service entrance calculations for dwelling

[jimmy2f]

I have been working as an industrial electrican for the 4 years. I am planning on builing a new house this spring. I am going to wire it myself but I am having trouble remembering how to calculate the service. I have went through the code book and I keep coming up with an invalid number. If anyone can help I would appreciate it.

[mdshunk]

The "Demand Load Calc." link at the top of this page lays it all out pretty clearly. I have to say though, if you went through the calculations, you can't come up with an invalid number. If you did it right, whatever number you came up with is valid number for the proposed dwelling.

[Unregistered]

This has served me well over the years with nary a problem.

Small house - 100A
Big house - 200A
Really big house - 400A

:D :D :D

[Speedy Petey]

This has served me well over the years with nary a problem.

Small house - 100A
Big house - 200A
Really big house - 400A

:D :D :D


That about sums it up!
LOL Unregistered!

[Wgoodrich]

Unregistered guest

That general guess in sizing services usually worked 20 years ago. Today many inspectors would be challenging your work. The NEC provides explicit rules in the NEC concerning service size. Many if not most states adopt the NEC as rules of law to be governed by. You might want to hit that link above on residential demand load calc format. Some day an inspector is going to ask you to defend your service size in an inspection.

If you were wiring in my jurisdiction by the guidance you suggested I probably would have already challenged a few of your service sizes.

Times change, electrical is much more with scientific design required especially with more skilled inspectors lurking around the corner today that will force you to learn one way or the other. Old times were great but they are in the past concerning electrical industry today.

Just my opinion.

Wg

[mdshunk]

Just think of all the dead electricians who used to say:

Small house 30 amp
Big house 60 amp
Really Big house 100 amp


"A hundred years from now, they will gaze upon my work and marvel at my skills but never know my name. And that will be good enough for me. "

[Speedy Petey]

WG, it was kinda' funny though. :)

[Unregistered]

I was under the impression that :D :D :D meant something. :D

Thanks for catching my drift Speedy.