Upgrading My Own House to 1,000 Amps

[@speednutsII]

Joel, I’m a homeowner but over the last 4 years being a stay at home dad and working part time (I’m a pharmacist by trade) I’ve had some Time to go from only having connected a dishwasher to upgrading my own service from 100 amp to 200 amp and wiring my kitchen addition (yes I torqued my connections with the tighten loosen tighten wiggle tighten torque method). I’ve worked in live panels now, done stuff I’ve never thought I was capable of. Lineman that disconnected my house were awesome, the inspector has been awesome and helpful as well. I would have certainly been an electrician had I gone into the trades. Just an awesome career. Anyway, I know the feeling you had at the end of this video walking around the house with my 4 young kids all excited about the upgraded service. The amps somehow just feel different and new haha. Of course your 1000 amp service is way beyond my capability or experience but now to have more panel space, safer connections, etc) just feels awesome. Anyway, I love your videos. I’ve been watching them early in the morning while rocking my 1 month old. Awesome content. Keep it coming! It feels like I’m right there on the job site learning from you with these videos.

[@william-ericgomes2056]

Your son is getting such a great amount of education helping you out. That’s so awesome

[@Silky_boi]

I pulled a big project at my home too, I work in HVAC and replaced my AC system with new copper lineset and high and low voltage, and Reducted the whole house while adding some extra return ducts. I ended up finishing at 2 in the morning and had to go to work at 6. We’re insane but we love the challenge!

[@andrewanderson2176]

I’m a 25 year electrician in Vermont and glad I ran across your channel I appreciate seeing a fellow surly doing a quality job

[@TheModelmaker123]

I loved this video. Fraught with the challenges that happen on real jobs. You never have enough tools, parts and supplies but power through with what you have, solving one problem after another, fighting issues, continually adjusting as necessary until the end. Great positive attitude throughout, and the narration to let us know what you're thinking at each step.

[@richardprice5978]

grinding out the morder and vibrating the bricks is faster FWI, 400A house 🏡mod here millwright aka not a mason guy but was paying attention to the people that i hired 👍 multi tool works wonders for plunge grinds 😉

[@pianoman4Jesus]

Joel, 20 years ago, I trenched a 2" PVC for communicators out from the front of our house to a covered underground electrical box just inside the front easement. "Our 2 inch beats your 1 inch... cool!" We expect to get Fiber Internet pulled through that in the near future. That is exactly why I wanted to trench a conduit for the communications line. I trenched a 3" also out to the front easement that the utility then pulled their underground cable through at a discounted rate per foot as we had trenched the conduit for them.

[@pianoman4Jesus]

P.S. Joel.... When the first Gulf War broke out, I made a career decision to pursue IT rather than the electrical sector. Back then I was seeing journeyman sparkies begging for work. However that does not mean I must void all of my knowledge and experience. I run my residential electrical in EMT. I bend EMT for therapy! 🙂 Also I am a grounding snob. That new electrical service we put in 20 years ago.... We have a house built in the late 1920's. We added on a single large single story addition on the back of it. I located the new electrical service on the new addition. I was working in IT at the utility company at the time, so went in-person to fetch the meter box... asked for the biggest box they would provide. We ended up with a Siemens brand commercial grade model including lift handle they can swap the meter using and not disconnecting the load while swapping the meter. Next to that I placed a Square D main breaker disconnect. I wanted a physical space between the main and the load center inside.... so I could install Delta brand lightning protection devices. Outside is their model LA-302 Lightning Arrestor, and inside is their model CA-302-R Surge Capacitor. Inside is a Square D QO line 42 space load center. I wanted the 42 space as it has more height so easier to route all the wires before the circuit breakers begin. The part of the basement where the electrical panel is used to be the behind house well room. I cut off the well below the new grade, cleaned it up with a wire brush on a drill, then drilled holes through the 2 inch pipe. I ran a 1/0 copper in a PVC conduit up to the location of the new load center. I split in half the conductor strands of the 1/0 into two separate ring tongue connectors, bonded with bolt through the well pipe, made it good and tight, then bubble wrapped and taped the bond, then it got covered with pink board to insulate for heat pipe installed in the slab.... I have radiant floor heat in my basement office. The driveway is directly next to the house on the meter box side, so while putting in the new service, I ditchwitch cut through the blacktop driveway to the opposite side where there is grass.... a first 10 foot 3/4 inch ground rode there. then about 10 foot along the drive way, a second 10 foot 3/4 inch ground rod. I ran a #2 bare copper from the main to those rods. From the electrical panel there is another #2 copper that runs through 3/4 inch conduit to the front of house water meter, bonded and jumpered that... (all one continuous piece mind you!), then that continues farther front to bond to the new / relocated gas line, and finally terminates at the front communications box I previously mentioned. Inside that gray plastic box I mounted a Square D ground bus, so bonded to that, then continued to yet another 10 foot 3/4 inch ground rod out in front of the house in the same trench I put the 2" PVC communications conduit in. The original plan was to feed 100 amps to the detached garage, a Square D QO load center out there, fed by all #2 copper, and behind the garage is yet another 10 foot 3/4 ground rod. So in total, four of 10 foot 3/4 ground rods connected via #2 copper, a bond to the original well via a 1/0 copper, passing through the copper water main via bonding #2, an ample Delta brand lightning protection devices. About your avocation to use expansion joints: YES!! 20 years ago when we did our service upgrade, I did not know of PVC expansion joints. I only knew of cast metal expansion joints, for use with rigid steel pipe. Winter freeze / thaw broke just the 3 inch PVC entrance to our meter box, and the 1 inch PVC for the ground lines across the driveway. The later breakage was worse, took the bottom of the main breaker box with it. A couple of years ago, a sparky friend and I coordinated doing the repair. Yes, very similar pre-planning to insure all needed parts were on-site. This time I was thinking to put the molded female ends of new sticks of PVC facing down and not glue those joints. I noticed the same PVC expansion joints available at the parts store, and abruptly changed plans! Fortunately Square D had not changed the main breaker box design in the 18 years, and more fortunately our meter box was completely undamaged. Also background about our original installation... We put sections of 2-by bolted to the side of the house. Then our builder aluminum wrapped the boards. That provide a flat mounting surface for our meter and main disconnect. We did the same for where we relocated the gas meter to during the same construction. I highly recommend that practice for preparing for mounting locations for utility metering and related disconnects. The sparky buddy of mine executes his work with near same accuracy as this fussy home owner, and about 4 times faster! The particular morning, utility was there to disconnect the slip-joints for our underground feed at the front pole. Then we set to work disconnecting / reconnecting. The utility crew left their phone number that we could call them once we were ready to reconnect. We called them directly to return to reconnect.... they said they had just finished a job, so were wondering if we might be ready yet. "Perfect timing!" Shortly after the utility reconnected, resealed the meter, then the electrical inspector passed though, provided the "pass" sticker on the meter box cover. ALL OF THAT in a morning, concluding with the electrical service inspection just after lunch. Wow that worked out faster than greased lightning!!! "Many hands make lite work." Or as a wise guy once wrote... "Two heads are better than one.... and a three fold cord is not easily broken." Also sometime 20 years ago.... that year in c2c, Exodus 18:22 hit me like a ton of bricks.... Moses hearing advice from his father-in-law, "This thing you are doing for the people, it is not good. You need helpers so the work will be easier." The word "retire" as it relates to work is not found anywhere in the Bible.... the word "easier" is found in that context!

[@gregchambers6100]

"Yew sparkies don't wurk haard! All yew dew is put little wars together!!" Very nice work guys. Good solid team.

[@tvbrauer1566]

For the tape issue, one of my foreman showed me to wrap the pipe with a layer or two sticky side out first. Then tape over the top sticky side down. This creates a cap if you will that you can fairly easily remove without all the residue and sticky.

[@jamesgarrison6430]

Yup. Or use color tape it doesn't leave the sticky residue

[@throttlebottle5906]

if it's just temporary and standard inch plumbing size pvc/steel, then just grab rubber pipe cap from the plumbing department! since there's no electrical in there it would be fine and they're reusable. they have a large hose clamp to tighten in place (nut driver/flat head).

[@mathman0101]

Those linemen were exceptional years of experience polite and very helpful. When everyone is pushing in the same direction makes a difficult job easier. We have a work cut-off at sundown in Northern Virginia especially in HOA areas. Bricklaying should be another skill to perfect at Jefferson electric😂

[@jkxss]

What electric company do you work for in Northern VA?

[@leotexas3485]

I haven’t yet had a chance to partake in upgrading a service. You were on a time crunch, but yet still managed to document a video of this. Great learning video, and thank you for posting!

[@ronlovell5374]

Wow 400 amp for EV ? That's quite an electric fleet. Nice job with very impressive problem solving, attention to detail, and pure will and determination to finish. Also was awsome that your family helped you out late into the night. Overall a great video, Thanks for sharing!

[@richardprice5978]

i figured full-copper simens 400A's @ 240V was going to take me awhile to fully be needing 800A's ( as 600A when i asked isn't a thing around my area's, so if i out grow the box's id need 2x and 3p 208 or 480V isn't a option i tried and i really wanted it ) aka 200A for the house and 100A BEV charger's 2x and solar 20KW starting point was a 1970 challenger 100A aluminium and yes it did try and burn the 1970 limestone/bricked 3000sf house down with it in 2017-2020 as i took awhile for trenching/permit's ect and of course getting the funds to pay for it family/boomer old man teased me about it and asked me if i was trying to run apartments or manufacturing off it, nope just home's use more electric power than even in the 90's/2000's did 200A main SCR is minimum's size for my consideration for a single family residential homes 🏡and 400A is the big guns nowadays and 100A isn't enough 🔥hazard

[@Eddy63]

What a fun little video to watch ... All those guy's did a great job ... Thx for posting ...

[@victorsaavedra5007]

Bro burnt the shit outta that conduent smh 😂

[@cyrysvonnachtseite4546]

Damn. We’ve been pulling out 1,200 amp building services…. Putting 400 amps ….400amp to 250 …. New buildings. All LED and super savings motors

[@erikowren7894]

The best quality time spent with a dad and son is learning/helping with projects. God Bess. These are the memories our sons will carry with them and make them into great men.

[@caidhg]

Conduit is always better than direct bury, there are a lot of places getting fiber to the home now and having an upgradeable path is always best also a 2 in conduit would be better if you will have multiple companies in there.

[@Gruntled2001]

Joel, thank you for sharing your knowledge, but also thank you for taking your time to edit the video and to put it up for us! 💌

[@elcano9l52]

Assistant Electrician here, on the way to Master. We recently did our home from 100a to 200a service, because we kept burning 100a push-in main breakers with our 11.5kW EV charger. We moonlighted the whole project with big excitement. Meter and main disconnect with fully redone cad-welded grounding electrode system, to a 200 amp ATS for the diesel standby, and then off to an outdoor 200 amp panel which distributes to the home sub panel, garage sub, grid-tie solar AC feeder, etc. I really felt we were dealing with big home stuff, specially now that we can charge our 2 EVs simultaneously, but man, now this right here is big league pure electrical porn lol. Thank you for sharing this project.

[@thedanyesful]

This is the first time I've watched your video and wow. Your perspective and the way you show each step and communicate clearly is really engaging. The subject matter is super interesting too.

[@NextGenEvs]

Love the Tesla hat!

[@stargazer2504]

1000A? Tell us you're building an indoor grow without telling us....

[@phenry5083]

Tell us you didn't watch the video without telling us....

[@JerryMcCray-d1k]

Ya, all the kids, all the EVs, high power equip; hell nah 1000A. He gonna have HID lights, pumps & regulators too lol.

[@TaylorGraeme]

You can easly run a 30 light grow on a flip from 200amp service....

[@mar1video]

This is better than Netflix ❗️

[@billm6171]

Southwest Missouri here, really nice video it was a lot of work

[@joshuaskirvin]

Almost 20 years ago now, I wired a house that is 15,000 square feet. It had a 1,000 amp service. Five 200 amp panels and seven freaking A.C. units. LOL

[@makeitpay8241]

that sounds like Al Gores house

[@cmiller6352]

@@makeitpay8241 Edgy.

[@Kangenpower7]

I can understand the 5 main breaker panels, but I might also have guessed they would have several sub panels someplace else in the home, garage, and so on, to avoid a lot of long distance home runs to the 5 panels. I would think they would need one sub panel just for the kitchen circuits! 7 HVAC units means about 2,100 square feet per unit, that seems a bit undersized? I guess it depends on how hot it is in that location.

[@joshuaskirvin]

@@Kangenpower7 This was in Fayette County Georgia. This may sound pretentious, but we planned out our work before hand. On projects this large, there is also virtually always an architect and an engineer designing things. Most crews would just show up and pull whatever the prints called for. We didn't run quite that way. There were five of us in our crew and according to the largest supply house in the area and Southwire themselves, we pulled more Romex than any other crews on the south side of Atlanta. We always approached any project as if we were the homeowner. A "What would I want in my house?" kind of a thing. If you plan your work properly, there's absolutely no need for sub-panels in new construction. Especially when money is virtually no issue.

[@rupe53]

We worked at a home years ago that had 21 (twenty-one) AC units when finished. The original home was almost 10,000 sq ft with only one bedroom. It was an 800 amp service. Renovations brought in another 10,000 sq ft. (and more bedrooms) Architect called for a 1200 amp upgrade and the contractor was too cheap to dig a 900 ft trench.

[@clarenceeverline5654]

Brother you are to awesome i wish you lived in Ga, i would love to work for you you have a fantastic attitude

[@Podmore1000]

"And by remove I mean hide!...poof!" I died laughing, so relatable with ANY remodel electrical project

[@jovetj]

That offset Sch 80 looks terrible. 😞 It's a shame that second bend straightened back out.

[@BluCappy419]

Needs a Greenlee hot box and a little generator will bend much cleaner bends, and won't get so many burn marks.

[@ilike1sand0s68]

@@BluCappy419 . （）（（（）/٪%%%"%））

[@rrussell39]

Yep...that bugged me and I can't even see it from my house. I have bent PVC with a torch before, but always taped both ends to hold the heat and heat it up quicker and more evenly.

[@galaxybounce82]

Most utilities don't allow you to bend the pvc because you can warp the inside diameter and when you pull a mandrel through you'll fail the test and have to dig it all back up again.

[@moosepasshippie]

There is absolutely no way I would let that fly sitting on the outside wall of my electrical business or house. In the ditch it would be OK.

[@Kangenpower7]

I was watching you install some ground rods in another video, with a rotary hammer drill, and that works great! Another way, or if you are installing the metal fence posts, is to use a 2" trailer hitch receiver. I used a 18" long hitch extension, that weight is about 15 pounds, and the fence posts went right in. Just slide it over the item being driven into the ground, and lift and bang it in.

[@niccolesrobertson5954]

Everything looks great my only question . .wheres your EGC for all the equipment

[@vince6829]

Wow!! That’s a big job. Thanks for sharing.

[@sirkllr]

Awesome that's hard core

[@NonstopBigVisc]

Nice job, that's some serious hard work. Love your channel and enthusiasm. Not a fan of that burnt PVC offset tho 🤔

[@ElectricProAcademy]

😅Fair.

[@MrLiamHenderson]

This is just beautiful

[@Karma-fp7ho]

thanks for showing all the steps. The kids were awesome.

[@chetlockwood1491]

The experience and challenges will shape your boys forever, there are very few kids that get the kind of exposure those guys have, they have a leg up. Awesome job, I can commiserate with you, at 71, I installed 12kw of solar and all the associated paraphernalia, inverters, batteries. and additional panel. I will move more circuits to it as I grow the battery capability, I will install another 4.8 kw of solar in the intermediate future, not this year, but it's coming.

[@gregchambers6100]

Yep. PVC heat blanket's are sweeet. I really like the hot box also, we always had Greenlee.

[@arcadeuk]

Me in the UK "Can I upgrade my 80amp to 100amp" UK Power Company "NO, there is not capacity in your area" Government "You need to get an electric car, an electric boiler and electric heat pump to meet Net Zero targets" Me in the UK "HOW AM I SUPPOSED TO DO THAT?"

[@charlesjohnson6073]

Lol can't win can you!! I know how I feel 🫣

[@philsmock4943]

Great video. Watched it all. Good job. Thanks for sharing.

[@casetoburrito]

Nice approach to your SPAN sponsor at the end. It got me excited about a product for once!

[@SavedByFaithInJesus]

The eyes when when you asked "When is your hard stop?" Bro-- 4PM minus drive time back the the shop.

[@swervomatic]

Are you a quiet quitter?

[@jayrose9463]

I understand 5-8% of this video. Loving 100% of it all.

[@ElectricProAcademy]

😂

[@paulerenberger1286]

Helpful tip: multi tool to cut the conduit when you can’t pull wires out of the way

[@Joe-qw6il]

I started out replacing outlets, than adding new outlets/new breaker circuits, replacing ceiling fans then adding entirely new ceiling fan locations on their own breakers, then installed an entire central air system, then had to upgrade an old zinsco 100A breaker panel with a 200A square D, then moved, been here at my new home several years now, just installed a 10kW solar panel system on my home, did it all myself, all permitted, all passed, and saved myself a lot of $$$ by doing it all myself, and it all started with changing out an old outlet!

[@jovetj]

Joel: You're the new Tim "More Power!" Taylor!

[@bmoulas]

Genius, adding a subpanel to the EV meter on an 'honor' system. I am sooooo going to do this same mod this winter.

[@chaseblacketer6724]

I also do electrical in Indianapolis in all the old homes off north meridian. The sad things is I feel alone on my work ethic. I can’t get anyone to help me with side jobs. I love working and wanna grow and I can’t do it on my own. But your positive attitude reminds me of my own and I have hope there will be help out there for me after I take my test and go out on my own.

[@gilbertzaragoza5014]

I’ve always enjoyed watching your videos, but I haven’t watched your videos in about little over a year. I just thought of watching them again more newer ones and I’ve noticed that you’re using a lot of Dewalt power tools. I remember you were highly recommended Milwaukee power tools. I just thought it was a little strange in the change but it all depends on what you like. Best doing your good work and I enjoy watching your videos again. God bless.

[@ElectricProAcademy]

An accurate observation. We've recommended Milwaukee to our guys individually and purchased several of our company tools, such as coring drills, from them as well. The reason I don't use them is simply because 1) My DeWalt tools just won't die and 2) I'm not in the field nearly as often.

[@beemerkon]

Dude giving props to line man's put one of those guys in a house and see how they do trying figure anything out

[@carbongrip2108]

Awesome video, very clean results. I do have to say those panels are comically large for what they are, why on earth they require that I don't know. Couldn't you have done a single box with 3 meters on it like an apartment building?

[@ElectricProAcademy]

Agreed! They were supplied by the utility company, but we think it was at least partially supply chain driven (22:26)

[@jovetj]

@@ElectricProAcademy So, are you happy with how this turned out? I got the impression in the video that some of these panels are temporary-permanent. That other panel to the south also seems kind-of redundant now. Are you wanting or planning any more changes in the future?

[@christopher20008]

Great job ,love videos like this.

[@Byron88]

My only concern would be with the liquid -tite not sure of the codes there but the liquid Tite isn't considered bonded here which would have required you to run an additional ground conductor the whole length of the existing feeders / or put a JB with a bonding bushing on the liquid Tite side to ensure electrical continuity from distribution box to the house panel

[@illestofdemall13]

Metal liquid tite.

[@Byron88]

@@illestofdemall13 I'm also referring to metal liquid Tite we have to send a ground through it here as well, rigid and EMT we don't

[@jovetj]

@@Byron88 I think he was joking. 🙂

[@lorenrickey5481]

S-P-I-D-E-R-E-R-S!!!! That’s why I wear gloves and long sleeves. Spider armor! Thanks for letting us watch! That was interesting.

[@ElectricProAcademy]

😂

[@charlesmiller7861]

12:10 am, not pm.great work.

[@jeepanon]

to make your life so much easier when mounting those cabinets, i usually mount a piece of unistrut along the whole area, then you can just rest all your cabinets on it. then you can mark it and mount it with little to no weight to hold up.

[@Kangenpower7]

A temporary table made out of unistrut would be great to support the panels and other heavy stuff, then take it apart when the job is done. I used a fishing box to hold various 3/8" bolts, nuts, and washers, along with the unistrut nuts, and other fittings, 90 degree, ect. It was handy to not need to go back to the warehouse for more bolts and stuff while working with unistrut. I used the unistrut and a overhead 1/4 ton chain fall lift to pull out motors and pumps while doing HVAC and steam repairs. 5 HP hot water pumps are impossible to hold up with one hand while getting the bolts tight! I was also thinking about suggesting a pair of saw horses, cut to the right height to hold up the panels, maybe with a stack of 2X6 to get the height just right.

[@cr1m203]

Although I could never afford all the beautiful things in just one video and the great work I know one thing if I didn’t own my place I would definitely rent from this man. I wouldn’t mind having all that gear on the side of home if it all serves a purpose. I rather be safe than sorry. Great work man.

[@ArKaDeStation]

35:20 he had a passion chasing what my boy?

[@richwinegar5517]

Good job, roughly where are working?

[@ElectricProAcademy]

Indianapolis, IN

[@aa999xyz]

looking sharp, what about purchasing a portable solar generator for your customers to use while power is down especially for their refrigerator? 3000w version?

[@ElectricProAcademy]

We are looking into this or portable battery solutions! We'll be sure to post on it if we find a solution we like.

[@Duct88]

I’m so jealous!!!! I have 200 amps and I need more!!

[@MrTooTechnical]

Trust me. The way u did it, is better than span. Kick ass

[@marloweweissman6034]

Did the power company give you the 400A EV panel so you can charge more cars at the same time at the reduced rate?

[@ElectricProAcademy]

Yes, in our jurisdiction the reduced night-time rate can be used for a dedicated meter of any size.

[@Czechmate.z]

If you heat the pvc whist laying on the ground , it will heat quicker and less chance of burning .

[@JohnSmith-bo6ff]

What are you call8ng the Gold book ? The NEC?

[@ElectricProAcademy]

No, sorry. We've mentioned it in other videos but glossed over it here: Our local utility company's standards are called the Goldbook, and since they're the AHJ it trumps NEC if/whenever they conflict

[@kramit269]

We’re is slip coupling out of ground conduits ?

[@gatsbylight4766]

Sooooo, in other words: Dude just mounted an *electricity vending machine* on the side of his house. That box is HUGE!

[@ElectricProAcademy]

LOL! It's MASSIVE!

[@aliaksandryurenia8093]

Why you didn't install span panel for your home?

[@svdleer]

I'm from the Netherlands, i always wonder why they make power upgrades so difficult (al those new cabinets, feeds, panels, linemen, and so on) in your country. But very nice job, challenges are always nice.

[@wizard3z868]

a lot of it is due to gobernment corruption and union labor the lazy and incompetant need to eat too lol its the land of the fee (not free) home of the slave (not the brave) those times have past at least 4 scores ago lol

[@quinnbattaglia5189]

How are things done over there?

[@svdleer]

@@quinnbattaglia5189 In most cases for normal home connections it's just a new breaker or adding a breaker in the sealed compartiment of the power company. It hardly requires new panels and this kind of work

[@quinnbattaglia5189]

@@svdleer We can add new breakers too, but the main panel and meter are only rated for so much current before it becomes a fire hazard. Especially when the equipment is decades old. Am I misunderstanding you or does that mean you have to contact your utility to run a new circuit?

[@svdleer]

@@quinnbattaglia5189 ofcourse we replace the boards here as well if the stuff is rejected by code. But indeed, you need the utility to install new breakers to upgrade the service. It depends if the lines to the service need to be replaced, but since almost everything runs in the ground the lines are overrated for the service that is being used, they only need replacing for example when your line is very old, and you go from example single phase line to 3-phase line and the line does not have more conductors. Usually when they have massive street reconstructions and cable of gaslines are getting old, they upgrade the lines and gaslines to new standards in the same reconstruction.

[@wizard3z868]

and i was being called insane/mad for suggesting 400 amp services for homes+garages and e/v's

[@branetraveler]

Any surge protection?

[@ElectricProAcademy]

Yes! As we put in EV charging in this video: kzbin.info/www/bejne/hGfWgqyJpMimiqssi=n9o_8rZTpxzMRJKl&t=458

[@ArkBobOp]

Your channels gonna blow up bro! Start preparing now for some major growth, kudos to you

[@mikemarshall1394]

I see no ground rods. Are you installing one per panel?

[@taylormills08]

If you have a heat blanket throw a cotton towel or sweatshirt around it. Achieves bending temp in half the time or better.

[@JamesHalfHorse]

Wired a house when I was 14. Got an IT job a year or two later. That was 25 years ago. Should have stuck with being an electrician. Put in all the utilities and electrical for my farm. Trying to talk the power company into 400 amps and not have them complain to much about the 80kw generator I have and I work on 3 phase radio transmitters on the regular. I think I am going to learn some stuff on this channel. Oh and as much smack is talked between the trades I have to say thank you as a low volt guy whenever you guys put in extra pipe for us when you trench. I do my best to work with the other trades but I am a company of one too and it's hard to get all that coordinated so when you look out for me like that it is appreciated and the customer appreciates it.

[@ragnor56]

You have a top grade fire protection system in place & the whole building is insulated for fire control?

[@adammurdoch1708]

Man the guys who designed the US grid must of owned copper mines!

[@jovetj]

Why? Copper is the best conductor for the price. It's really quite excellent, and it's used all over the world for that purpose. Aluminum works in a pinch.

[@adammurdoch1708]

@@jovetj I know it's the best conductor for this application but the low voltage and thus high current requirements for US home power uses 4 times the conductor area that most of the rest of the world would

[@jovetj]

@@adammurdoch1708 The thickest cables in homes are, obviously, service entrance wiring. Most of those are aluminium here. Perhaps you don't realize that the "low-voltage" wires in most home circuits are 2mm² or 3mm². Circuits sized bigger than 4.8kW are almost always 240V. A 50A electric stove/oven circuit gets the equivalent of 13mm² cable.

[@adammurdoch1708]

@@jovetj yea I know 13mm2 cable wouldn't be used outside industrial applications here and a lighting circuit will be using 1 or 1.5mm even stove circuit is only 3mm as it also uses 2 phases and that would be the largest in most homes

[@jovetj]

@@adammurdoch1708 Oh, "you know?" So what is your point, again...? Our wires are too big because of 120V?

[@DUSTEATER2]

I didn't know you could bury a LB inside the wall. My inspector told me to put an access panel over it. Also burning the PVC was poor workmanship in my apprentice days.

[@addminusDIY]

how much all for upgrade?

[@ElectricProAcademy]

1:11:42

[@MJ-iy4fb]

Nice work, I have to ask, why did you need 1000 amps ?

[@jovetj]

Home+home-refurbs, Electric vehicle charging and future-proofing, and a little extra for the carriage house.

[@rty626]

Hello, I am a big fan of your channel, THANKS for sharing your knowledge. Can you please share how would you identify phase A or B on service panel? I am talking about the lugs coming from outside. Due to my work I need to know which one is A or B. Thanks for everything, GREAT Work!!!

[@persona250]

Core drill on hammer ???

[@Kangenpower7]

Have you thought about going to a Ford E Van? Then they can install a 80 amp 240 volt charger at a home, and refill the van on the overnight low cost power. That is terrific that they offer such low cost power in your state. I live in Portland Oregon, and recently changed to a 5-9 pricing program, where I pay $0.32 per KW between 5 pm and 9 pm, weekdays, and get lower cost power all other hours of the day, and weekends. So far I have averaged 32 KW of the peak power each month, while I have 750 - 950 KW non-peak power each month. I am all electric and installed my 4 ton heat pump myself, I install HVAC for a living. I have a 200 amp service, and plug in hybrid Ford C-Max, with a 7.5 KW battery and 4 cylinder engine. It gets 40 MPG on gas and 18 miles on battery power. I installed a 16 amp 240 volt charger, much lager than this car needs. I put my water heater on a timeclock, and shut off my refrigerator 7 pm - 9 pm, to reduce my peak power hours, and remember not to run my heat pump on peak power. Great video!

[@SeekingTheLoveThatGodMeans7648]

What a honkin' wiring setup. What I would first think about is that it would require a significantly upsized drop from the utility whose availability would depend on whether they're set up for commercial service or you can pay them enough to put that in. The ordinary 100 or so amp drop to a residence would obviously not cut it, especially if it comes off a pole. I kind of dabbled in wiring additions in a home I had in an area where the permitting authority was comparatively lenient to that, including adding a kitchen subpanel, but nothing of this scope or expense (even by DIY standards). Personally, for heating, if not also cooking (I decided to go old fashioned coiltop electric), I'd still want gas. Other stuff, go wild with the juice.

[@jesseestrada4290]

We use a hot oven or a hot blanket to bend pvc no open flame allowed in Cali, occasionally I’ll use open flame in a controlled setting with a fire extinguisher on hand or just a wet rag.

[@ScotReeder]

Would it have not worked cutting the interior wall of the carriage house than cutting the brick?

[@Sebanisu]

It's odd watching a channel that is local. I used to live in Indianapolis and I live up in Lafayette now. You guys say a road name and I know where it is lol. I saw you on StudPack so I decided to check out some of your videos.

[@sergiosolis662]

Pancho almost got his ahh blown 😭 11:45

[@sammyyourmammy8170]

What state and city is this dude located in ? New exposed PVC conduit at less than 6' above finish grade?

[@hunterallen4925]

What brand is that secondary CT metering cabinet?

[@rikardlalic7275]

Real challenge...

[@ChadwickFerguson]

carbide oscillating tool does cut at least 2" GRC especially for hangnails

[@awesome6486]

which Local IBEW union is Jefferson Electric affiliated with?

[@ElectricProAcademy]

Jefferson Electric is a non-union shop. We like to poke the bear and call ourselves "merit-based". 😏

[@thereedbreed]

Wedge anchors in concrete or brick also work extremely well

[@andyluo1389]

Good job overall. Only thing I am not so sure about is the way you bend your PVC offset.

[@michaeljavert4635]

Great video. I feel so bad that you had to drill into that beautiful brickwork. It's like it was happening to my own house. And someone took a lot of time to make that old meter cabinet flush to the wall and really worked it in there. Looks like the same kind of things I would have to go through. On the verge of becoming destitute and homeless, I guess I should be thankful for what I have now, but I know that Corporate America is doing everything in their power to get my house away from me despite already owning it. It is horrible the way this country treats crippled people. It's like a holocaust on the poor. You do beautiful work and that is one of the things I miss doing. I used to be able to do this stuff. Now, because of my own obsessions with insisting on metal boxes and 12 gauge wiring and my other little quirks, I open up entire walls to finesse things in there. But the walls stay open because I can't afford a plaster master to come in and put them back up nor patch what I cut into. Then if there's a fire stop... Oy vey. I don't recall my life being this difficult when I was younger, but I also wasn't this sick then either. No matter what, keep your health in check, because as soon as that goes, the financial sharks are looking to prey on you, take advantage of you, leave you penniless then take all the property you own outright. I see it happening to me.

[@jarrydee2799]

you must love this stuff. I would have quit a long time ago and started back up the next day

[@John-B91]

Great video and a lot of hard work for one day, but why do you need 400 amps for EV charging, my 230V single phase charger in Australia runs off a 50 amp circuit. Is that your own private transformer on the top of the power pole where you are connected to? Cheers from Aus.

[@jovetj]

I can't speak for Joel, but I think he expects to eventually have several EV chargers going at once. 400A should cover that for a long, long time. From what I see on Google Street View, the transformer might only be 50kVA... but it serves his and several other houses, and also probably some street lights.

[@John-B91]

@@jovetj Yes it is only 50kVA or around 200 Amps at 240 Volts to be shared with two other houses as well, so I don't understand the point in building a 1000 Amp connection.

[@jovetj]

@@John-B91 Looking at it closer, the transformer is _new._ The triplex going to that pole used to feed Joel's place; now it is just not connected. The line running east used to branch off of Joel's riser pole, but the utility installed a new pole to the south with a cutout to feed that line to the east. The new transformer serves Joel's place and a few surrounding street lights. So, he pretty-much has his own transformer. I know utilities have their own standards for sizing transformers, but like you I'm not sure why they picked that size.

[@John-B91]

@@jovetj Thanks for clarifying that as I can't see much outside the installation and the property from looking at just the video.

[@sk3tchimdg3t33]

Lucky you gave the necessary blood sacrifice that any electrician knows is mandatory with any electrical work

[@djpmatchbox]

as someone who works for the cable company, 1in is not enough. Run the same as you ran for the electric especially for a duplex because it has to have two runs ran through it, not to mention if the other Telecommuncations company runs through it too. (We are not allowed to cut the other companies wire to run our own)

[@throttlebottle5906]

yeah, may as well put in dual 1.5" runs.

[@djpmatchbox]

@@throttlebottle5906 honestly just running a single 3in would suffice. Thats enough room for the cable company and the phone company. Now to be fair if I had a duplex or triplex I would only run 1 cable wire or fiber and have shared internet with access points in the home and a data rack

[@throttlebottle5906]

@@djpmatchbox I think their own policies here and many places keep them from sharing a conduit though. they're worried about damaging the other lines. they also wont do anything but straight through holes, when it comes to penetrating walls/floors and they still manage to drill through/into wiring. 🥳🤡

[@thedangler1371]

No burn marks too. Spin that conduit and work it back and forth with a wet rag ready to cool it

[@robertr2174]

I think lines should be anchored down where they land more yhan whre they sit. . So it's added strength and saftey. Kind of like a fail safe type thing 50 years down the road.