Thursday, August 24, 2017

Old House Electrical Service Upgrade NJ

By Melissa Richardson


When many people hear the term "service upgrade" they believe that it means upgrading the amps coming into their main distribution panel This is a common misconception since the potential current coming into the main electrical panel is a constant because is generated by the power company. When we use the term service upgrade NJ what we actually mean is the amount of current that your main electrical panel can handle. The more current your panel is rated for, the more room you have for circuits.

Another common misconception is that if they have a circuit that constantly needs resetting that a service improvement will correct this problem. Unfortunately, this is not always the case. A services improvement does not redistribute the current for each circuit, but again it only gives you the ability for expansion.

Frequent blowing of fuses and circuits breakers when too many appliances are running concurrently such vacuum cleaners, refrigerators, microwaves, space heaters among others. The light also tend to dim down when you switch any appliance with a great capacity, lack of enough electrical receptacles for the amount of appliances in use. You may have more extension cables and adapters to fit more plugs

When is the right time for an Electrical Panel Upgrade? The service panel happens to be that smart to automatically switch off the supply of power whenever there is an overload or closeness to overheating. This happens when the breaker trips and cuts short the connection, hence power supply. However, it may be sensitive and fickle to different factors and there could be other issues that dictate when you require an electrical panel upgrade.

Planning an electrical wiring venture: A large electrical wiring project adds a substantial load to the main electrical services. In about 25 percent of all homes, some style of services upgrade is required before new wiring may be installed. For example, many householders will be compelled to replace an older 60-amp electrical services with a new services rated for 100 amps or more. An approved electrician is needed to carry out a project like this.

If you open your main electrical panel, on the inside cover should be the manufacture's specifications on how many circuits the panel is rated for: count the number of breakers and fuses and if you have more circuits than specified on the panel by the manufacturer you are exceeding the rating of your electrical services panel, which could potential be dangerous.

if when you count your circuits, it matches or is less than the number indicated by the manufacturer your next step is to take the cover off and look for what we call a "double tapped" circuit. What this means is that there are two or more wires under the same screw. Some people do this to avoid a service change and what happens is this causes nuisance tripping. An easy way to remedy this problem is if you have room, split the circuit and if not a service improvement is recommended.

While you have, the panel cover open look closely at all the wires, and if they look cracked and brittle, it is due to insulation being overheated. Sometimes people put a larger breaker or fuse in their panel than the wire can handle causing the insulation to break down. If you see this, you want to have a certified electrician examine your panel.




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