You may be asking if upgrading your electrical panel is a good idea if you’re going to rewire your house. There are situations where simultaneous rewiring and panel upgrades are necessary, although this is not always the case. There are a lot of advantages to upgrading your electrical panel, including increased safety and the capacity to handle current electrical loads.
What Does an Electric Panel Do?
The electrical panel (also known as a breaker box or fuse box) is the brain of the electrical system. It sends the current arriving from the main power line to each room, so your entire space can receive an adequate amount of electricity. Moreover, this panel has fuses or circuit breakers that keep your house safe by cutting the power as soon as the current’s voltage overloads or a wire breaks. Electrical problems, such as fire dangers, frequent power outages, and appliance damage, can occur in a home when the panel is not functioning properly.
Wiring Upgrade vs Electric Panel Upgrade
The main purpose of a wire upgrade is to replace the outdated, broken, or undersized wiring throughout your home. This is often an absolute necessity for older houses, whose wiring systems are not up to today’s electrical rules, and few of them are sufficient to handle the demands of today’s appliances and electronics. To get more power from your circuit breakers – or to get more modern features like AFCI protection – you will need to upgrade your electrical panel. While they target different parts of your home’s electrical system, both upgrades aim to make it safer and more efficient.
Do You Always Need to Upgrade the Electric Panel When Doing a Wiring Upgrade?
Rewiring your home does not always necessitate an upgraded electric panel, but there are instances when it becomes essential. For example, if the circuits are old or your home has new wiring than it did originally, the existing panel’s limited capacity might not be sufficient. If you have an older electrical system, upgrading the panel is your best bet to update your electrical system for modern living, to make it safer, and to help prevent problems in the future.
What’s More Expensive: Rewiring or Panel Upgrade?
Rewiring will generally cost anywhere between $3,000 and $10,000, but several factors can cause this price to soar. For example, the cost to rewire a large property could be higher than a smaller house; the complexity of the operation can also drive up rates, and the materials you choose can affect the ultimate cost. Rewiring is an extremely costly procedure and takes a long time because it involves cutting into walls and ceilings, removing the old wires, and then adding the new ones.
Upgrading the panel is expensive but usually less than rewiring the whole system. Depending on panel size and the exact requirements of a job, the cost can vary between $1,000 and $3,000.
Warning Indications That It’s Time to Replace Your Electric Panel
You should replace the electric panel if you notice any of these warning signs: burnt smell, excessive heat, frequent breaker trips, buzzing sound near the panel, discoloration of the plugs, or flickering lights. In homes where the panel is 25 to 30 years old, you may have problems meeting the demands of new appliances, electronics, and smart electric devices; you will need an upgrade in that case.
Is It Possible to Upgrade the Panel Yourself?
Upgrading the electric panel is a project that you can do yourself, but it is not without significant risk. There is already a level of risk associated with working on electrical systems. Another considerably larger door opens when you couple it with high-voltage components. Provided you have the experience and background, here are some tips for a safe job:
- Before you start working, make sure to turn off the primary power source.
- To lessen the likelihood of electrical shock, use insulated instruments.
- Be careful to mark and connect all wires to their proper breakers.
- Before you flip the switch, go back and double-check everything. All connections must be tight and secure.
- Be sure to follow all applicable local norms and regulations.
- Unless you’re an expert, it’s best to get a professional electrician to handle this.
Reasons to Let a Professional Perform a Panel Upgrade
Professional electricians know how to work with high-voltage systems, are fully aware of the associated hazards, and will ensure that your particular system gets installed correctly and operates safely at all times. The expert will check if the existing panel has the capacity to manage the current and expected loads of your home and connected appliances.
Contact Mister Sparky today if you’re considering a panel upgrade for your home