House wiring/breaker box limits question

[thedarkwolf]

Just curious here for the future. My house is old and small so it only has a 100 amp service. At some point I'd like to add another 220v line for an electric car charger without spending the big bucks to go to 200 amp service. I know technically I can without any problems as long as I don't go over that 100 amp total draw but I'm asking about legally here. What I'm asking I guess is how many amps worth of breakers can I run with 100 amp service? My stove is already on a 60 amp and my a/c and dryer are both on separate 30 amp breakers plus all the 20s for the lights and regular sockets which I haven't bothered to count. I'd like to be able to run a 50 amp line for the charger but even a 30 amp would be fine. There is plenty of room in the fuse panel btw.

Moved from OT
admin allisolm

 

[Greenman]

You can install as many breakers as will fit in the panel. The worst possible outcome is that you trip the main when you turn everything on.

 

[NutBucket]

Exactly. There's no hard and fast rule. The fact that you'll be charging at night means you're less likely to have an issue. Do you have electric heat?

 

[thedarkwolf]

Thanks that is pretty much what I figured. My heat and hot water are gas. Most of my charging would be done at work anyway since they just installed free chargers.

 

[jtworldwide3]

if you have space in the panel is technically ok.
Do you have a well also? The stove, AC and dryer are all double pole breakers. Thats 6 spots right there. Another double pole gets you to 8.

Are there double taps in the panel already?

 

[thedarkwolf]

Yeah there is plenty of open spaces in the fuse panel. I had to look up what double taps are and I just have to say I don't know, I haven't opened the panel yet. This is years down the road and I will almost certainly use an electrician.

 

[stormkroe]

OP 60 amp breaker for a stove is ENOURMOUS. They're usually on a 2p40, and even then I've never seen one draw over 28A with a clampon (maybe in self cleaning mode and burners on too?)
As long as you don't bake a turkey, dry your clothes, run your AC and microwave popcorn all at the same time, 100A main should be fine with an additional car charger. They don't usually pull to many watts anyway, as the batteries can only take so much juice crammed in them at a time without overheating. What's the model of the car charger you're looking at?

 

[thedarkwolf]

Thought it was kind of big for the stove myself.

I don't even have car yet but I currently don't see much reason to have more than a 6.6kw charger at my house and those only pull 30 amps. I just started thinking my next car should be electric or at least a plug in hybrid like a volt since they just installed free chargers where I work. This plan is for 3-5 years in the future.

 

[Greenman]

Thought it was kind of big for the stove myself.

I don't even have car yet but I currently don't see much reason to have more than a 6.6kw charger at my house and those only pull 30 amps. I just started thinking my next car should be electric or at least a plug in hybrid like a volt since they just installed free chargers where I work. This plan is for 3-5 years in the future.

By then you'll be able to charge it using hummingbird farts.