How To Upgrade Your Electrical Panel To 200 Amps


As a homeowner, you cannot afford to overlook the importance of your electrical panel for a second. Also known as a panel board or breaker panel, the fuse box is the primary electricity supply system that is used to regulate energy received from the power grid before distributing it to the various circuits within the home.

 

While many attributes contribute to the overall performance electrical panel, ensuring that enough power is delivered to each household appliance should be at the top of your agenda. Here's how you can upgrade your property's electrical panel from 100 amps to 200 amps in style.

 

Why upgrade your electrical service panel?

 

Before committing to any home upgrade, it's important to vindicate your decision ahead of starting the proposed project. The idea of upgrading the electrical panel from its standard 100 amps to 200 amps shouldn't be any different.

 

The reasons for wanting to complete this type of upgrade are ultimately attributed to the fact that households now use more energy than ever. Whether you've had an extension since the electrical panel was installed or you simply use more gadgets and appliances than you did 10 years ago, the upgrade will deliver a range of rewards, including;

 

Increased safety

 

Electrical circuits should not run at over 80% capacity, or else they will eventually become a major hazard. Given that the lighting and HVAC systems could use 40 amps alone, a 100 amps system is at half of the 80% mark before you've even turned on a TV or washing machine.

 

For a modern busy household, 100 amps simply won't suffice. Upgrading the electrical panel to 200 amps reduces the likelihood of breaker trips and prevents the threat of electrical fires by delivering all electricity from the main panel board to the secondary circuits.

 

Flexibility

 

Upgrading to 200 amps delivers full versatility in the way you handle your electrical demands. The improved electrical panel can utilize a greater number of individual secondary circuits. The individual circuits have their own capacity limits in place. Even when using lots of power, you can divide it across multiple circuits.

 

On a separate note, the extra load capacity potential will prepare your home for any expansions of upgrades. Whether it's installing a new pool, an attic conversion, or addition of a garage, preparing for the increased requirements is key.

 

Upgrading the electrical panel: the basics

 

Upgrading the electrical panel isn't simply about completing add-ons or changing a single part. It is a process that involves removing the 100 amps unit and installing a new 200 amps panel board. The entire procedure will include the following steps;

 

  • Cutting off the power supply courtesy of the utility company.
  • Preparing the electrical board for removal by getting rid of all wires.
  • Removing the 100 amps panel and disposing of it safely and responsibly.
  • Adding the new 200 amps panel to the wall, or wherever it is housed.
  • Reattaching the existing healthy wiring.
  • Adding new circuits for appliances and secondary circuits.
  • Grounding the fuse box with a copper electrode.
  • Inspection of the job, by an expert building inspector.
  • Switching the power supply back on via the utility firm.
  • Final checks to confirm you're OK to use the home again.

 

So, even if you plan to complete this job yourself, you will actually need help from the utility as well as a building inspector. You should also be aware that it may be necessary to upgrade the cables that run from the power grid to your home's electrical panel – although you won't always be liable for this.

 

The 200 amps service panel will cost around $2,000 ($1,800 at the low end, $2,500 at the high end) while a 16-space panel costs around $40 and a 48-space panel costs $390.

 

Upgrading the electrical panel: the process

 

It is possible to complete the upgrade yourself, especially if you are a skilled person. Before upgrading the electrical panel, though, you'll need to contact both the utility company and the inspector as you cannot complete the assignment without them. However, you must also familiarize yourself with the various steps that will be required to successfully make the upgrade.

 

After confirming that the power has been cut, you can use the following 12-step plan to achieve the desired results:

 

#1. Sever the wires from inside the 100 amps electrical panel with the use of diagonal-cutting pliers.

#2. Unscrew the electrical panel and remove it from the wall.

#3. Add a new 3/4”-thick plywood panel to the wall, ready for mounting the 200 amps panel board.

#4. Add the SE cable to the electrical panel (through the top) and screw it to the panel.

#5. Confirm that the panel is level using a torpedo level.

#6. Reconnect all electrical wires within the electrical panel.

#7. Ensure that house circuits are connected to the panel via the cable connector

#8. Connect all bare-copper ground wire and white-insulated wires to the ground and neutral bar.

#9. Insert the new circuit breakers into the bus bar.

#10. Run the ground wire from the copper water main to the electrical panel.

#11. Label all breakers, stating which house circuit they each control.

#12. Ask the utility company to reconnect the power after gaining the inspector's confirmation.

 

Even if you are a skilled person, the process can take several hours as you need to ensure every step is completed to perfection.

 

Sound too hard?

 

While upgrading the electrical panel is a hugely rewarding home upgrade, novices should steer clear of the DIY approach. This is a very difficult assignment, even when you have the steps outlined above. Furthermore, one wrong move could cause major damage to the property and may simultaneously put you in serious danger.

 

If you have any doubts about your capabilities, calling an experienced electrician is the answer. For around $2500, they can complete the process in around 8 - 10 hours, which includes disposing of the old unit and testing the new breakers. Moreover, using a licensed electrician also ensures that you won't invalidate your home insurance.

 

Whichever route you take, upgrading your electrical panel from 100 amps to 200 amps delivers a wide range of benefits for the modern household. Now is the time to make it happen.

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