Cost to change fuse box to breaker

Jul 15th, 2015 9:51 pm

#1

mrmuggs [OP]: Newbie; Aug 28, 2012; 38 posts; 17 upvotes

Jul 15th, 2015 9:51 pm

We bought a house built in 1960 with a fuse box, 60 Amp service. Roughly, how much will it cost to upgrade to 100 Amp service and a breaker box? We may be renting it out to college students and don't want them to repeated trip the fuse box and burn the house down with all their electronics.

Jul 15th, 2015 10:37 pm

#2

BuildingHomes: Deal Addict; Mar 21, 2006; 4478 posts; 477 upvotes; Burlington, Ontario

Jul 15th, 2015 10:37 pm

Have you tried calling an electrician who works in your area?

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Jul 15th, 2015 11:16 pm

#3

HampsChamps: Newbie; Mar 29, 2015; 28 posts; 6 upvotes; Ottawa, ON

Jul 15th, 2015 11:16 pm

rough estimate - $1000: http://topcontractors.ca/CA/labour-supp ... e.php#elec

+2

Jul 16th, 2015 4:08 am

#4

Quentin5: Deal Expert; Feb 8, 2014; 26791 posts; 11261 upvotes; Socially Distanced

Jul 16th, 2015 4:08 am

HampsChamps wrote: ↑rough estimate - $1000: http://topcontractors.ca/CA/labour-supp ... e.php#elec

Interesting link, i am totally in the wrong business, it would take me years to earn enough to pay for a handful of those services

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Jul 16th, 2015 4:27 am

#5

kalani13291: Penalty Box; Jul 14, 2014; 1365 posts; 348 upvotes

Jul 16th, 2015 4:27 am

HampsChamps wrote: ↑rough estimate - $1000: http://topcontractors.ca/CA/labour-supp ... e.php#elec

Thats assuming the wire from road is at least 100 amps and wire and conduit going to meter and panel is all 100 amp. You need new panel and breakers. New panel will be bigger than old panel and wires may not fit.

New panel and breaker is 150 bucks. Do it yourself if wire coming in is 100 amp. 60 amps should be adequate though .dryer and oven are the big loads.

Jul 16th, 2015 7:47 am

#6

cwb27: Deal Fanatic; Apr 24, 2006; 6952 posts; 1033 upvotes; Toronto

Jul 16th, 2015 7:47 am

kalani13291 wrote: ↑Thats assuming the wire from road is at least 100 amps and wire and conduit going to meter and panel is all 100 amp. You need new panel and breakers. New panel will be bigger than old panel and wires may not fit.

New panel and breaker is 150 bucks. Do it yourself if wire coming in is 100 amp. 60 amps should be adequate though .dryer and oven are the big loads.

This is horrific advice, a panel change is not a DIY job!!!

OP, expect to pay in the neighborhood of $1,000 for the panel and an electrician to do the job.

Your local Hydro company will probably charge a fee to disconnect the meter during the change over, it's theoretically possible that a service upgrade may all need to happen (larger wire delivering the power to your house).

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+1

Jul 16th, 2015 7:48 am

#7

pfbmgd: Banned; Feb 7, 2005; 4498 posts; 1189 upvotes

Jul 16th, 2015 7:48 am

Make sure you get the job inspected .

Jul 16th, 2015 9:18 am

#8

tony311: Sr. Member; May 29, 2012; 604 posts; 247 upvotes; Southern Ontario

Jul 16th, 2015 9:18 am

I just bought a house with 200 amp fuse box
I got a quote for $1600 for new box and breakers
It was part of a larger quote, but I know these boxes and breakers are not cheap
I feel like my quote was a little high but for the whole package price it was the lowest of 3

Jul 16th, 2015 9:36 am

#9

jm1: Deal Addict; Jan 5, 2003; 4838 posts; 4616 upvotes; Toronto

Jul 16th, 2015 9:36 am

While getting quotes, you might as well see about getting 200 amps for just a few hundred more, especially if each student has their own computer, TV, etc. in their room.

Jul 16th, 2015 10:08 am

#10

mrmuggs [OP]: Newbie; Aug 28, 2012; 38 posts; 17 upvotes

Jul 16th, 2015 10:08 am

HampsChamps wrote: ↑rough estimate - $1000: http://topcontractors.ca/CA/labour-supp ... e.php#elec

Thanks for the useful link!

Jul 16th, 2015 10:13 am

#11

mrmuggs [OP]: Newbie; Aug 28, 2012; 38 posts; 17 upvotes

Jul 16th, 2015 10:13 am

Yes, also considering upgrading to 200 Amp.

Jul 16th, 2015 2:56 pm

#12

cwb27: Deal Fanatic; Apr 24, 2006; 6952 posts; 1033 upvotes; Toronto

Jul 16th, 2015 2:56 pm

kalani13291 wrote: ↑Horrific in the sense it puts electricians out of work, maybe. Electrical is the easiest diy.
And that's why govt allows homeowners to do it themselves.

Just cause it's allowed doesn't mean you should nor does it mean everyone possess the skill to do it.

The fact that you mention wires being too short even makes me uneasy, the wires can be extended within the new breaker panel using marettes and #12 or #14 wire and be fully code compliant.

If a person has been doing DIY electrical for years (more than changing plugs and light switches) and are well versed in the electrical code, then sure, have at it. But to suggest to a person, without knowing their skill set, that it's a DIY job is dangerous.

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+2

Jul 16th, 2015 8:38 pm

#13

Aethean: Deal Addict; Sep 1, 2013; 1420 posts; 323 upvotes; New Tecumseth, ON

Jul 16th, 2015 8:38 pm

kalani13291 wrote: ↑Horrific in the sense it puts electricians out of work, maybe. Electrical is the easiest diy.
And that's why govt allows homeowners to do it themselves.

I love homeowners that try to do it themselves to save some money. Keeps me busy fixing it at their expense

.

+1

Jul 16th, 2015 9:30 pm

#14

BuildingHomes: Deal Addict; Mar 21, 2006; 4478 posts; 477 upvotes; Burlington, Ontario

Jul 16th, 2015 9:30 pm

kalani13291 wrote: ↑Impossible for homeowner to make mistake. Chimp could do it. Granted,homeowner might be slower if they have bad eye hand coordination. No homeowner would crowd panel w wingnut connections.

Please refrain from offering electrical advice. This sort of job is not DIY.

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+1

Jul 16th, 2015 10:33 pm

#15

Drthorne: Deal Fanatic; Nov 18, 2005; 5080 posts; 1495 upvotes; Kitchener

Jul 16th, 2015 10:33 pm

And not all provinces allow home owners to do their own electrical work

Jul 17th, 2015 12:18 am

#16

Casper: Deal Addict; Jan 9, 2002; 2698 posts; 658 upvotes; Burlington

Jul 17th, 2015 12:18 am

kalani13291 wrote: ↑Yeah, electrical union is powerful.

Yeah, so is 110v, 1A
Write the cheque.

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+2

Jul 17th, 2015 11:21 am

#17

DougO: Deal Expert; Dec 26, 2010; 23740 posts; 8527 upvotes

Jul 17th, 2015 11:21 am

My old prof used to say of handling high voltage electrical sources (especially by lay people that have never done such work before and may accidentally electrocute themselves)...

"The electric chair is much more humane".

Do the wiring yourself but have a competent, registered electrician check and approve your work before applying power...

+2

Jul 17th, 2015 11:23 am

#18

GaryMcAllister: Banned; Jul 24, 2014; 130 posts; 11 upvotes; Windsor, ON

Jul 17th, 2015 11:23 am

kalani13291 wrote: ↑Impossible for homeowner to make mistake. Chimp could do it. Granted,homeowner might be slower if they have bad eye hand coordination. No homeowner would crowd panel w wingnut connections.

I always assumed the same thing; home electrical is so blindingly simple for me, that I couldn't imagine anyone ever screwing it up. However, I recently bought a home that proves that to be very wrong.

Literally, EVERY junction box that was ever touched since the original build of this home was full of scorch marks from "modifications" that were obviously done in a "connect arbitrarily until it works" method. Even the main electrical box was wired like someone was intentionally trying to set the house on fire.

Doing your own electrical box is a recipe for something really bad if you're not super comfortable with doing it; sure it's really simple, but so is changing the oil in your car, and my sister blew the engine in her new Mustang because she screwed it up.

+1

Jul 17th, 2015 11:31 am

#19

mrweather: Deal Fanatic; Aug 29, 2011; 8595 posts; 5518 upvotes; Mississauga

Jul 17th, 2015 11:31 am

kalani13291 wrote: ↑No homeowner would crowd panel w wingnut connections.

Never underestimate the stupidity of a homeowner especially if they're trying to save a buck.

I know enough about household wiring to replace outlets, switches and light fixtures. That's about it. A man's gotta know his limitations.

+3

Jul 17th, 2015 3:49 pm

#20

retrovette: Sr. Member; Nov 21, 2010; 515 posts; 107 upvotes; Ontario

Jul 17th, 2015 3:49 pm

kalani13291 wrote: ↑Yeah, electrical union is powerful.

With all due respect I believe you are mistaken.
Residential electrical contractors generally are not unionized. The IBEW electricians work for the large contractors on big projects, not wiring peoples basements. The union would have nothing to gain by preventing homeowners from doing their own work.

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