Electrical engineering is the work Nick does himself, from the calc to the seal. Most of it starts with one question from a contractor or builder: will this service handle what we're adding? A1 answers it with a load calculation the city will accept, then carries it through the panel schedule and the sealed electrical sheets.
Load calculations in plain language
NEC Article 220 gives several ways to figure how much load a building puts on its service. The right one depends on whether the building is new or existing and what information you have. For dwellings, these three come up most:
- 220.82, optional method for a dwelling. Used to size the service for a single-family home. General loads such as lighting, receptacles and appliances are added up and a demand factor is applied, then heating or cooling is added separately. It usually gives a more realistic number than adding everything at full value.
- 220.83, existing dwelling with added load. Used when you're adding equipment to a house that already has a service. It looks at what's there, adds the new load, and tells you whether the existing service can carry it.
- 220.87, existing load from real demand data. Instead of estimating what the house uses, this method starts from the actual peak demand recorded by the utility or by metering, then adds the new load on top.
The method matters. A house that looks maxed out on paper under one method can have room under another. For a first look, try the load estimate on our homepage, which uses the 220.82 and 220.83 dwelling methods. When you need something the city will accept, Nick runs the full calc and seals it.
For why calcs and panels get flagged at inspection, read electrical load calculations: why panels fail inspection.
Panel schedules that match the calc
A load calc and a panel schedule are two views of the same system, and reviewers check that they agree. We build schedules that list each circuit, its breaker and conductor size, the connected load, and the phase balance, with totals that tie back to the calc. When a schedule and a calc disagree, that's one of the easiest comments for a reviewer to write.
Adding EV chargers, heat pumps, solar and generators
Most electrical calls are about adding something to a building that already works. Each addition raises its own questions:
| Addition | What we look at |
|---|---|
| EV charger | Charger rating, whether the existing service can carry it, and whether load management is an option instead of a service upgrade |
| Heat pump | Compressor and backup heat loads, replacing old heating load in the calc, circuit and disconnect sizing |
| Solar PV | How the system connects to the service, busbar and breaker limits, labeling and disconnects |
| Generator or backup power | What the generator will carry, transfer equipment, and how it ties into the existing panel |
Adding more than one at once, say an EV charger and a heat pump in the same remodel, is where a sealed calc pays for itself. The combined load is what the city cares about.
Multi-family electrical design
Multi-family work adds layers: individual unit loads, house panels for common areas, metering arrangements and a service sized for the whole building. Nick designs the electrical for these projects and seals the sheets, coordinating with the architect or drafter who is drawing the rest of the set. Mechanical and plumbing design is outside what A1 does, so those come from the project's other consultants.
What you'll get back
- A sealed load calculation with the method shown
- Panel schedules that tie back to the calc
- Sealed electrical sheets when the job calls for design, not just a calc
- A clear answer if the service needs to be upgraded, and to what size
If a drafter is drawing the rest of the set, we can work through a seal arrangement so the electrical sheets and the calc arrive together.
Questions
Is the homepage estimate enough for a permit?
No. It's a quick check to see where you stand. A permit usually needs a calc prepared and sealed by an engineer, which is what Nick provides.
Which load calc method will you use?
The one that fits the building and the information available. For existing homes with utility demand data, 220.87 is often the most accurate. Otherwise 220.82 or 220.83 for dwellings.
Can you tell me whether I need a service upgrade?
Yes. That's what the calc is for. It shows whether the existing service works or what size it needs to be.
Do you design mechanical or plumbing?
No. A1 is electrical. HVAC electrical, meaning the circuits, disconnects and loads that feed the equipment, is part of our work.
Are you licensed for electrical work outside Texas?
Nick is an electrical PE licensed in Texas, Florida, Georgia and North Carolina.
Adding load to a panel that looks full? Send us the panel photo and what you're adding, or call (214) 382-9584 to talk it through with Nick.