Panel & Service Upgrade
There are many reasons to upgrade your electrical service and electrical panel, commonly known as the breaker box.
Are you renovating your kitchen, and adding fresh new appliances? Perhaps you’ve just bought an electric vehicle, and you’d like to get more than twenty miles of charge overnight. Would you like to increase the value and safety of your home? Get in touch with Reamco Electric today to discuss an electrical panel safety inspection or an electrical service upgrade.
If your home is over 30 years old, it most likely has a 100-amp service cable and panel (if it has not been previously upgraded). Some older homes have panels as low as 60-amp, which will probably not be enough for your electrical needs. For example, an electric water heater and an electric dryer normally require a 30-amp circuit each, so using only these two appliances would max out a 60-amp electrical panel. A fast (Level 2) EV charger requires a 50—60-amp circuit, at minimum. (For more information on Level 2 EV chargers, please visit our EV Charger Installation page.)
Older electrical panels are often not properly grounded, if at all. The National Electric Code (NEC) requires grounding to ground rods and metallic water pipes. This electrical grounding provides a backup pathway for electricity that is only used if there is a fault in the wiring system. It keeps your appliances and fixtures - and you! - safe when there is an issue.
Here are a few options to consider when upgrading your electrical service.
Installing a whole-house surge protector will help protect your electronics, computers, and other equipment like furnace control boards and on-demand water heaters.
Upgrade to a Leviton Smart Panel, which is capable of handling Wi-Fi enabled breakers. This enables you to monitor your energy usage in real time, and remotely control breakers from your smartphone.
Have you been considering purchasing an electrical vehicle? Now would be a great time to evaluate your panel and research EV charger options.