Your area must be different from the rest of the USA. Everywhere I've lived if you want to (legally) install a 200 amp main breakers you are require to have 200 amp service, which includes a 200 amp transformer (50kva) These requirements are in both the NEC and in most cases local codes/laws. You can install a 200 amp service panel on less than 200 amp service, but the main breakers MUST be sized to match the service you have. I.e if you have 60 amp service, you can install a 200 amp panel with 60 amp main breakers.
One of my rental properties has 60 amp service and the couple renting it want to switch from a gas funace (and evap cooler) to a heat pump, which will require upgraded service. The power company says it will cost $2400 to upgrade to 200 amp service. They could probably get away with 100 amp service, but the cost is basically the same. Bottom line, if you have 200 amp service you should be able to pull at least 160 amps continuous (National Electrical Code requires 20% derating for constinuous use). > When told they have "200amp service" most folks believe they can pull 200 > amps. The limiting factor > is likely to be the transformer that services the meter. In rural areas, most > meters have a > transformer dedicated to each meter. Older meters that were supposed to > supply 60 or 100 amp > service were likely to have 10kva transformers. That is 10 kw or 40 amps @ > 240vac. Long before I > started my PV projects, I had my house service upgraded to "200 amps". I had > no trouble servicing > normal, not "all electric" loads including about 5kw for EV charging. After I > started installing > PV, I found my inverters would shutdown due to high (~260vac) voltage. My > utility replaced my 10kva > transformer with a 15kva. I eventually paid them to replace with a 37.5kva. I > did not go to 50kva > (real 200 amps) due to transformer pole cost. At another meter (with "200 amp > service), I was > forced to upgrade from 15kva to 50kva to accommodate PV production. > > Bottom line: do not assume you can pull (or supply) 200 amps to/from "200 amp > service". _______________________________________________ UNSUBSCRIBE: http://www.evdl.org/help/index.html#usub ARCHIVE: http://www.evdl.org/archive/index.html INFO: http://lists.evdl.org/listinfo.cgi/ev-evdl.org Please discuss EV drag racing at NEDRA (http://groups.yahoo.com/group/NEDRA)
