Nowadays, the trend is simply to install 200-amp panels when upgrading an electric panel. With the continued proliferation of electric vehicles, many families are going to need 400-amp panels, particularly if they have many family members living in the same house. Will these upgraded panels improve the home’s use of electricity? Read on to find out more!
Reasons to Upgrade in the First Place
If the breakers in your current electric panel are tripping all the time and need replacing, then it just makes sense to upgrade the panel. The labor costs will be roughly the same, and the panel itself isn’t that much more than the cost of replacing multiple breakers.
Perhaps, your electric panel is outdated? If your home was built before 1950, which is when many appliances were gas-powered instead of electric, then you might have been able to get by with 60 amps or 80 amps. Neither of those two power levels will suffice in the 21st century. If you have one of these under-powered panels, then you might experience flickering and/or intermittent performance from your appliances, indicating not enough power going through them.
If you smell smoke, ozone, or other odors associated with fire and/or electricity, then that’s a dangerous situation. You’ll need to replace the electric panel right away.
Of course, you could just upgrade for the sake of upgrading. A 200-amp panel is more efficient in distributing 100 amps of power than a 100-amp panel would be, making the upgrade a good idea.
That Magic Word: Efficiency
In a situation where you have an outdated electric panel, it will likely send too much power to any one breaker at once to compensate for its inability to power your devices with the recommended amount of power. Because of the nationwide trend away from natural gas and oil for heating, many families are switching to all electricity before it becomes a requirement. Electric heat pumps are going to replace gas furnaces and standard air conditioners in temperate zones in the very near future.
All of those new electric devices will require more power than even a 100-amp electric panel will provide. Therefore moving to a 200-amp panel, or greater, makes as much sense as moving away from natural gas early. Additionally, once the 200-amp panel is in, it will be more energy-efficient than the 100-amp panel overall. That will not only reduce your carbon footprint but also your energy bill.
The Energy Star Rebate
Between January 1, 2023, and December 31, 2032, you are entitled to 30% off of any panel upgrade you make within your home in an effort to increase efficiency. The maximum discount available is $600, and you have to install a panel with a minimum of 200 amps.
To maximize efficiency, you’re also allowed to combine an electric-panel upgrade with other energy-saving measures, such as new windows and doors, skylights, insulation, or assorted wiring upgrades. The maximum total of all discounts is $3,200, $1,200 of which can be for any one improvement other than the $600 already earmarked for the upgrade of electric panels.
Is a 400-Amp Electric Panel More Efficient Than a 200-Amp Panel?
Just as a 200-amp panel is more efficient than a 100-amp panel, the 400-amp panel is more efficient still. With a 400-amp panel, no appliance in your home will ever want for power, so you’ll always draw the right amount. That’s in contrast with a 100-amp panel that cannot provide the right amount and winds up using more power than it should. In a world of EVs and ever more devices, a 400-amp panel actually makes a lot of sense, particularly because of the move away from natural gas for heat.
Conclusion
When you want to discuss a possible upgrade of your electric panel, along with making an appointment for the work to be done, give us a call at Mister Sparky today.