We add a lot of stuff that uses electricity in our homes each year, which often means we need to upgrade an old electrical system. The outdated system no longer can handle an ever-increasing electrical load nowadays.
What’s an Electrical Service Panel?
The electrical panel is the key to handling appliances and equipment that use electricity in a residential setting. You need it to have the proper rating to prevent frequent tripping of the circuit breaker and ultimately fire.
The electrical service panel acts as the distribution center for electricity, and it contains circuit breakers and fuses that protect your wiring from dangerous overloads.
Most panels are metal boxes; yours may be housed in plastic. The panel’s job is to break the electricity down into circuits so that it can be distributed throughout the living area without problems.
Re-wiring a house is not common for homeowners. It’s much more likely you’d upgrade your electrical service panel if it doesn’t have enough capacity for your new appliances and devices.
The small home electrical panel upgrade costs around $650, the least expensive service type.
A few hundred dollars more, you can have a trained electrician install a new high capacity receptacle circuit if you’re adding a large appliance, such as an electric range or space heater.
A plan to upgrade to at least 200 amps but no more than 400 amps will cost you between $1400 to $2500. Meanwhile, a 400-amp upgrade may go north to $4000.
It’ll take at least eight hours for a qualified electrician to replace a standard 200-amp electrical panel. The job requires installing a new panel along with the primary breaker, ten circuit breakers, and other materials.
A significant percentage of your investment in an electrical panel upgrade goes to the labour cost. It’s the reason why many property owners choose to handle the job on their own. But it doesn’t mean you should do the same. The lack of experience and required skills can potentially turn the job into a nightmare.
It’s not that easy to handle all the wiring, and it’ll take several hours to complete. If you’re up for the task, make sure you obtain the necessary materials. The home electrical panel will need to accommodate your new appliances, so if you want everything in one box, make sure you get a large panel with the right amperage.
Should you choose to hire an electrician, prepare to pay an hourly rate ranging from $35 to $100, depending on location and company. The hourly rate can shoot up to $200 on occasions, especially during peak season.
The electrician replaces old fuses and breakers with new ones in the service panel. Most likely, your home electrical panel doesn’t have space for extra fuses or circuit breakers if it’s not intended to be upgraded. So that means additional wire running and electrical box installation, which drive the cost up.
Opting for a 200-amp Service Panel
Upgrading to a 200-amp electrical service panel has an average cost of $1900, which is usually the most reasonable option for most homes. You’ll spend more if the electrician deems it necessary to install a new service panel instead. Some factors can’t be avoided, i.e., replacing old wires.
You won’t have any problem with heat dissipation because it’s not too big for a typical house. You can add six additional circuits to the existing five, but you better consult an electrician before making any purchase decision.
A new 16-space electrical panel costs around $50, while a large 42-space variety costs upwards of $350.
The more spaces you have, the more circuits there are. Bear in mind that most homes can’t use all 42 breakers at once.
Upgrading from 100-amp to 200-amp Electrical Panel
This is a popular upgrade plan; expect to pay between $1500 and $2500. If the job requires replacing the service panel, you’re looking at an extra $500 or more. At least four hours are required for this upgrade, which comes with all types of complications that only an experienced electrician can handle.
How About a Fuse Box with a Breaker Panel?
This project’s cost depends on the capacity of the new breaker panel; you’ll shell out at least $1100 and up to $4000 to replace a fuse box with a breaker panel. Nevertheless, you’re better off getting a new breaker box installation than a fuse box because it’s not as old and costs the same.
Once a fuse goes out, there’s no other option but to replace it. The reason is simple: an old fuse box isn’t designed to handle the average electrical load in a typical modern home. It isn’t recommended to use bigger fuses because they’re a fire hazard.
Primary Circuit Breaker Replacement
The purpose of the main circuit breaker is to shut the electricity off to the entire house or building in one switch. So, if it’s broken or has malfunctioned, you must replace it right away.
The cost of a circuit breaker hovers around $70 to $100, but you can buy cheap ones for as little as $40. Factor in the labour cost, too, and a qualified electrician is likely to charge $30 to $100 per hour, depending on the complexity of the installation and type of breaker.
Why Should You Upgrade Your Electrical Panel?
It’s a given that the standard equipment in an electrical panel manufactured several decades ago wasn’t designed for your modern home appliances and other electronics. Also, it doesn’t have any space for additional fuses or circuit breakers that come with new appliances and larger circuits.
The old 200-amp box can no longer handle modern loads, so move on to a new service panel before you face a major electrical failure. You’ll get more usable space for circuit breakers and fuses that will eventually come with your upgraded appliances.
Let’s be honest. A new home electrical panel costs around $1500 upfront, but it will save you loads of cash in the long run. That’s because a faulty electrical panel can lead to a fire hazard, and it could even cripple your appliances. If you have any questions give us a call at PTX Electric and we will be happy to help. We service Coquitlam, Vancouver, Burnaby and the rest of the Lower Mainland. Contact us today!