Articles / Major Remodel - Upgrade Your Electrical Panel!

If you are contemplating a major remodel, the addition of a room or garage, or a new kitchen you might need to consider an electrical panel upgrade to accommodate this project. Don’t get caught up in a bad situation at the end of the job like so many others have done by not structurally allowing for an electrical upgrade before hand.

Thirty years ago and longer back, the average home was equipped with a minimal 60 amp electrical service usually connected to a screw-in fuse panel with two to six fuse blocks. The common set-up was a fuse block distributing power to a few electrical receptacle outlets and light fixtures and maybe 1 or 2 small appliance circuits, seems so primitive but true.

Just consider the fact, that we did not have all of the modern appliances back then. It was usually some basic lightning in each room and most people only had 1-television set and not much more than that in the way of electronics.

Air-conditioning, that was an extreme luxury and not built into all houses back then nor did we have computers, hair dryers, curling irons, well you get the picture and yes.... it was a very primitive way of living.

So when all of these modern electric conveniences are suddenly added to the electrical system of a home of this statue, it doesn't take much to realize that you can cause an extreme electrical overload really fast!

In fact, the balancing of these older homes electrical needs were usually served by four to six, 15/20 amp screw-in fuses which are a far cry from the nearly 30 to 40 15/20ampere general lightning and receptacle circuits as demanded by today’s energy hungry households.

Twenty years ago the average new home was equipped with a nominal 100 amp electrical service and some of them used the latest in technology for electrical wiring devices. Fuses were no longer acceptable and the marvel and convenience of electrical circuit breakers eventually imposed.

Now the average home is equipped with up to a 200 amp electrical service with a distribution panel handling up to a total of 20 to 30 15/20 amp general lightning and receptacle circuits serving the overall electrical needs of just one home not including the small electrical appliances.

North American’s are electrical power hungry. Today, some central air conditioning systems consume more electrical power than an entire home did 30 years ago. A kitchen, in a new home, will usually be equipped with a number of receptacles capable of supplying more than 60 amps of readily available electrical power just to the counter tops and related appliances of a larger home, but simply adding receptacles does not increase the available power if they are looped from other receptacles. To get more power to a location the circuit should run directly from the distribution electrical panel.

Old style distribution panels, especially those with screw-in fuses are generally considered fire hazards. The contact between the base of the fuse and the buss bar oxidizes or charcoals from poor contact. In order for the current to continue to flow heat is generated. In many areas, Insurance Carriers will not renew homeowner insurance policies if the home is equipped with an electrical distribution panel of a screw-in style fuse box or brand name with a non U.L. approved listing.

If your current electrical service to your home is less than 100 amps, and/or if it has a distribution panel that uses screw in style fuses, you should consider replacing it as a top priority in any major renovation project.