panel

Guide to Electrical Panel Circuit Capacity

• Estimating the Required Electrical Service
  • Judy, it is a good thing that you are asking this question before you purchase the kitchen stove because it appears that your electric service panel may not have the extra amperage capacity, and most likely there may not be any available circuit breaker spaces as well.
  • The electric water heater is commonly a 240 volt 30 amp circuit, and the air conditioner may be on a dedicated circuit, possibly 15 or 20 amps. Your home will also have circuits for the bathroom outlet, kitchen outlets, lights and additional circuits for the rest of the home outlets and lights.
  • When taking all of these circuits into consideration and then seeing that your electrical service is limited to 50 amps then it does not appear that you could add an conventional electric stove, unless the stove is much smaller than normal. You may want to consider installing a gas stove instead.

• Home Electrical Panel Sizes
  • Most newer homes have an electric service that is sized according to the size of the home and any special circuit loads.
  • Some smaller homes have a 125 amp panel, and most three bedroom, two bathroom homes have a 200 amp panel.
  • Larger custom homes may have a 200 to 600 amp main electric service with multiple sub panels.
  • The amperage size of the electrical service and the load capacity has little to do with the number of circuit breakers and their amperage rating because not all of the circuits are being used at the same time and each circuit may not reach the rated amperage load of the circuit.

• Circuit Breaker Spaces in Electric Panels
  • The amperage size of the panel is one thing, however there must be spaces available for additional circuit breakers as well if you are considering adding more circuits.
  • Each electrical panel is designed to allow a specified number of circuit breakers, however there are options for additional circuits to be added depending on the type of electrical panel and the actual load or available capacity.

More about Electrical Panel Loads

• Residential Electrical Load Calculator

  • The Electrical Load Calculator is a fully functional online and Interactive tool that will assist you with accurate panel load calculations.
  • The Residential Electrical Load Calculator is Pre-Loaded with electrical information for you to chose for typical electrical loads in the home.
  • General Electrical Load Requirements, Appliances and Motor Loads, Heating and Air Conditioning equipment.
  • Sizing Wire for a Panel: Voltage Drop Calculator

More about Electrical Service Panels

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Electrical Circuit Wiring

This article looks at common 120 volt and 240 volt house wiring circuits and the circuit breakers that are installed identifying the types and amperage sizes used in most homes.
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Home Electrical Circuit Breakers

A guide to home electrical circuit breakers and how they work to protect your electrical wiring. When properly installed, your home electrical wiring is protected by a circuit protection device.

» You Can Avoid Costly Mistakes! « Here's How to Do It: Wire It Right with the help of my Illustrated Wiring Book Great for any Home Wiring Project. Complete Guide to Home Electrical Wiring Perfect for Homeowners, Students, Handyman, Handywomen, and Electricians Includes: Wiring GFCI Outlets Wiring Home Electric Circuits 120 Volt and 240 Volt Outlet Circuits Wiring Light Switches Wiring 3-Wire and 4-Wire Electric Range Wiring 3-Wire and 4-Wire Dryer Cord and Dryer Outlet How to Troubleshoot and Repair Electrical Wiring Wiring Methods for Upgrading Electrical Wiring NEC Codes for Home Electrical Wiring ....and much more.

Be Careful and Be Safe - Never Work on Energized Circuits!
Consult your Local Building Department about Permits and Inspections for all Electric Wiring Projects.

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Home Electrical Wiring and Electrical Repairs Please Note: Unless otherwise posted, please refer to the following Guidelines when working on Electrical Projects: Skill Level: Intermediate to Advanced - Electrical Repairs and Circuit Wiring is Best Performed by a Certified Electrician or Licensed Electrical Contractor. Electrical Tools Required: Basic Electricians Pouch of Hand Tools, a Voltage Tester and a Multi Meter. Estimated Time: Depends on personal level experience, ability to work with tools, work with electrical wiring, and the available access to the project area. Precaution: Identify the project circuit, turn it OFF and Tag it with a Note before working with the wiring. Important: Modifying existing electrical circuits or installing additional electrical wiring should be done according to local and National Electrical Codes, with a permit and be inspected.

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