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Updating Electrical Panels in Madison, Wisconsin

Professional Electrical Panel Upgrades

It’s easy to forget about the quality and condition of your electrical panel. From the outside, it just seems like an unchanging metal box. However, your electrical panel constantly protects your home from the dangers of electrical overload. When too much power runs through part of your home, the breakers in your electrical panel will cut power to that section of the house, preventing a fire or electrocution. When your panel becomes old, damaged, or defective, it may fail to do its job properly. Luckily, Mr. Electric of Madison upgrades electrical panels in Madison and Sun Prairie, Wisconsin. Learn more about our professional electrical panel upgrades.

Updating Electrical Panels in Madison, Wisconsin

Professional Electrical Panel Upgrades

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  • An electrical panel is the point where electricity enters your home from the main power line. The raw electricity from your utility company needs to be properly distributed to the different areas of your home. Inside your electrical panel, there are breakers and switches that monitor the flow of power throughout your home. Each breaker is in charge of a different circuit in your home. When a breaker is tripped, you may notice that you lose power to certain areas and not others. That is because those areas are separate circuits. Modern electrical panels should also have a main power breaker that controls the flow of electricity to your entire home.

  • You will eventually need to upgrade your electrical panel. Just like any other home appliance, it will wear down and become out of date over time. Upgrading your electrical panel before it fails is essential, but it can be difficult to identify the right time if you are not an experienced electrician. Some of the most reliable signs that you need to replace your electrical panel include the following:

    • Crackling noises coming from your electrical panel
    • Rust or corrosion on the breaker switches inside your panel
    • You notice the inside of your electrical panel is warm
    • Appliances are running sluggish
    • Your outlets are not GFCIs (Especially in kitchens, bathrooms, and laundry rooms)
    • You need to use extension cords and power strips on a regular basis
    • Your home has 60-amp electrical services
    • Your home has 100-amp electrical services, but some appliances still trip the breakers
    • You have an outdated fuse block or bus panel
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Outdated Electrical Panels Can Be Dangerous

On average, an electrical panel should last about 25 years. After that, most experts will recommend an electrical panel upgrade. This is advice you should take seriously. When an electrical panel fails, the damage can be catastrophic. Some panels that were in regular use before 1990 are especially unsafe. If you have one of the electrical panels below, we recommend upgrading it as soon as possible.

Federal Pacific Electric (FPE) Electrical Panels

This type of panel was frequently used in homes between 1950 and 1980. In recent years, numerous design defects have been identified as the cause of electrocutions and fires. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission considers the FPE panels to be defective and unsafe.

Zinsco Electrical Panels

While Zinsco panels haven’t been installed since the 1970s, we still find them in some homes. These panels are known for a particular defect that allows power to flow through them even when the breakers are tripped, which can cause switches to melt and fires to start.

Pushmatic Electrical Panels

Pushmatic electrical panels were made without a main breaker switch. Today, this is considered a dangerous flaw because you cannot cut power to the whole home in an emergency. Further, these panels have breaker switches that are more difficult to reset when they get older.

Fuse Boxes

Fuse boxes are the technological predecessor to electrical panels. They haven’t been used since the 1960s. They only provide 60 amps of power. Most homes need 200 amps of power now. Fuse boxes are prone to causing fires and electrical shocks in homes.

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