A century ago, 60 amps was more than enough for a single-family home. Five decades ago, 100 amps was sufficient. Now, with everyone charging phones, tablets, handheld gaming systems, and the like — not to mention all the bigger-and-better appliances that people have — that’s simply not enough power.
Figuring Out How Much Power You Need
Consult the owner’s manual of all the appliances, televisions, stereo systems, kitchen gadgets, and other items that draw power in your home. If you’ve lost the owner’s manual, then take a look at the back of these items. There’s usually a panel with the electrical information of the item printed on it. Add up all the amperage ratings. If you have wattage numbers instead of raw information on amps, then calculate the wattage and divide it by 230. That’s how many amps you need.
With possible future code changes and ever-evolving lifestyles, upgrading to a higher capacity just makes sense. Also, 200 amps is the general standard for all new home construction in the United States. In all cases, if your possible maximum current usage, or even your planned future usage, exceeds the limits of your junction box, then it’s time to upgrade.
Here are some other reasons it may be time to upgrade the electrical panel in your home.
- Lights flicker all the time.
- Breakers frequently trip.
- The junction box is more than 20 years old.
- Wires are frayed.
- You smell ozone near the box.
- Your home has fuses instead of circuit breakers.
- The junction box makes weird sounds.
- There’s no room for additional breakers.
- The box is broken in some way.
- You plan to upgrade your appliances.
- There are plans to renovate your home.
- You plan on having more children and/or have other people move in.
There are also times when you’ll need even more power than 200 amps. For example, if you plan on starting your own business and you want to run it out of your home, then you could need 400 amps of power or more. This is especially true if your small business includes a workshop with power tools and other machines, such as with a carpentry or metalworking operation. The reason you’d need so much more power is that you’d have to power the workshop and the home separately to prevent overloading.
If you plan to start such a business, then not only will you need an upgrade to your junction box, but you’ll also likely need an upgrade to your house’s whole electrical system. The wiring requirements for such power are different than they are for smaller electrical systems. We can tell you all about what’s needed when we schedule our initial appointment.
The Importance of Professional Installation
Quite simply, replacing a junction box is almost never a DIY project. It can be dangerous to try to install one yourself without the right kind of electrical training. That’s why it’s crucial to have a licensed professional handle the installation and needed rewiring.
We aim to lead the way in the Aptos-area electrical contracting market by providing outstanding workmanship and service. So, whether you need to schedule panel repair or upgrade your junction box or wiring in Santa Cruz, CA, contact Fisher Electric to schedule an appointment.
