Electrical Panel Replacement

Do you have an old fuse panel? How about lack of space in your existing panel? If you said yes to either of those, a panel replacement may be a good option for you!

If you still have a fuse panel in you home, yes, it is time to replace it!  Fuse panels have a few disadvantages including:

• Electricians cannot install the required modern circuit breakers within it
• Fuses can be easily removed and replaced with larger fuses. This leads to a potential fire hazard as it allows wiring to carry more current (amperage) than it can support.
• When most fuses blow, they need to be replaced. Simply put, this can be a pain in the butt! Especially in the dark!
• Many insurance companies will not insure homes with fuse panels.
• Did I mention they are old? Fuse panels were phased out in the 1960’s.

If you already have a circuit breaker panel but it’s full, or nearly full, you have two options.

First is to replace the entire panel with a new larger panel. The advantage here if you will have a single panel with all your circuit breakers in them, not spread out into multiple panels.

The second option is to add a sub-panel next to the existing panel.  Adding the sub panel is the cheaper option but may not be the right choice in every situation. Not sure if the sub panel or panel replacement is the best route to go? We’ll help you make the right choice for your home!

Your electrical service consists of two parts. The interior electrical panel and the exterior service/meter socket. If you are going to replace the panel and the exterior service is old or undersized, this is a great time to consider a larger service upgrade (200amps in most cases for single family homes). It will save money to upgrade the entire system now, versus doing the panel now and outside service down the road.

If your exterior service is in good condition and sized at 100amps, only replacing the panel may be a good option. It really comes down to your future plans for the house and whether you will need a larger service.

Again, our electricians are happy to help you make the right decision for your home!

Click here for an article we wrote comparing 100amp and 200amp services.