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Electrical Panel Upgrades
How much does an Electrical Panel replacement cost?
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Electrical Panel Upgrades usually start out at around $2,500.
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What is a Electrical Panel Upgrade?
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Electrical Panels regulate the electricity coursing through your home. If your circuit is demanding to much electricity, a breaker will trip to stop the electricity from overloading the wiring. Overloads can cause fires in your home. Older homes often have panels that are unable to keep up with the modern electrical demands. If your home is more than 15 years old the electrical panel may not be able to sufficiently handle your current electrical demands.
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How do Electrical Panels Work?
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The power to your home comes from the electric company. It then connects to the power meter on the outside of your property. The line then goes to the electrical panel. The panel consists of rows and switches. They are the circuit breakers that are distributing the main power line into smaller branch lines. Inside the panel door there are labels that should have numbers on the switches that map out the locations of the outlets and appliances. The switches also have numbers on them to say how many amps the branch line can carry before the breaker switch is tripped. There is also a main power breaker that can turn off and on to the whole system.
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Electrical Panel Problems
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Old electrical panels can malfunction, but most of the time the problem stems from overloaded circuits. At first you might notice flickering lights or you might have to turn off an appliance in order to use another plugged into the same circuit. But if the panel is malfunctioning or defective the breakers will often trip, or they will fail to trip and someone might be shocked. In the worst case, a breaker that fails to trip may cause fire, smoke and melted wires form overheating.
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Checking your Electrical Panel
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Your Electrical Panel needs a checkup if it's 25 years or older. You shouldn't hear crackling sounds. There shouldn't be any rust or corrosion. The interior shouldn't feel warm. Appliances should be running at full power. GFCIs should be installed near water sources to prevent electrocution. You shouldn't have to use extension cords because there aren't enough outlets. You should be able to use all your appliances without the breakers tripping.
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Look out for these Electrical Panels
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Many homes that are older than 25 years have panels that have known safety issues due to their poor design. After the 1990s they are generally well designed and safe.
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Federal Pacific Electric (FPE) Electrical Panel
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The US Consumer Product Safety Commission classified this panel as a safety defect warranting a new electrical panel. These panels, installed in homes between 1950-1980, have design and manufacturing defects that can cause fires and electric shocks.
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Fuse Boxes
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The oldest homes have Fuse Boxes. Fuse Boxes are only able to handle 30-60 amps. These systems are a huge fire and electrocution risk.
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