electrical box question

I have a 100 amp box in my garage wires.coming straight to it from my meter. All that is inside of it is a 100amp switch that box goes.to a sub box with no main off switch. I'm building my grow room as we speak I was going to remove the 100amp panel in my garage and replace it with a 150amp panel and reconnect the sub box to a 100amp breaker inside the new box and run a few New breakers for my new room. I.was told.I need to have the power company come.out and upgrade the wire from.the pole.to.meter and meter to the box.is this true. any input would be helpful.

The sub box is inside my house

If the wires feeding your box are sized for 100 amps, then yes you'd need to have them upgraded. Any time you increase your potential amp draw, you need to make sure the wires feeding the main breaker are sized appropriately. Check with your power utility company and see what they say.

Are you drawing anywhere close to 100 amps currently? If not, and you just need an extra circuit, you can install, or have an electrician install, a twin breaker...essentially making two circuits out of one breaker spot.

And just FYI, I'm a state certified journeyman electrician.

Yup what ^ he said , can't put a bigger breaker in without assessing the current carrying capacity of your mains,
100 amps is shitloads of juice though . This is how you asses how much juice your grow rooms will use.... Add up your total amount of watts fans,lights,ac everything eg 2000w @240v. Watts = volts x amps so you divide your usage ...... 2000w by the volts... =8.33 amps

Your SIG has me rolling. Teach a man to burger. HA!

socaljoe said:

Your SIG has me rolling. Teach a man to burger. HA!

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Haha yeah I still laugh at it , can't take cred though I seen it on someone else's sig

Everyone here is right. I'm not sure what the wattage limits are per gauge of wire but if you have a 15 amp circuit that's rated for 1500 watts max and you change it to a 30 that's allowing 3500w you will have a fire because the 30a is pulling more then the wire gauge is made for.

hopefully I explained it right. The above is a example not actual limits

First off...
Call your power company, the number is right there on your bill...
Ask them if your line drop into your house will be able to handle a new service you were planning to install.
Will the drop handle a 200 amp main ?
If not, what is my max panel up grade without putting in a new drop?
You'll be surprised by their answer....
The Power Companies drops from poles are in "Free Air" and are rated to Power Co spec's, and really not listed for any Journeyman Elect with a code book...
It has been my experience... to call a "SERVICE PLANNER" at your Power Co first... Not here at RIU ...

What all are you going to be running that you need more than a 100amp service feed for?

lickalotapus said:

Yup what ^ he said , can't put a bigger breaker in without assessing the current carrying capacity of your mains,
100 amps is shitloads of juice though . This is how you asses how much juice your grow rooms will use.... Add up your total amount of watts fans,lights,ac everything eg 2000w @240v. Watts = volts x amps so you divide your usage ...... 2000w by the volts... =8.33 amps

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Unless you only have a 120vac drop from power pole [like the 105 year old house does that I live in-ha], then your 2000 watts by the voltes would be 16.66, just saying, dont assume...and that would max out a 20 amp breaker so make sure you give yourself a couple of circuits....into your grow room...
And yes I see that the OP has 240vac at his main...

don't forget-

continuous duty constitutes a 20% increase in actual loads to prevent false tripping.

edit-

props if your grows uses a hundred amps.

I run a 14 600 watt HID's and 6 250 watt T-5's,3 a/c units, 2 de-humidifiers and all the ventillation required and I not running on a 100 amps??? Really you only need to listen to the advice given earlier and buy different thinner breakers and double up on your slots. Running all your equipment on 220v will drop the amperage required and allow more equipment on the same amperage.

There seems to be a lot of answers here, but one thing for sure is that there HAS to be a fused disconnect or main breaker AFTER the meter BEFORE the feed gets to your garage, as per current electrical code.The power company won't upgrade your service drop unless you show need, which you don't . The wire sizes look adequate for 100 Amps in the garage, so your idea about installing the panel in the garage will work. One big problem you have is that there is no neutral conductor in your feeder conduit. They used the counduit with it's bare ground wire as a neutral/ground which is a BIG problem. You should have a real electrician look at it, but from what I see you have serious issues with your entire service, and it ain't going to be cheap to fix one way or the other. This is not an easy job. I hope it all works out well for you. Peace

Jimdamick said:

... One big problem you have is that there is no neutral conductor in your feeder conduit.
They used the counduit with it's bare ground wire as a neutral/ground which is a BIG problem. You should have a real electrician look at it, ...
...

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I see a bare copper coming out of the meter conduit... plus the nipple is bonded looks correct from here...
OP-
If you feel like you are OK with electric, then,
Fukk all these answers, do what you want:
Snip the meter tag, and pull out meter...
Now those wires coming from meter are dead...
Now upgrade your service adding a "Main" feeding it, or a back fed breaker on bus, which ever brand panel, use a main...
Otherwise every time you want to work on your electric safe you better pull meter...
Tuen off Main, so there will be no load disconnecting...
Cut Edison/PGE Etc meter tag lock...
Grab Meter Glass with both hands, and pull out, now set on ground...
Check, but all your power just went out...
Now, upgrade your service, use battery tools,
get everything prepped to install new service...

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Side note, do not re-install meter upside down...
It will turn backwards, and that would be stealing...
----
FYI your meter read date is on your bill...
Dont pull your meter on same day your meter gets read [Murphy's Law]

Thanks for all the answers, the reason for the upgrade is because I have no open slots in my sub box just open slots in the box in the garage the box in the garage is older house built in 1964 and I cannot find breakers for the box around me. I just bought my house last month tryin to take in everyone's replys plus what I've been told by friends.

Sand4x105, your going to get this guy busted by cutting the tag off the meter, and there isn't a neutral anywhere in that picture, only grounds, which do not a neutral make. He needs it fixed.

Fortheloveofmoney, if you just bought the house the home inspector should have spotted the no neutral in the feed to your panel as this is a serious safety issue. He should have warned you, and you can sue that person if any damage occurs as a result. Please call an electrician to have him look at it. They will do it for free, and just make up a story about the garage work if he asks.

Jimdamick said:

Sand4x105, your going to get this guy busted by cutting the tag off the meter, and there isn't a neutral anywhere in that picture, only grounds, which do not a neutral make. He needs it fixed.

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The incoming feed (bottom left of the second picture) has a neutral, it's the bare wire. Overhead service drops don't carry a ground, only two hots and a neutral, the ground is created at the service via ground rods or other means. So his system is correct as far as that goes.

Thanks, saved me typing it...
From pole, bare nutrual phase... through meter... into disconnect
Which has plenty of room for grow room, why are we talking upgrade of service when he's got it all handy right there ?
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And quit being so paranoid he's not getting busted from the meter lock off it...
FYI: Calif Re-model Lawyer owned... He said pull meter, and 'temp' up power, the job lasted 6 months run w/o a meter, the power co SCE just estimated his usage from previous bills...
If you have not done something, do not say it cant be done, or will get him busted...
I worry less and less as I get older...
Don't worry ... no one is getting busted... today