Electrical panels
Every home has an electric panel, also known as a breaker box or load center. It’s where electricity flows into your home and gets directed to where it’s needed. Each circuit breaker in this panel controls a specific electrical circuit with a maximum energy limit.
When you switch from gas-powered appliances to electric ones, or introduce energy-reliant equipment like an EV charger or induction range, your home needs to deliver more electricity than before.
Many factors go into deciding whether you need to upgrade your electrical panel.
- If you have a fuse box, instead of a modern breaker box, you will likely need to upgrade your panel.
- If you have less than 120 amps of service coming into your home, you might need to upgrade your service.
- If you do not have any open breakers within your box and are looking to add large electric appliances, you might need to upgrade your box or consider 120v appliances.
New technologies are emerging, like smart panels that offer enhanced data and control over your home’s power flow. There are also specialty switches that can toggle a breaker between two uses that don’t typically overlap, sending power to either an EV charger or a clothes dryer, for example.
