New Home Owner & Electrical Work | ALL IN ONE HOME REPAIRS 24/7
Becoming a homeowner has many benefits.
Unfortunately, a disadvantage is that sometimes things breakdown or just break.
Sometimes you have no idea why something isn’t working. Diagnosing the problem
is only half the battle. When it comes
to electrical issues, most homeowners have little idea what the exact problem
is much less how to fix it.
If you have ever had any problems or issues
working correctly, than this post will give insight on if you need to upgradeyour electrical panel, how to determine if your panel’s capacity and why hiringan electrician is the best way to go if you are thinking about how you can
change your electrical panel yourself.
Before we get into how and why your electrical
panel might not be working, let’s talk about the breaker panel itself. An
electrical panel is the central point that connects the wires from outside to
the wires inside your home and how your electric service provider provides
electricity to your home. It’s often also called the main breaker box, the fuse
box, a distribution panel, a load center and even a breaker panel. This is
where you go when you need to flip the breakers off and on to get the power
back on when you’ve tripped the breaker. Usually the panel is located in the
garage, on your home’s exterior or in a utility room, but can be anywhere in
your home.
· Main breaker panels
· Main lug panels
· Transfer switches.
These panels have a main built-in breaker that
can shut off all the power to your property. This double-pole circuit breaker
both identifies the capacity of your panel’s circuits and protects those
circuits from becoming overloaded.
Instead of having a main breaker, line wires
go to lugs in these types of panels. Main lug panels have a separate shut-off
system, which could be near the meter or connected to the main panel’s breaker.
Having a disconnect near your meter is what allows firefighters to cut your
power without needing to enter your living structure.
If you need more than one circuit in a
particular area, such as in a greenhouse or a workshop, you may want or need asub-panel. Usually sub-panels don’t have their own disconnect and are generally
powered from the main panel.
A particular type of sub-panel that is used to
transmit portable generator power is a transfer switch. Transfer switches are
often recommended in areas with frequent storms, where alternate power sources
can be needed on occasion. This setup allows a homeowner to easily switch to a
backup power source when the regular source of electricity is unavailable.
Manual transfer switches are less costly, but require you to manually switch
the power load to your backup system, while automatic transfer switches provide
a homeowner with more reliable protection.
The main types of circuit breakers are single
pole, double pole, arc fault circuit interrupters (AFCO) and ground fault
circuit interrupters (GFCI). You can choose between full size, half size and
twin or tandem single pole breakers, which provide 120 volts of electricity.
Hot water heaters and appliances tend to have double pole circuit breakers,
which provide 240 volts of power. AFCIs turn off power to an area when worn ordamaged wires are present. These typically are installed in common areas and
bedrooms. An electrician will recommend that kitchens, bathrooms and garages
have GFCIs, which protects homeowners from electrocution around wet areas.
Most of the time, you don’t think much about
your breaker panel. However, like other equipment in your home, electricalpanels sometimes need to replaced or upgraded. There are a variety of reasons
for this.
Circuit breaker panels typically last 25 to 40
years. There are other questions to ask when determining if you need to upgrade
or replace your electrical panel, such as:
If your home still relies on an old-fashioned
panel with fuses, which is common in homes built prior to 1960, then you
probably want to upgrade to an electrical panel with circuit breakers. Fuses
burn out and need to be replaced and circuit breakers just need to be reset
with a flip of the switch.
If your home is more than 20 or 30 years old,
you may need an upgrade. Older homes typically have panels that top out at 60
or 100 amps. Newer homes usually have 200-amp panels which fit
our lifestyles. Today’s electricity needs are greater than before with
high-definition televisions, computers, smart refrigerators and other
appliances.
IS YOUR ELECTRICAL PANEL WARM?
If
the panel feels warm to the touch, it could be a sign that the panel is
overloaded, defective or improperly installed.
DOES YOUR ELECTRICAL PANEL SMELL?
If
the panel gives off a burning smell, this could be a sign that either there is
a bad circuit breaker or that a wire isn’t properly connected. Either one of
those warning signs can put you at risk for an electrical fire.
DOES YOUR ELECTRICAL PANEL TRIP OFTEN?
If
your electrical panel trips often or if it makes a crackling sound, it may needto be replaced. The system will trip when you plug too many appliances into a
circuit which requires more power than the circuit can accommodate. The
“tripping” or cutting off power is a safety measure to prevent the wires from
overheating. This may mean that just the breaker needs to be replaced and not
the whole panel.
DO YOUR APPLIANCES RUN AT FULL CAPACITY?
If
your appliances aren’t running at full capacity, it may be a result of a faultyelectrical panel. The circuits could be overloaded. If that’s not the problem,
it may be that the panel is outdated and you need more electricity to handle
the current load that your home requires.
DO YOU FIND YOURSELF USING A LOT OF POWER STRIPS?
If
you need additional wall outlets throughout your home, you may considerupgrading the panel to supply the power you will need to run everything.
ARE YOU UPGRADING YOUR APPLIANCES OR ADDING ON TO YOURHOME?
If
you are considering a major new appliance upgrade or addition to your home that
would require additional amps, you might consider an upgrade.
DO YOUR LIGHTS DIM OR FLICKER FREQUENTLY?
If
your lights dim or flicker frequently, especially when you use other
appliances, this could be a sign of connection coming loose or something
failing.
Do I Need To Upgrade My Electrical Panel?
To
learn about the capacity of your current breaker panel, look on the inside.
There will be a tag, usually, on the door that will list maximum voltage,
current and power dissipation capability for the panel and fusses. Most breakerboxes are 100, 150 or 200 amps. The average home typically requires 200 amp
panels to fully operate all of your appliances and meet your electrical needs.
If
you answered yes to our questions above, or find that your current panel
doesn’t meet modern home electricity requirements, you may decide it’s time for
an upgrade.
How To Upgrade Electrical Panel: Should You Do It Yourself?
Depending
on local and state laws, some homeowners can pull a permit and do this project
themselves. In a vast majority of cases, you’ll want to call an electrician to
perform this potentially dangerous and involved project. In fact, many cities
require a licensed master electrician to perform this type of work.
What
are a few reasons you should leave this job to a pro? It is very important to remember
that when you work on an outlet, you can disconnect the electricity to that
area. However, that isn’t the case with the electrical panel. Even when you
shut off the main breaker, the lugs still carry live electricity. The two top
lugs of the meter are where the power lines connect, which means there is high
voltage at a lethal level coming into the service panel. If you come into
contact with it, either directly or indirectly, you can be seriously injured or
even killed.
Even
if you were to upgrade your electrical panel on your own, that in and of itself
won’t increase the power supply to your home. An experienced electrician will
tell you that in addition to a new breaker box, you’ll also need to install new
cables and an electrical meter. You’ll also want to rely on an expert to tell
you more about the local codes to make sure your upgrade is compliant with the
latest regulations.
The
main parts of your breaker panel are the main breaker, your circuit breakers
and what’s called bus bars. What does each do?
MAIN BREAKER
This
large circuit breaker protects your circuit breakers from becoming overburdened
by limiting the amount of electricity which feeds into each breaker. The main
breaker also pinpoints the amperage limits of your breaker panel.
CIRCUIT BREAKERS
Many
homeowners are familiar with these parts, which are what “trips” when there is
a power surge to a certain part of your home. Each breaker has an on/off switch
that adjusts the amount of electricity going to each circuit.
BUS BARS
These
components bring power from your electrical meter through two black, thick
wires to your individual circuits.
NEUTRAL BUS BARS
Your
neutral bar connects to the neutral wire of the main circuit and brings
electricity back to your panel after delivering needed power to all the parts
of your home. In some areas, your neutral bar is connected to the main
grounding wire.
GROUNDING BUS BARS
All
the grounding wires come together at the ground bar, which also connects to the
grounding conductor, which goes underground.
GROUNDING BUS BARS
All
the grounding wires come together at the ground bar, which also connects to the
grounding conductor, which goes underground.
Electrical projects are not the best for those who elect to do it themselves.
There are many things that can go wrong, some of which are fatal. Hiring a
licensed, experienced electrician will most likely save you time and money in
the long run. These professionals are aware of the local and most recentelectrical codes and can inspect your electrical panel and wiring for any
defects.
Electricians go through extensive training to become
licensed and are required to complete continuing education hours to renew their
licenses, which also keeps them up with national, state and local laws and
regulations.
According to the National Fire Protection Association, “Between 2010 and 2014, U.S. municipal fire departments
responded to an average of 45,210 home structure fires involving electrical
failure or malfunction. These fires caused annual averages of 420 civilian
deaths, 1,370 civilian injuries, and $1.4 billion in direct property damage.”
An electrician also does more than just safely wire your
home; he or she can expertly advise you on how much electricity your home
actually needs to run properly. Be sure to tell him or her about any future big
appliance upgrades or additions you have planned. Even a new TV and installing
surround sound or other devices can make a difference in the amount of
electricity your home needs. An electrician can also tell if your wiring is oldor if circuits are damaged.
When looking for an electrician, make sure you get several
quotes and remember that the cheapest option is not always the best. You want
to select a trained and licensed electrician with references. The averageelectrical panel upgrade takes about 8 to 10 hours to complete. While the cost
may be more than what you might spend having a ceiling fan installed or a new
light switch put in, upgrading your electrical panel will prevent future
problems and ensure your home can handle all its electrical needs.
If you have any questions about whether your electrical panel
or wiring will pass inspection, you can check the National Electric Code or
your local licensing or inspecting authority.
While
you can do electrical work on your own, it may not be a good idea. When dealing
with electricity, there are many things that can go wrong. You also want to
ensure that everything is up to code and working properly so you don’t have an
electrical fire. The experienced, insured and licensed electricians at All
In One Home Repairs can help you with your electrical panel upgrades as well as any other electrical needs you may
encounter during the upgrade. Schedule an electrical service today.
It's great to know there are electrical professionals like you in the Nassau County area.
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