I have the power!

Jstas

Saturday, I upgraded from 100 amp service to 200 amp service! WOOHOO!

Gonna install a "whole house" surge protector after the July 4th holiday. For about $250 installed, it's a no-brainer when your house is loaded with expensive electronics and computers. It's easier, cheaper and more reliable than stringing UPS systems all over the place.

Now to start working on the air compressor and the lift for the garage. The hunt for a good tire changer and wheel balancer is on now too. Still need a floor in the garage and I gotta do bookcases for the "library/office".

Then I can work on painting flames on the lawn tractor! Gotta fix the gas tank on the lawn tractor first though otherwise it really will be covered in flames!

edbert

Awesome. Sounds like you are on the way to neighborhood garage/fixit man status!!!! Congrats on all the new traffic to the house!

TNRabbit

You had a 100 amp service? Holy crap; I haven't seen one that small since the early 70s~

nadams

TNRabbit wrote: »

You had a 100 amp service? Holy crap; I haven't seen one that small since the early 70s~

My house still has 100 amp service as well. At least it's not a fuse box.

fatchowmein

Sweet. Can't wait to see you put up Xmas lights.

Jstas

edbert wrote: »

Awesome. Sounds like you are on the way to neighborhood garage/fixit man status!!!! Congrats on all the new traffic to the house!

Nope, not likely. With that kind of equipment, the housing inspector and cops will be watching me like a hawk and anything that even seems like a business will be scrutinized like crazy. I want the equipment because I currently own 3 vehicles with a rumored 4th on it's way as well as the GF's SUV, two of them eat tires. I can save myself a bundle of money and time doing my own work. I have the skills, just need the equipment. Besides, my Ranger is going to take up almost permanent residence on the lift until it's chassis is worked out and it can roll.

TNRabbit wrote: »

You had a 100 amp service? Holy crap; I haven't seen one that small since the early 70s~

The house was new in 1956 and had a stream of elderly people living there since, according to township records. Then never needed more than 100 amp service. But with modern power needs, I can't run the blender for Pina Coladas and nuke a Hot Pocket in the microwave without popping a breaker. I've done alot of updating. Now, I can run 9 microwaves AND the blender AND an electric razor to shave my butt for the keisterless chaps while listening to The Bay City Rollers on the "hi-fi"!

But it's also in preparation for future use. I've been considering an extension to gain another bedroom and get a larger living room or den area and I would need to upgrade the service anyway so I might as well do it now while I have the time, space and money and not when I got contractors waiting for an electrician to finish.

It's also good to have a good friend form the Boy Scouts being a licensed electrician and giving me a discount. I never even asked for one, just wanted the work done right. I got it all done for half of the going rate. So yeah, I owe him a few favors.

fatchowmein wrote: »

Sweet. Can't wait to see you put up Xmas lights.

I was thinking about that but I'll have to install more outlets outside to do that. I only have one and it's on a corner of the house that makes it difficult to use it for lights.

dkg999

The whole house surge suppressors are the way to go! I'm having the suppressor modules replaced in mine due to a direct lightening hit to the top of the 90 foot high silo on the farm that then travelled the 300 yds to the house and the suppressor stopped it cold at that point. The lightening blew the 3 phase box on the side of silo for the old unloader completely apart and basically scattered shrapnel across that side of the barnyard. I was setting on the crapper at about 8:30 am on Sat morning a couple of weeks ago when it hit. That was more excitement than I needed!

LessisNevermore

dkg999 wrote: »

I was setting on the crapper at about 8:30 am on Sat morning a couple of weeks ago when it hit.

Right place at the right time.:D

fatchowmein

dkg999 wrote: »

I was setting on the crapper at about 8:30 am on Sat morning a couple of weeks ago when it hit. That was more excitement than I needed!

That'll move you.

mhardy6647

Jstas wrote: »

Saturday, I upgraded from 100 amp service to 200 amp service! WOOHOO!

Gonna install a "whole house" surge protector after the July 4th holiday. For about $250 installed, it's a no-brainer when your house is loaded with expensive electronics and computers. It's easier, cheaper and more reliable than stringing UPS systems all over the place.

Now to start working on the air compressor and the lift for the garage. The hunt for a good tire changer and wheel balancer is on now too. Still need a floor in the garage and I gotta do bookcases for the "library/office".

Then I can work on painting flames on the lawn tractor! Gotta fix the gas tank on the lawn tractor first though otherwise it really will be covered in flames!

We were gonna do it when we had central air put in, but the wiring in our neighborhood is all underground; backhoes and deforestation would have been involved. I asked my electrician if we needed 200 amp service and he said no; at worst the lights might dim when the A/C compressor switched on.

Ironically, as I am typing this, the lights in my office just turned themseves off due to lack of detected motion! I am too sedentary; time for a walk...

Enjoy the new service!

polrbehr

Jstas wrote: »

Saturday, I upgraded from 100 amp service to 200 amp service! WOOHOO!

Gonna install a "whole house" surge protector after the July 4th holiday. For about $250 installed, it's a no-brainer when your house is loaded with expensive electronics and computers. It's easier, cheaper and more reliable than stringing UPS systems all over the place.

Nice, only way to go, IMO. Nothing like having a 40-circuit panel when you want to add things!

If I may ask, can you tell me the mfr. and/or model # of the protector you're planning on using? I've always meant to get one, might as well get a good reco from someone who's actually going to be buying it.
Feel free to answer in a PM if you'd prefer? Thanks!

Jstas

I have to look at the estimate he gave me. I think it's a Siemens unit but I'm not sure.

Sherardp

Second that Jstas, if you tell me the model # I'd definitely like to get a whole house surge protector myself. Thanks bro and sounds like an excellent upgrade. What kind of lawn tractor do you have?

dkg999

I haven't researched them, however my whole-house suppressor is a Tripp Lite commercial grade unit that a local electrical contractor had left-over from wiring a new medical clinic. It has some cosmetic damage and I got a deal on it rather then it being returned.

Jstas

Sherardp wrote: »

Second that Jstas, if you tell me the model # I'd definitely like to get a whole house surge protector myself. Thanks bro and sounds like an excellent upgrade. What kind of lawn tractor do you have?

It's just a used Craftsman lawn tractor. It's a pig with a 42 inch deck and a 21 HP V-twin but I got it used for $700. It's in great condition. The green enamel is chipped in areas and it's rusting through. So I was going to take the engine cowl and fender fairings off, clean up the rust and repaint. But the green is hard to match so I figured I'd have some fun with it. I found white wall paint that will bond to the rubber on the tires and I'm going to take the wheels off, paint them red and use some VHT "chrome paint" on the little bulges where the hubs attach to the axles to make fake baby moons. With the flames and black paint, it should look pretty sweet!

dkg999 wrote: »

I haven't researched them, however my whole-house suppressor is a Tripp Lite commercial grade unit that a local electrical contractor had left-over from wiring a new medical clinic. It has some cosmetic damage and I got a deal on it rather then it being returned.

Tripp-Lite...that's the bees knees right there! If you got a deal on that you robbed him. They are quality units and many industries rely on them. We had entire server rooms wired through Tripp-Lite surge suppressors and line conditioners. Millions of dollars of equipment had their stuff standing between it an electrical Armageddon. Never a single failure and they were tested often.

dkg999

Jstas - good to know! After the lightening hit two weeks ago I'm having it checked, but it reset itself right back to functioning and shows normal operational status. I paid $800 and 300 bales of top quality hay for his horses. I don't remember the model number, but it's running a 2200 sq ft house with normal circuits and he said that wouldn't even be close to max load for it.

Jstas

dkg999 wrote: »

Jstas - good to know! After the lightening hit two weeks ago I'm having it checked, but it reset itself right back to functioning and shows normal operational status. I paid $800 and 300 bales of top quality hay for his horses. I don't remember the model number, but it's running a 2200 sq ft house with normal circuits and he said that wouldn't even be close to max load for it.

Yeah, Tripp-Lite doesn't do much for the "residential market". Mostly commercial and industrial applications. Their smaller units can be used but they are honestly overkill and quite expensive compared to competition directly in the market. Especially when there are other, equally capable units, more in line with residential needs and easier on the pocketbook. I mean, they do sell stuff and market it as a home use but it is often times quite industrial in appearance and just an entry level commercial system from them being sold at a retailer. That doesn't detract from them in any way. But a 6 outlet IsoBar Surge Suppressor power strip from Tripp-Lite is typically $50-$80 and a similar strip with 2 more outlets with their own, effective, patented technology from APC is $30-$40 you have to start weighing benefits vs. cost vs. criticality of the stuff you are protecting. Still if I had the opportunity to grab something from them on the cheap, I'd take it.

It's best to have it checked out after strikes or other events that trip them. The Tripp-Lites usually need recalibration after they have done their job. Well, at least every one I've ever seen has needed it or at least it was recommended. They can also be repaired/rebuilt so they are an investment more than an appliance. It should last you a good long time. Hell, not to be morbid but you might die before it does! It's hard to find longevity like that at a consumer level anymore.

You can find all the info you need about your unit here: http://www.tripplite.com/en/index.cfm

You can also call them. They were always very helpful when ever I needed info on a unit.

dkg999

Thanks! The guy I got it from is a neighbor and a dealer for them, so he said he would drop by and give it a check over. I've got half a beef in my freezer storing it for him as he was out of freezer room, so it's in his best interest to make sure my electrical service is solid

sucks2beme

Don't forget to add the power drop for that high voltage "intruder" fence
to keep those pesky neighbor kids at bay.

I-SIG

For those interested in whole-house surge protection, your local electric cooperative or IOU may install and lease the units to you if you don't want to pony up and pay full price for a unit yourself or have to worry about replacing a blown unit.

Wes

Jstas

I-SIG wrote: »

For those interested in whole-house surge protection, your local electric cooperative or IOU may install and lease the units to you if you don't want to pony up and pay full price for a unit yourself or have to worry about replacing a blown unit.

Wes

Yeah, there's that too but find out the leasing and maintenance costs. Because a decent one from like Panamax or Leviton will only set you back a couple hundred and takes less than 2 hours to install. It might be more economical to just buy one. The electrical company won't necessarily be able to get one replaced any faster than a competent electrician so review the lease. If they will do it in odd hours and you are OK paying for it then go that route. If you do, see about insurance. I know my home owners will cover damage if the surge suppressor fails and mine doesn't but some companies give you a discount on insurance if you have one.

Yeah, I looked further in to it today and found that stuff out. Worth noting.

dkg999

My insurance does give a discount and will cover up to a certain amount if the whole house suppressor needs repaired.

The best protection is probably to make sure we removed all the old lines between the 90 ft high silo and the rest of the electrical grid on the farm. We had disconnected the wires at the pole, but the wires were still hanging there and the lightening charge easily made the less than a foot jump to the live electrical wires.

Jstas

OK. The electrician just left after fixing what the inspector dinged me on. Hopefully he OK's it all.

I asked him about the whole house surge suppressor and he's coming back on the 19th to install it. It's going to likely be a Panamax. He gets different model numbers from the supplier but it's likely going to be this one:

http://www.techmall.com/ProductDetails.asp?ProductCode=58339


It's rated for up to 400 amp service and that website is high. He said it shouldn't run more than $150 for it. He'll get a discount though 'cause he is going to get it from the supply house he works with all the time.

He also told me if he can't get that Panamax then this one will work too. It's rated about the same and is equally effective. It's from Leviton which is a major supplier of electrical parts.

http://www.techmall.com/ProductDetails.asp?ProductCode=28916


Those two units will handle pretty much any residential feed. If you have multiple phase power though, you'll have to source a different type of unit. If you have something like 300 amp service with two 150 amp feeds, you need two, one for each feed. So everyone is not necessarily going to be drastically different but unless you feel up to the task of installing one, you might want to talk to an electrician.

I'll keep everyone informed when it's installed and give exact numbers and such.

polrbehr

Thanks for posting that info!

I'm going to head over to my local supply house tomorrow and see if they have these or can if they get them.

Leviton makes good stuff too, and they've been around forever. I don't think you'd go wrong with either of those.

bigaudiofanatic

Nice upgrade

read-alot

Jstas wrote: »

Now to start working on the air compressor and the lift for the garage. The hunt for a good tire changer

Ain't as good as I once was but I probably can still name that tune in 7 seconds per tire.

Don't know about moving to Egypt thou, how much does the job pay?

I have my own air gun.

Jstas

read-alot wrote: »

Ain't as good as I once was but I probably can still name that tune in 7 seconds per tire.

Don't know about moving to Egypt thou, how much does the job pay?

I have my own air gun.

You can compress air?

lightman1

polrbehr wrote: »

Thanks for posting that info!

I'm going to head over to my local supply house tomorrow and see if they have these or can if they get them.

Leviton makes good stuff too, and they've been around forever. I don't think you'd go wrong with either of those.

+100 on the Leviton. I've used their gear for many a year with no call backs.

read-alot

Jstas wrote: »

You can compress air?

Care to stand behind me and find out?

Jstas

Don't you get light headed?

I mean, I get a little dizzy with a tough cheek sneek, I couldn't imagine how rough it'd be trying to compress air!

read-alot

Jstas wrote: »

Don't you get light headed?

I mean, I get a little dizzy with a tough cheek sneek, I couldn't imagine how rough it'd be trying to compress air!

Us old people have no problem compressing air. I learned a long time ago you can hurt yourself trying those cheek sneek maneuvers, it's best just to let it all out but I was talking about the tire changer job, I changed tires on Cup cars every weekend for about twenty years.