100 Amp to 200 Amp Electrical Service Upgrade with Dedicated EV Charger Circuit
Branover Contractors upgraded a single-family home’s original 100 amp overhead electrical service to 200 amps and installed a dedicated circuit for a Level 2 EV charger, managing all SCE utility coordination and City permitting on the homeowner’s behalf.
Overview
The property is a single-family home in Los Angeles originally built with a 100 amp overhead electrical service. The existing service supported the home’s standard electrical load but had no additional capacity for a dedicated 240V circuit. The homeowner requested the installation of a Level 2 EV charger, which required increasing overall service capacity before a dedicated circuit could be added safely.
The property is served by Southern California Edison (SCE) rather than the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP), which governs a separate utility coordination process for service disconnects and reconnects. Branover Contractors managed all SCE scheduling and documentation directly, in addition to the permitting and inspection process with the City.
Challenge
- 100 amp overhead electrical service, original to the home
- No available capacity for a dedicated high-draw circuit required for EV charging
- Overhead service drop and meter configuration typical of an older single-family installation
Note on service capacity: a 100 amp panel is not inherently a safety issue in the way an aging Zinsco or Federal Pacific panel can be. In this case, the existing panel and breakers were functioning within design parameters. The limitation was available capacity, not equipment failure, and required a full service upgrade to safely support the additional 240V EV charging circuit.
Solution
- Removed the existing 100 amp overhead service equipment
- Installed a new 200 amp Siemens main service panel
- Upgraded overhead service conductors and weatherhead to match the new 200 amp capacity
- Installed a dedicated 50 amp circuit for a ChargePoint Home Flex Level 2 EV charger
- Verified and updated grounding and bonding to current code
- Coordinated the service disconnect and reconnect directly with SCE
- Obtained the electrical permit and coordinated final inspection with LA City Building & Safety (LADBS)
Implementation
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1
Site assessment and load planning
Evaluated the existing 100 amp service and confirmed that a 200 amp upgrade would provide adequate capacity for the home’s existing load plus the new EV circuit.
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2
Permit and utility coordination
Obtained the electrical permit and scheduled the service upgrade with SCE, including the disconnect/reconnect window for the overhead service.
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3
Service upgrade and EV circuit installation
Installed the new 200 amp panel and service conductors, then ran and terminated the dedicated circuit for the EV charger.
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4
Inspection and sign-off
Coordinated final inspection with LADBS. The installation passed inspection on the first attempt.
Results
- 200 amp Siemens electrical service installed, with capacity beyond current household demand
- Dedicated 50 amp circuit supporting a ChargePoint Home Flex Level 2 EV charger, independent of other household circuits
- All SCE utility coordination managed directly by Branover Contractors
- Permit obtained and LADBS inspection passed on the first attempt
Running an older service and thinking about EV charging?
If your panel is maxed out, undersized, or original to the house, we can size the upgrade correctly the first time — and handle the utility and permitting side so you don’t have to.
Branover Contractors, Inc. — CA C-10 Electrical Contractor License #484143
