is when you wish to upgrade your service coming into your house from fuses to breakers or to upgrade from 60 or 100 AMPs to installation of a 100, 200 or 400 AMP service. A 100 AMP service was the most common in residential applications, the recent code changes (2020) upgraded the requirements to 200 AMPs due to vehicle charging stations becoming common and in the near future they will be part of standard electrical installations. And many detached houses today are being renovated with an addition of a secondary rental suite. The main reasons for looking to upgrade your panel are that it is an older fuse type panel. Most insurance companies will no longer issue an insurance policy with this type of panel.
What gets changed?
The only things which are altered during a service change are the connections with the grid on your house, the meter and all the cables leading out of it, the grounding system and the distribution panel (which is the device that holds all of the circuit breakers and dictates where all of the circuits come from). A service change does not involve any alterations or repairs to your actual circuits.
GCCElectric will undertake to do any type of panel upgrade. Please call us today.
Other Reasons for Upgrading your Electrical Panel
- Over fusing – Every wire size has a corresponding fuse size. Often we find a larger fuse on smaller wire because the circuit is continuously blowing and most people don’t realize that doing this is a major fire hazard. Breakers solve this problem. A properly installed breaker panel eliminates the chance of over fusing.
- Double lugging – This occurs when there is no longer enough space in your current electrical panel. This is also an issue. The wires under the lugs can expand and contract at different rates depending on the load on the wires. This is a fire hazard. A larger upgraded panel can easily solve this issue as well.
- Convenience – Many People make the mistake of changing the wrong fuse when they blow. Often there is no physical indication that a fuse is blown. And the hassle of going to the hardware store every time you blow a fuse can be frustrating. Breakers can easily be reset quickly and cost free if an overload occurs. Resetting a breaker is as simple a flicking a switch.
- Space for new projects/additions – This is self-explanatory! Often when a new basement or addition is in the works you will need additional space for new electrical circuits. An electrical panel upgrade is the only option.
- Water damage/corrosion – Over time damp basements or water damage can and will cause corrosion to your existing electrical panel or breakers. Typically electrical panel replacement should be considered after 15-20 years. This will ensure that no major corrosion occurs and the breakers are in proper working condition.
- Resale – A upgraded electrical service panel with space to grow is a good selling feature in any home sale. Fuses and old panels are often a point of concern by potential new buyers.
- Service upgrades 100-200 – A full electrical service upgrade is required when you are attempting to boost your ampacity from either 60-100,125, or to 200. Most homes are good with 100 amps. However depending on the size of the house or perhaps a pool to hot tub in your future you may decide to upgrade your panel to higher amperage. GCCElectric can help you determine what will fit your electrical needs.