When Is It The Right Time For An Electrical El Segundo Panel Upgrade?
Do you know the purpose of home’s electrical panels and electrical service size? Do you know how to figure out whether or not you need El Segundo panel upgrade? In this article, we’ll focus on improving your knowledge about electrical panels and what it is the best time to get an upgrade.
Let’s start by defining both the electrical service size and the electrical service panel – two different and most important components of your property’s electrical system. Both the components work together all the time to provide you with safe and efficient power supply throughout the home.
Electrical Service Size and Panel
The size of electrical service is basically the capacity of power that is measured in amps. It determines how many electrical devices can be operated at a time. In simple words, electrical service capacity is determined by measuring the capacity of 3 primary electrical components. These components are:
- Service entry cable from electrical company supplying electricity to the home.
- Main service panel
- Main service disconnect
When the electric system is properly designed, all these three components will be used in identical sizes. However, when we talk about older homes, it should be noted that they have had got the piecemeal upgrades many times, and thus the general case scenario may not be applicable for them. Typically speaking, homes with all the three components will have a electric service size between 100 and 200 amps.
Undoubtedly, the significance of home’s electrical service panel can’t be overlooked. Indeed, it is the most important part of electrical devices in a home, responsible for supplying power from electrical company to home’s power outlets. A properly functioning electrical service panel is very important and thus, it is important to maintain the efficiency by regular El Segundo panel upgrades.
A service panel is also commonly known as “Breaker Box”. This breaker box takes the power supply from electric company and transfers into the main breaker. This is then followed by the individual circuit breakers for distributing power in the home. The individual circuit breakers may be sized between 15-200 amps. Generally, circuits supplying lighting fixtures can be of 15 amps, circuits supplying power to major appliances can be between 30 and 60 amps and circuits supplying power to outlets can be of 20 amps. Apparently, the biggest circuit breakers are rated 60 amps and above.
El Segundo Panel Upgrade or Replacement?
Now that we’ve already discussed a detailed overview of what electrical service size implies and how electrical service panel is used, let us discuss why you need an El Segundo panel upgrade and/or replacement. To begin with, a person may wish to get an upgrade of his/her electrical service panel or size for any of the following given reasons.
Fuses And Fuse-Panel Replacement
Homes that were built before 1960 use fuses and the fuse panels, rather than service panels and circuit breakers. These fuses used to distribute power throughout the house. While fuses and the fuse panels are not always dangerous, it can be risky to supply power to the circuit along with a fuse of different size. In past, when fuses used to go bad, homeowners used to simply replace the broken one with a new one. This replacement was often made with high-rated fuses with a view to improve the capability of the fuse to manage load on circuit. Unfortunately, incorrect size of the fuse allows too much current to flow through the wire system designed for lower load. When such things happen, the wire system starts getting hot, leading to overheating and potential fire.
Good news is that with electrical service panels and circuit breakers, the risk of fire was mitigated as the breakers and the circuits are more complex to change. These forces homeowners to hire only experienced and licensed professional to perform the task. Hiring professionals can dramatically reduce the potential risk of the electrical fires and modern circuit breakers come with absolute standard guarantee for any new installations. Since fuses and the fuses panels are considered to be of high risk, they should be replaced. In fact, most insurance companies will deny coverage on home having old fuses and the fuse panels installations
When Electrical Service Panel Can’t Be Repaired
While El Segundo panels upgrade are very reliable, many people do not give proper attention to this matter. It is worth noting that electrical service panel can certainly become damaged after certain period of time. In fact, the process of water infiltration caused by plumbing leaks is catastrophic for these panels. It can electrical shorts and risk of potential corrosion.
Corrosion is caused due to higher electrical resistance that results in creating overheated areas leading to electrical fires. On the other hand, electrical shorts are themselves significant fire hazards.
Circuit breakers in the electrical panel may also stop functioning properly. This can be due to loss of ability to trip during situations like overload or short. When such things happen, electrical wiring becomes susceptible to fires and hazards. They become hot and may even create electrical fire hazard.
Improperly sized circuit breakers can also create fire issue, causing overheating conditions. For example – higher capacity circuits are installed lower capacity circuit. In such a case, insurance companies will rely on home inspectors to determine the potential risks when insuring and if any of the above mentioned conditions is likely to cause home to fail the inspection.
When Additional Electrical Capacity Is Required
Last, but not the least. With increased reliance on electricity and power consuming electrical appliances, homeowners often find themselves in a situation when they feel the need to get larger electrical panel to deliver adequate amount of current to additional appliances or devices. Generally, most homes have service size of about 100 amps or less. But with increase in demand, they may require more 200 amps to accommodate daily use items like computer, multiple appliances, spas, pool and other room additions. This is the reason why you might need to hire a professional to get El Segundo panel upgrade.
Now that you are aware of all situations under which you might need a electrical panel upgrade or replacement, you should not waste anymore time and call for professional guidance as soon as possible. If you suspect any kind of overheating, it’s the best hint to call for professional inspection today!
Certified with the department of industrial relations.
El Segundo is a city in Los Angeles County, California, United States. El Segundo, from Spanish, means The Second in English.[5] Located on the Santa Monica Bay, it was incorporated on January 18, 1917, and is one of the Beach Cities of Los Angeles County and part of the South Bay Cities Council of Governments. The population was 16,654 at the 2010 census, up from 16,033 at the 2000 census.
The El Segundo and Los Angeles coastal area was first settled by the Tongva (or Gabrieleños) and Chumash Native American tribes hundreds of years ago. The area was once a part of Rancho Sausal Redondo (“Round Willow Patch Ranch”). Rancho Sausal Redondo extended from Playa Del Rey in the North to Redondo Beach in the South. Originally a Mexican land grant owned by Antonio Ygnacio Avila, the rancho was later purchased by a Scottish baronet named Sir Robert Burnett. After his return to Scotland, the property was purchased by then current manager of the rancho, Daniel Freeman. Daniel Freeman sold portions of the rancho to multiple owners. George H. Peck (1856–1940) owned the 840 acres (3.4 km2) of land the Chevron Refinery now sits on. Peck also developed land in neighboring El Porto where a street still stands to his name. The city earned its name (“the second” in Spanish) as it was the site of the second Standard Oil refinery on the West Coast (the first was at Richmond in Northern California), when Standard Oil of California purchased the 840 acres (3.4 km2) of farm land in 1911. The company was renamed Chevron in 1984, and the El Segundo refinery will soon enter its second century of operation.[7] The city was incorporated in 1917. The Douglas Aircraft Company plant in El Segundo was one of the major aircraft manufacturing facilities in California during World War II. It was one of the major producers of SBD Dauntless dive bombers, which achieved fame in the Battle of Midway. The facility, now operated by Northrop Grumman, is still an aircraft plant.
About Us
If you are a homeowner or business owner within a 20 mile radius of Hawthorne and are looking for the best electrical contractor in the South Bay, then call Penna Electric.
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To schedule an estimate for a free quote performed by an actual qualified electrician, please call us.
(310) 800-2401
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4825 Rosecrans Ave
Hawthorne, CA 90250
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