200A service in 100A box

I don't plan to add any more circuits.

Do I have a problem??? Is there a diffrence, other then size, between a 100A box and a 200A box??

Also I want to put 6-2.5A lights (15A total) on one (1) 20A circuit, will this be OK??

Here's a funny one: Can go into Menards, Home Depot, or the likes of and buy a Main Breaker/panel rated at 150 amps, but show me service that isn't rated at either 100 amp or 200 amp. What I mean is that there are people around me that will pay extra to buy a 150 amp Main Breaker over a 100 amp and then have Edison only bring in 100 amp service, because won't handle 200 amp, and 150 amp doesn't exist. Wasted money.

This is indeed, 100 amp service, two 100 amp breakers riveted together and gang barred together make up a 100 amp main.

A 200 Amp main would be FOUR 100 amp breakers riveted and gang barred together and the breakers would be strapped together in pairs.

A few panels (Square D for one) use a single huge breaker with two terminals in, and two terminals out and a single handle. My Seimens outside 200 amp disconnect is made this way also.

Charles

You shouldn't have any problems putting your lights on one 20 amp circuit assuming you're using 20 ga. wire and that you've calculated the current properly. On the other hand, if you split them on different circuits, you won't be in the dark when a breaker trips.

If (or rather when) you run out of circuits in your panel, you can add a subpanel.

As my (German) grandfather used to say, "you take a Dutchman for what he says, not for what he means"!

Yes, 12 gauge wire for 20 amp service, of course.

Can't believe that I'm not the only one that says one thing and is thinking another. Oh well, you mind goes first.....

Mark

--->Paul

Gerald J.

You can use a smaller breaker on larger wire (15 amp breaker on #12 wire) but NOT the other way around (20 amp breaker on #14 wire)

I agree about the 200A service in the 100A box. As long as the breaker is only 100A. The 100A breaker is protecting what's "downstream", the 200A service is "upstream".