Electrician Team Reseda is the company to call if you are planning to have an electrical panel installation job. Our team here is proficient enough when it comes to electrical installations like this.
Problems can arise in your electrical panel at any given time, and you may encounter common problems at some point. Fortunately, many are minor and simple to repair, but others may need the attention of a licensed electrician.
- Tripped Breakers
Tripped breakers are typically not a major issue. Often, they are just an indication that you have plugged in too many items to the same circuit or have somehow overloaded the electrical panel. Outside voltage spikes, such as a lightning strike someplace else in the electrical grid, can also create them.
- Corrosion
One of the most prevalent long-term electrical panel issues is corrosion. It happens when moisture gets into the components and interacts with the metal in the wire. Corrosion can weaken and eat away some components in your electrical panel.
- Improper Wiring
This is more challenging for the typical householder to identify, although electricians encounter it on a regular basis. It is frequently the product of previous occupants’ do-it-yourself fixes. Problems may arise from utilizing the incorrect size of wire for the circuit to creating double-tap connections, in which two wires are connected to the same lug. All of these can lead to overloading and sparking problems.
- Overcrowding
Overcrowding is exactly what it sounds like–someone tried to put too many circuits onto one panel somewhere along the way. Because there aren’t enough separate connection sites for all the cables, double-tapping is a frequent sign of overpopulation.
- Underpowered Panels
This issue frequently arises when the electrical panel is not renovated along with the other components of the system or when new homeowners have much higher power demands than prior occupants. This demand exerts an undue strain on the circuits and panel, resulting in often tripped breakers and other issues. Often, the only answer is to reduce power needs or improve the panel.
- Outdated Panels
Most homeowners still employ antiquated technology, such as electrical panels with ceramic fuses. These old panels were formerly thought to be safe and adequate for domestic use, but as the typical consumer’s power consumption has risen, they’ve become a safety issue, albeit some older homes may still have them. These are usually replaced by residual current devices, which need the services of a skilled electrician.
- Improper Bonding
Box bonding is the optimum sort of bonding to have in a panel; however, it is not present in all panels. In general, an inside main power panel should have some kind of panel cover. Any subpanel that is part of the same design should not have any form of bonding.
- Oversized Breakers or Fuses
This is referred to as “over-fusing.” When a load-carrying wire is clearly undersized in comparison to the rating of the fuse or breaker to which it is attached, this problem develops. This situation is extremely dangerous and has the potential to cause a home fire!
All these problems may arise during and after the installation of an electrical panel when done alone. Hence, it is best to hire a professional electrician to do the job.
5 Safety Steps of Electrical Panel Installation
If you want to avoid costly electrical panel repair, you should always consider hiring a licensed and experienced electrician to install a panel break in your home.
Anything that includes working with electricity should be approached with caution. Circuit breakers are no different. They are a security measure in and of themselves, as their aim is to cut power when there is an excess of electricity present. This avoids a power spike, which might result in fires or damage to equipment.
Electrical panels are an important part of a home’s electrical system, but failing to observe some important safety precautions while working with them can cause more harm than good. Always keep yourself, anyone within or around the building, and the building safe. For additional information, you may contact your trusted electrician to do the job for you and for your safety.
- Turn off all electrical powers. Before working on the circuit breaker panel, make sure the primary breaker is turned off, and the panel is isolated. This must be completed prior to doing even the most basic operations on the panel breakers, such as inspecting for worn-out panels.
- Wear protective gear. If there is even a remote chance of an arc flash hazard, you should take precautions and wear personal protective equipment (PPE). Consider whether there are exposed circuit elements as well as the general architecture of the device when identifying an arc flash hazard. Look into when the equipment was installed and how well it was installed.
- Choose the proper circuit breaker. Make certain that the breaker you select is compatible with the current panel. Check that it has the correct amperage rating as well as matching wiring. If you are unsure about the sort of breaker circuit you require, contact your trusted and the nearest electrician in your area!
- Inspect the panel before turning it on. A professional technician should undertake a complete check of all new parts and connections once the circuit breaker has been changed or installed. Failure to do so may result in damage to the entire panel as well as all of your home’s electrical wiring. Never simply turn on the breaker to test if it works. That is not the right technique to ensure that everything is properly linked, and it might result in significant harm or fire.
Always make sure to have regular maintenance. Another important preventative action for the safety of a building’s circuit breaker panel is to do regular inspections and maintenance to verify that all of the breakers are in excellent working order. Breakers will wear out and need to be replaced as they age. Many problems can be discovered during these checks, and more harm can be avoided if discovered early.
Most electricians do not recommend that you should do the installation yourself. So if you really are planning to install an additional circuit in your home, it is recommended that you should hire an expert to do the job for you to avoid costly repairs and future electrical problems that may harm you and your family.
Installing an electrical panel is not a problem anymore since Electrician Team Reseda is now in the business to help you with your electrical job. Just feel free to call us here as soon as the need arises.
