An electrical panel also known as a breaker panel, breaker box, service panel or load center is a steel box that holds multiple circuit breakers wired to circuits that distribute power throughout your house. Circuit breakers turn off and on the power to your home to prevent wiring damage from “tripping” when an electrical overcurrent or short occurs.
You may want to consider replacing your electrical panel or adding a sub-panel in the event that the need for additional circuit breakers exceeds the current capacity of your electrical panel, or if you want to upgrade from fuses to circuit breakers. Bear in mind that a new electrical panel won’t provide more power to your home. If you need more overall power to your home, make sure to use the services of a qualified electrician to upgrade the amount of power. This process will require a new electrical panel and other accessories such as a new electrical meter and cables. This purchasing guide will help you know what to look for when selecting an electrical panel as well seeking the services of a professional electrician.
Before buying a new electrical panel for your home, first assess your current and future electrical needs, and plan accordingly. If you are not sure of this, a professional electrician can help you. Check with local authorities and the utility company to ensure that your chosen panel conforms to the code and all local requirements.
Factors to Consider
Components – Main breaker, circuit breakers, bus bars, neutral bus bars, grounding bus bars
Types – Main breaker, main lug, sub-panel, transfer switches
Amps – Varies according to need, and will range from 100 to 200
Circuit Breakers – Single and double pole, AFCI and GFCI
Components
Current flows into your home through wires connected to the electrical panel. Understanding the components will help you make an informed decision.
Types
There are different types of electrical panels to choose from. Each meets a certain area code or application depending on your area. Check with the local authorities.
Amps
Electrical panels are identified according to the amperage they provide. For example, an electrical panel of 100 amps will only allow 100 amps to pass through without tripping.
Circuit Breakers
The last factor is to consider the type of circuit breakers you’ll need. A circuit breaker is sized to operate at 80% capacity. If you’ve got any electrical problems, you can get in touch with licensed electricians from Rapid Electric in San Diego CA, and get everything sorted.