This is a Guide to Your Home’s Electrical Panel. You probably know an electrician is best for handling your home’s electrical needs. However, you should have a basic understanding of your home’s electrical components. That knowledge should begin with your home’s electrical service panel. It is recommended to inspect your service panel from time to time, and knowing how can save you a great deal of time and money.
Guide to Your Home’s Electrical Panel
Your home’s electrical service comes in from the grid via a high-voltage power wire. Depending on your service type, that wire may deliver anywhere from 100 to 400 amps of electricity to your home—or more. The problem is you need some way to distribute that power around your home. That’s where your home’s electrical service panel comes in.
Its job is to take that incoming amperage and divide it up into individual circuits to serve your home. Most homes have a mixture of 15- and 20-amp circuits serving the majority of their outlets and fixtures. Large appliances like refrigerators, dryers, ovens, and HVAC systems have larger circuit sizes. The one thing that they all have in common is circuit breakers.
Your Home’s Circuit Breakers
A circuit breaker is a device that protects the wiring in your home from overloads and short circuits. It looks like a series of switches located inside your home’s electrical service panel. When they detect a problem with the circuit they protect, they’ll disconnect the power and remain in the off position.
When this happens, you may need to open your electrical service panel’s access door to reset the affected breaker. It’s a good idea to keep a flashlight near your panel just in case the tripped breaker affects the lights near the panel. To reset a breaker, switch it back to the on position. If it trips again, it’s a sign of trouble. In that case, leave it off and call an electrician from Mebane Electrical Services for help.
Common Electrical Service Panel Issues
If your panel feels warm to the touch, it could signify that one or more of your breakers need replacement. Ready to upgrade your home’s electrical service, like adding a new large appliance or an EV charger, and there are no unused slots in your panel? You might not need to replace your entire service panel, as a licensed electrician can add a subpanel to your service. Either way, have a licensed electrician take a look at your individual situation.
Your Electrical Services Pros
Mebane Electrical Services offers quality electrical services to residents in Mebane, NC. We handle everything from lighting and new circuit installation to electrical services and panel upgrades. We even offer emergency services for electrical problems in your home that can’t wait. So, for electrical service panel services or any other electrical work you need in Mebane, call Mebane Electrical Services today.
