The equipment plan
Record the selected EV charger, heating system, backup heat, cooking, hot tub or suite equipment. Include manufacturer ratings and which projects will operate together.
Five-question check
Do I need 200 amps?
Get a fast, cautious answer. This is not an official load calculation and it will not tell everyone to upgrade.
- Five questions
- Transparent reasons
- Full Capacity Check available
Question 1 of 5
What service rating do you know of?
After the quiz
What would actually change the answer?
A service rating is one input. These are the facts to gather before anyone recommends an upgrade.
The existing service
A visible main-breaker marking is a clue. Ask the contractor to confirm the service conductors, meter equipment, disconnect and panel rating before relying on it.
The calculation
Request the applicable electrical load calculation with the existing and proposed loads. Ask which assumptions were used and what changes if equipment specifications change.
The alternative
If capacity is tight, ask whether an approved energy-management approach can control a suitable load. Document how the equipment behaves when loads compete.
Illustrative scenarioExample only: a 100A home adding an EV charger might retain its service with an accepted charging-management design, or need more capacity after the full calculation. The charger label alone cannot decide.