I'm planning to put electric in my garage but am told I need to add an additional panel box.
I have a 200 amp electric service box now and want to put in an additional 100 amp panel box for the garage next to the 200 amp service box.
Is this a hard job?
I've done breaker installations in the 200 amp box but am not sure how to do this.
Before you contemplate doing this I would check to see if the 200 amp wiring to your home can accommodate 300 amps. If not, I would not touch it. If it can then you can do it ever so carefully to make sure you do not light yourself up! I would kill your main 200 amp breaker and then tap into each existing branch a tap that will take at least 50 amps for each of the two legs on your new 100 amp breaker box. Good luck
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There are too many unknowns to give a simple answer. Why do you need an additional panel? Are there no vacant breaker positions in your 200 amp panel? Is it a detached garage? Were they suggesting that you sub-feed a smaller panel out of the existing one? Was it a licensed electrician who advised adding a panel?
Wiring up something that works is one thing. Making it safe and code-compliant is another. You don't want to either (a) create an unsafe installation or (b) create code violations that make it impossible to sell your house later.
Your plan to install an additional 100 amp panel alongside the existing 200 amp panel would create a violation of the National Electrical Code if your service entrance is only rated for 200 amps (as it probably is).
I'm posting this as a clarification request rather than a solution, because it probably isn't the answer you wanted. But this is one time I would respectfully advise calling a pro.
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