How to Choose the Right Electrical Panel for Your Home
The Electrical Panel is the central nervous system for all of your home’s wiring and electrical features. It controls the power flow and protects the circuits from overloading and short-circuiting. As your house grows and your energy needs change, it’s important to have a well-functioning electrical panel to ensure the safety of your family. If your electrical panel feels warm to the touch or emits a loud buzzing sound, it’s probably time for an upgrade.
An old or outdated electrical panel is a major fire hazard, especially if it contains obsolete breakers that aren’t properly grounded. Fortunately, upgrading your electrical panel can increase the value of your home and make it more attractive to potential buyers. Additionally, updating your electrical panel can improve safety by lowering the risk of fires and reducing the chances of power surges.
There are many different types of electrical panels on the market, each with its own specific features and capabilities. Siemens electrical panels are particularly popular and have a good reputation in the industry. They are user-friendly and come with detailed installation guides. Additionally, most Siemens electrical panels are manufactured in accordance with ISO certifications, which verify that the company’s processes are consistent and scalable.
When choosing an electrical panel, consider its amperage capacity. This can be found on the main breaker label and will determine the total amount of electricity that can be supplied to your home. The number will be the maximum allowable wattage of your household’s electric service, and it will give you an indication of whether or not the panel is capable of handling additional circuits.
In addition to the amperage capacity of your electrical panel, you’ll also want to look at the layout and how easy it is to navigate. It’s important to have clear, readable labeling that indicates the location of each circuit breaker. In some cases, older homes have incorrect or missing labels that can cause confusion in the event of an emergency or when performing repairs.
Other things to look for in an electrical panel are pushbuttons, lamps and glands. Pushbuttons are used to operate and control circuits, while lamps are useful for indicating whether or not the breakers are on. Glands are used to seal the panel from moisture, and they are often fitted with strain relief for cables.
Depending on your home’s electrical usage, you may need to install a sub-panel. This will provide additional capacity for your circuits and reduce the chance of overloading the main breaker panel. Alternatively, you can purchase an electrical panel with a higher amperage rating than your existing one.
Another thing to look for in an electrical panel is a transfer switch. This will switch between utility power and backup power during a power outage. This is especially useful if you have a generator or solar panels that need to be connected to your home’s electrical system. ATS panel boards are designed to monitor both sources and switch to the correct one based on current power requirements.