Does my electrical panel need to be changed?

Well, if you have an old fuse-style panel, you should definitely think about having it upgraded to a circuit breaker style panel for safety reasons. Fuse panels were commonly installed until the late 70’s and are no longer considered to be safe. These are the panels that have glass fuses that screw in and out like a lightbulb. They no longer meet today’s safety standards and may pose a potential fire risk.

Updating your old fuse panel to a modern circuit breaker style provides protection against both power overload and short circuits. Circuit breakers simply switch on and off, which is both safer, and more convenient when compared to the single-use fuse style. The connection within the fuse system is a lot more flexible, leaving more room for error. They are also just outdated, and usually not maintained or inspected regularly. Most pieces of technology degrade over time and require upgrades and maintenance. Your home insurance provider will usually lower your premiums a little bit if you notify them of the upgrade.

When do you need an electrical panel upgrade?

If the max load of all your devices will exceed the amount of power being supplied to your house, it’s time for a panel upgrade. Having an electric vehicle charger installed is one of the most common reasons, currently, that people opt to get a panel upgrade. There are other installations that may require an upgrade as well, such as; the addition of a hot tub, increased electric heating loads, the addition of a rental property or just any, notable increase in electrical demands.

Most houses have 100 amp main service which is generally more than enough for standard residential use but there will always be exceptions where people need more power. In many of these situations the main service feed must be increased by the city, and the electrical panel must be upgraded by an electrical contractor in order to safely accommodate the increase in service.

Both panel changes and upgrades generally require about 1 full day of work. When you reach out to us, Michael will come by to measure space, count up your existing circuits, inspect the condition of your main ground, and provide you with a total cost estimate. If you approve, Michael will get the ball rolling with contacting the Electrical Safety Authority (ESA), as well as your local power utility (Alectra in Mississauga), to schedule your power shutoff for the panel change.

Michael is a great person to have walk you through the whole process. He will happily work with you and your schedule, explaining each step along the way. Sauga Electric only performs jobs that are safe, up to code and all work is inspected and approved the Electrical Safety Authority, to ensure the best service with safety always being the top priority.

Pictured below is a few images from a fuse panel upgrade process