Breaker Panel Installation, Service or Replacement
Your electrical panel has a lifespan, even if you aren’t seeing typical warning signs, like constantly tripping breakers or a switch that won’t reset. Your circuit breaker panel should be checked regularly for signs it’s time for service or replacement.
Does it seems like no matter what you do, your breaker keeps tripping. Besides the wasted time tinkering around the electrical panel, you feel constantly on edge about overloading your system.
Whatever your concern, your electrical panel can easily become in need of repair or replacement. Don’t ignore your circuit breaker issues. Assess your panel, with a certified electrician.
Fully Licenced & Insured
You don’t want just anyone messing with your electrical panel an uncertified, uninsured handyman can’t be held financially accountable for their mess-ups.
You need help from a fully licensed and trained electrician who can diagnosis and fix your problem, safely.
Our electricians must pass a written examination and go through local and national background checks. Not to mention, each must adhere to the latest electrical codes and standards.
We’re here to get the job done right, the first time, saving you time and money.
Curious as to what sets our team at Southwest Florida Electric apart from any other electrician in the area? Explore our advantages.
Need an electric panel assessment, repair or replacement? Fill out the form or call us!
What kind of electrical panel do you have? If you’re like most homeowners, you aren’t even sure!
But we’ll let you in on a little secret: if your home was built before 1990, you may have an outdated electrical panel.
Electrical panels are specifically designed with safety in mind. They prevent too much power from flowing to the same area at once and overheating or causing a fire. But many panels installed before 1990 were recalled for their potential safety hazards.
Unfortunately, some homeowners didn’t get the memo and failed to replace their service panels— living with dangerous electrical risks or unintentionally passing the problem onto new home buyers.
Let’s take a look at some of the most common outdated electrical panels and why they can put you and your family in danger if not replaced:
RECALLED: Federal Pacific Electric Service Panels
Federal Pacific Electric (FPE) panels were very common in homes for over 30 years, until about 1980. Unfortunately, they don’t trip when they’re supposed to, and instead of short-circuiting, can cause fires. And even when the circuit is turned off, power may still be flowing to it, which can cause electrocution.
If you have this type of panel, it’s fairly easy to spot, as it will likely say, “Federal Pacific Electric” on the front. You can also check inside for the circuit breaker brand label, “Stab-Loc.”
RECALLED: Zinsco Service Panels
If your home was built in the 70s, it may have a Zinsco panel. The circuit breakers in these panels would melt to the bus bar, making it impossible for the circuit to trip. As such, a short or a power surge could melt the wires, causing them to burn.
If your electrical panel says “Zinsco,” that’s a sure sign that it should be replaced. However, many Zinsco panels were rebranded as Sylvania or GTE-Sylvania panels, which can be just as dangerous. If you have one of these two logos on your panel, have an electrician inspect it.
OUTDATED: Split-Bus
While the first two outdated electrical panels were specific brands, these next two are general designs. Unfortunately, that means you can’t identify them from a logo, and you’ll have to look a little harder.
Split-bus electrical panels aren’t unsafe in and of themselves, but the design has since been replaced and hasn’t been used in 40 years. That means if you have one, it’s well past its expected lifespan and could cause a variety of problems.
To see if yours is a split-bus panel, look to see if the breakers are divided into two groups. Modern single bus panels have a single disconnect breaker, but split-bus panels don’t. If you see two groups of breakers and no single disconnect, you may have a split-bus and should look into having it replaced with a newer electrical panel.
OUTDATED: Fuse Box
Fuse boxes were the precursors to the modern circuit breaker. If you have one of these, you probably know it. With a circuit breaker, you can just reset after an overload by flipping a switch. However, if you have too much power on a single fuse, the fuse blows and must be replaced.
Again, these aren’t inherently dangerous, but replacing fuses, in addition to being a costly hassle, can lead to other problems. First of all, fuse boxes typically have fewer fuses than circuit breakers have circuits. This makes it easier to overload them, and makes replacements more frequent. And if you take steps to reduce blowouts, by replacing the fuse with a bigger one, or by simply putting a coin or other piece of metal in the slot where the fuse was, you can inadvertently create a fire hazard.
Do You Have One of these Old Electrical Panels?
If you find or suspect that you have an outdated electrical panel, call an electrician. They can inspect it and advise you on which current models are the safest and most efficient.
But it’s important to get a replacement as soon as possible. The longer you wait, the more likely you are to have an incident. Safety first!
Unfortunately, replacing an electrical panel isn’t something you should do without deep electrical experience and certifications. That’s a job for your local electrician! Not only is this for your own safety to avoid electrocution, but you want to make sure the job is done right to avoid electrical issues in the future.
Want to see if your service panel needs replacement? Explore our Electric Services or give us a call at (239) 307-0716, today.
If you like to do things yourself, you’ll love The Homeowner’s Easy Electrical Maintenance Toolkit. Our free guide is packed with 13 pages of tips for performing other popular electrical projects all on your own.
Are your fluorescent bulbs on the fritz? If you’ve recently been hearing a strange, loud buzzing sound every time you flick on the lights, or are experiencing inconsistent lighting levels, there’s a chance the bulbs themselves aren’t to blame.
Many large corporate lighting panels or office lamps operate with a little help from an electrical ballast. This device regulates the distribution of energy across your lighting fixture, working with a load to limit the amount of current in an electrical circuit.
That means that when your ballast starts to go, your lights have nothing to regulate the current that travels through your bulb’s tube. Eventually, when you flip the lights on, your bulbs will overload and fry!
But if you catch a faulty ballast before it’s too late, you can save yourself the hassle of purchasing all new bulbs. Here are a few signs that your ballast might need replacing:
1. Know if your light even requires a ballast.
This is a great place to start your troubleshooting journey. Not all lights require a ballast to function, so make sure this is your problem.
Incandescent and halogen bulbs, for instance, aren’t ballast-dependent— and LED bulbs don’t require one either.
Then there are the light bulbs that have a ballast integrated inside, which can’t be replaced separately.
Many fluorescent bulbs, for example, have an internal ballast. Compact fluorescent bulbs (CFLs) often have one integrated too— just like some HID lights often do— but not always.
Single bulbs with an integrated ballast need to be replaced just like any other bulb when they die or act faulty (you’re not going to tear apart the bulb itself to replace an internal mechanism). However, larger light fixtures may operate with the help of an external ballast.
Commonly, the long strips of T12 or T8 fluorescent lights on your business’s ceiling have one shared electronic ballast, which can be replaced without necessarily needing to swap out the light strips (if you catch the problem before the ballast dies and burns out the bulbs, of course).
Some older parking lot high-intensity discharge (HID) lights also use a ballast, though many modern fixtures use high-efficiency LEDs now instead.
2. Look for warning signs that the ballast is failing.
After you’re sure you have a ballast, it’s time to investigate.
Typically, if just one CFL bulb is out, try replacing the tube. If you notice that any of these signs affect an entire section of lighting, it might be time to test your ballast:
Buzzing
If you hear a strange sound coming from your bulbs or light fixture, like a buzzing or humming noise, that’s often a sign your ballast is going. It’s struggling to maintain the current and causing audible voltage regulation problems.
Dimming or flickering
If your bulbs are very slow to reach full brightness or strobe periodically, there may be a problem beyond the bulb. Water-damaged or faulty ballasts often struggle to regulate current.
No lights at all
If your bulbs won’t turn on, there’s a fat chance they all went at once from natural causes. Your faulty ballast might have burned them all out!
Changing colors
Your lights should consistently shine at the same brightness and hue. If you notice a variance in color, your ballast might be on the fritz and surging sporadic voltage levels to your bulbs.
3. Check the ballast itself.
Oftentimes if your ballast is slowly huffing or completely shot, it’ll be very obvious. Be sure to turn off your fixture’s circuit breaker in your electrical panel before tinkering. Remove the cover over your light and the bulbs themselves before examining your ballast for:
Swollen casing
This is something you’ll see before you even take the casing cover off. If the plastic is bulging, your ballast is a goner. Very likely, energy overloaded it and damaged the box.
Burn marks.
Sometimes you have to crack the ballast open to see internal damage. If you see burn marks inside the device or on wires, replace it. It couldn’t handle the current and overloaded. If this is the case, you may need to replace your bulbs too.
Water damage
Is there moisture inside of your panel or the ballast? This is probably what fried the device.
Leaking oil
If you have an older magnetic coil ballast, it could be leaking oil and malfunction. Carefully clean the area before replacing it.
Professional Ballast Testing & Replacement
Still stumped?
Instead of standing on a ladder and poking around live wires, give the SWFL Electric team a call. We’d be happy to test your ballast and get you a speedy replacement.
In the workforce alone, 300 deaths and 4,000 injuriesoccur from electrocution in the U.S. annually. Hundreds of “everyday” Americans suffer from electrical accidents each year too.
Do you know if your home’s outlets are safe? Save your family from fatal electrical shocks or fires by educating yourself on the receptacles and breakers you use every day.
We’re here to get you familiar with your systems for better protection:
What is GFCI?
GFCI stands for “ground fault circuit interrupter,” sometimes abbreviated as GFI, and is designed to protect you from fatal electrocution from current traveling through your outlets as the result of a ground fault.
Once your device is plugged in, it works by monitoring the amount of power surging through device. If you are blow drying your hair and accidentally drop the appliance into a wet sink, the GFCI detects an interruption in current and can quickly cut power to the outlet.
Much like running too many devices at a time can overload or “trip” your circuit breaker, GFCI offers a form of protection to immediately cut the flow of electricity when you could be in danger or fatal electrocution.
GFCI comes in the form of a receptacle or a breaker, which we’ll break down below”
GFCI Outlet/Receptacle vs. GFCI Breaker
First off, it’s important to note that The National Electrical Code (NEC)requires GFCI compliant receptacles and breakers to be installed in areas with a high potential of water splash like kitchens, bathrooms, laundry rooms, outdoor wall plugs and garages.
You can tell a GFCI receptacle apart from a regular, unprotected receptacle by looking for the two “Reset” and “Test” buttons in the center of the outlet. If you break the circuit, these buttons can be pressed in to reset the power to the outlet, without having to worry about going to a breaker to do so.
GFCI receptacles can be wired in two different ways: single-location or multiple-location. Multiple-location wiring will protect your first GFCI outlet and everyone downstream of it, however, it doesn’t protect the circuit between itself and the service panel.
GFCI breaker boxes, AKA service panels, can be installed to add GFCI protection to your entire circuit.
Receptacle or Breaker: What’s Best for Me?
GFCI breakers are often beneficial for those with outlets behind furniture or in difficult to reach spots, as NEC requires that GFCI receptacles are installed in readily accessible locations to ensure it’s easy to reset. They could also be a good choice for those who don’t have wide cavities between their walls, as GFCI receptacles require much more depth to nest in your wall than a standard one.
Receptacles, on the other hand, could be ideal for a homeowner who only needs two or three GFCI compliant outlets, say for your bedroom, bathroom and laundry room. Not only are they cheaper than a box, but they can be more convenient for those not familiar with using a service panel.
What is AFCI?
AFCI stands for “arc fault circuit interrupters” and interrupts the current from an arc fault, not a ground fault like GFCI.
Simply put, GFCI breakers and receptacles protect you from electric shock if a device is energized, while AFCI protects your circuit wiringfrom arcing faults which could trigger an electrical fire.
Just like GFCIs, they come in the form of outlets or circuit breakers and are required by the NEC.
What is an Arc Fault?
An arc fault is a discharge of electricity which causes an intense amount of heat, sometimes hot enough to burn the insulation around wires and cause an electrical fire. Loose or corroded wires could cause the initial sparking or an external force such as a tree falling and damaging connections.
For this reason, both systems can work hand-in-hand to ensure your circuits and breakers are protected— and should be used in tandem.
Do you have GFCI and AFCI systems setup in your home?
Our team of electricians can help you determine whether receptacles or breakers are best for you. Contact ustoday for a consultation or in-home walk-through.
Here are eight reasons it’s probably time you replaced your electrical panel:
1. You’re having issues with your circuit breaker.
This is where many home or business owners start: with obvious electrical problems.
Do any of these scenarios apply to you?
You’re resetting circuit breakers all the time. If you find yourself in the dark every time you pick up your hairdryer, it’s a sign that your electrical panel is not sufficient for your needs.
Your breakers won’t stay reset. You overloaded the circuit, tripped the breaker, and now you have to reset it. But if you flip the switch and the power still doesn’t come back on, that’s a sign that your electrical panel is faulty. (Check out these tips for troubleshooting the trip).
You actually have fuses, not breakers. Fuses perform the same function as breakers, they’re just older and less convenient. But heading down to the hardware store every time you blow a fuse is a pain. Plus, in an emergency situation, like a hurricane or other severe weather event, it’s often not an option— leaving you without electricity when you need it most.
2. Your current panel is more than 20 years old.
Older electrical panels were not designed to serve our growing technological needs and like everything, have a lifespan. Not only might your aged panel be unable to power your wide range of high-wattage TVs, computers, etc., but panels installed before 2000 likely don’t meet updated safety standards.
If your home is 25 years or older, be sure to check the age of your electrical panel. Any box older than 20 years should be replaced. Remember, it’s good to check on your panel at least once a year to catch any problems, regardless of how old it is.
3. You’re adjusting your electrical needs.
Anytime you add or replace electronic devices, it’s important to reassess your wattage requirements. Overloads can cause frequent breaker trips, and even damage or ruin your electronics.
If you’ve recently swapped out an old application for a new one or purchased a brand new device, be sure to check your updated energy usage. Larger appliances can eat up a huge portion of your allotted wattage, and adding something like a second refrigerator could push you over the threshold. Estimate your electronic usage with Energy.gov’s Energy Saver tool.
4. You’re doing a home renovation.
Are you building a new room? Enlarging your kitchen? Adding outlets to your home office? All these new lights, appliances, ports can really add up. Even if you feel like your lifestyle won’t be terribly affected by the fresh addition or renovation, your electrical panel might— and different rooms on different circuits could overload your breakers.
If your panel is newer and has the necessary space for additional breakers, an electrician can help divide things up accordingly. But if it’s an older or smaller panel, a replacement may be in order to handle the extra load.
5. You’re listing your home for sale.
If you’ve been putting up with an electrical panel that’s just okay, replacing it before you sell is one thing you can do to show off as a “recent upgrade.” This can help put buyers at ease, knowing it’s one less thing they have to worry about. Plus, the last thing you want is a brownout in the middle of an open house!
6. Your insurance requires it.
If you have a particularly old electrical panel, your insurance company may demand that you upgrade or pay an increased rate. Some insurance companies may even refuse to cover your home at all until your panel has been updated to one in accordance with modern safety regulations. This is especially true if you are still running on fuses.
Given the information insurance companies have about electrical fires and other incidents, they know the safety concerns better than anyone! If your insurance company is concerned about your electrical panel, it’s time for a change.
7. You’re experiencing performance issues.
If you’re noticing flickering or dysfunctioning lights or have appliances that aren’t operating at full power, your electric panel may be the cause— but not always. It could also be faulty devices or outlets,bad wiring, or poor-efficiency (only to be revealed in the form of a high electric bill!).
If you open up your electrical panel and smell something burning or see corroded wires, this is not something to neglect! Be sure to also look out for moisture inside the panel or obviously damaged wires.
Electric issues inside your box can cause fires that destroy entire homes and businesses— and put your loved ones and staff at fatal risk. Should you see something suspicious in your panel, dial-up an electrician right away.
Time for a New Electrical Panel?
Electrical issues are nothing to be ignored and can be a serious threat to your family or staff. Get to know your panel by learning more about circuit breakers on our blog.
Should you suspect it’s time for an upgrade, don’t hesitate to reach out. We’re here to get the job done right— the first time— saving you time and money.
Check out our Electrical Panel Services page and fill out our form to request installation, service, or replacement today. Or, give us a call at (239) 935-5892.
When you own a home, there are many times when doing the job yourself can save you some money instead of hiring the project out. That said, it’s important to remember that you don’t want to do a job bigger than you can handle.
However, even these things need a little bit of knowledge to accomplish, so make sure you do the proper research before starting your project.
There are jobs you absolutely should not attempt but rather find a professionally trained electrician to do. These are:
Rewiring jobs
Wiring room additions on your home
Wiring breaker boxes
If you are embarking on a DIY Electrical Project, here are some do’s and don’ts you’ll want to consider.
Do: Use Proper Tools
For example, you want to use wire strippersto cut electrical wires. Any other tool might damage the wires and be a hazard to your fingers. Having a flashlight handy is always a good idea, especially if you are in an area where natural light does not reach.
Don’t: Rush the Job
Make sure you have plenty of time to complete your task. Even when changing a light fixture, you may run into an unforeseen issue. Once replaced, if a light fixture is on a switch, that switch may not workafter it is turned back on. Make sure you have researched your project fully to know what you should do if this problem arises.
Do: Test All Switches BeforeYou Start
Make sure you know and label what all switches are for. Test them again with a multimeterafter you’ve cut the power to make absolutely sure they have no electricity flowing to them. You do not want to start work and receive any kind of shock!
Don’t: Trust Breaker Box Labels
Even though your breaker box is labeled with rooms, it may be different than what you would consider that room to be. If you did not build your home or put on your own breaker box labels, you need to test all circuits before you start work. You may flip a switch for an area labeled as “office” only to find out that the area you think is an office was originally a dining room and was labeled as such. Checking and double-checking that power is cut is the first rule of electric work.
Do: Know When You’re In Over Your Head
If you get into any kind of DIY electrical project and run into problems you aren’t prepared for, it is better to call an electrician than to risk making a small project a large problem. Not just for the wellbeing of your electrical system but for your physical safety as well!
Renovating and remodeling are no small undertakings. After all, you want your dream home to be perfect for you. Determining a layout design, choosing colors, and picking materials are tough enough without the added pressure of electrical plans.
However, in order to pull off the perfect remodeling project, electrical plans must be tackled. We know this process can be daunting, but it doesn’t have to be. This guide will help ease the headache of renovating with the electrical plans that allow your renovations project to proceed smoothly.
Why Electrical is so Important
Without the correct electrical plan, your renovation can go from dream to nightmare. This is because your home’s electrical plan dictates where all outlets can be placed and how lighting fixtures are accessed and activated.
A major annoyance for any homeowner is difficult to access outlets or light switches with placements that make no sense. In order to have a seamless, convenient, and functional home, adequate electrical wiring is crucial.
Power-Reliant Devices
Each electrical plan is unique and largely depends on the room(s) you want to remodel and the devices which each room holds. For example, a kitchen will need sufficient heavy-duty power sources for a large appliance like a stove or a fridge, as well as convenient smaller outlets for smaller appliances like a toaster.
Living rooms often need an abundance of typical outlets for televisions sets, computers, and lamps. However, if you plan on including an electric fireplace in your new living room, the electrical plan will need to consider this as well.
Light Sources
Consider your renovation area’s lighting needs, room size, and how you’ll use the space. Will there be a ceiling fixture which needs to be specially wired? Or standard standing lamps which rely on outlets?
In many rooms, broad lighting may not be enough, and smaller task-based lighting may need to be considered as well. For example, stove lights or under cabinet lights in the kitchen, desk lamps or corner lamps in a living room or study.
When all of these factors are added to the electrical plan, it ensures your lighting needs will be well met.
Placement of Furniture
One of the most exciting parts of renovation is the opportunity to let your inner interior designer shine through. Furniture selection and its placement are seen by many as a functional art form, but one thing is often forgotten during this process: outlet access.
Consider where your new furniture will go, and what outlets need to be accessed in what areas. For instance, if you plan to add a built-in entertainment center on one wall, there should be enough outlets to power the center. A work desk should have access to an outlet nearby for lamps, computers, or other devices as well, depending on your own needs.
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Holidays
Electrical plans and holidays may seem worlds apart when thinking about renovating. However, it is crucial to include how you decorate or rearrange for holidays, gatherings, and events in your electrical plan.
If you like to fully “deck the halls” with lights during the winter holidays, allow for extra outlets during the remodel. If you have a special place for a lighted Christmas tree, ensure the area will have an extra outlet so the tradition can continue.
Additionally, if you like to rearrange parts of your home for large gatherings and add more table or seating, consider if other outlets still need to be accessible during that time, or if extras are necessary.
How Southwest Florida Electric Can Help
The key to navigating electrical plans is to really think about the space you will have once the remodel is finished. Take into consideration everything from quantity and type of outlets needed, light sources, furniture placement, and holiday or event decoration.
One this is all taken into account, our professionals can get to work ensuring your electrical plan is the icing on the cake for your seamless renovation. If you’re ready to take control of your electrical plan and make your renovation that much easier, then contact ustoday and let’s get started!
What’s an Electrical Panel and Why Does it Matter, Anyway?
“What even is an electrical panel?” you ask? Think of the electrical system of your home like the body’s circulatory system. The electrical panel is like the heart, “pumping” electricity throughout your home.
Unlike our bodies, though, electrical panels have built-in “heart attack” prevention. When there is too much electricity demanded of a circuit, the electrical panel has switches that will automatically flip off, called breakers.
These breakers should prevent wiring in your home from becoming overloaded, overheated, and potentially causing a fire. The electrical panel also has a limit to just how much power it can provide to your home; if you are pulling more power these days, it’s time to look into an upgrade. Having a “healthy heart” of an electrical panel is essential to the safety of your home.
How Would I Know if I Need an Upgrade?
Panel upgrades can be necessary for a variety of reasons. Here are some signs that it’s time:
You’ve Added Rooms On to Your Home – Your electrical panel was wired and set up to accommodate the power needs of the home as it was built. If you have expanded your home, your electrical panel needs to expand as well. Makes sense, right? Just like if Bob puts on a few pounds, Bob’s heart will need to work harder.
Your Home is 25 Years Old or Older– Electrical panels installed before 1990 may not be up to current safety standards, and even older panels may not handle the power needs of today’s home life.
You Trip Breakers Regularly – Do you find yourself going to the electrical panel and flipping a breaker switch every time you have more than one appliance running? This is a sure sign you are drawing too much power from the electrical panel.
You’re Adding a Major Appliance or New System – If you are adding a new appliance such as a dryer, or even a pool or hot tub, the electrical panel needs to be able to handle that extra load!
You Notice the Lights Dim and Flicker – Do you notice that the lights dim a bit when there are multiple appliances or systems running? For instance, when you are cooking dinner and the air conditioning turns on or the pool pump runs? This is a sign there may be problems with your electrical panel.
If you are experiencing any of these symptoms, it’s time for an electrical panel “checkup”. Contact ustoday and let our experts help make your electrical panel upgrade a smooth process from start to finish.
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