How to Upgrade Main Breaker Panel: Step By Step Guide

If you are thinking about upgrading your main breaker panel, you should be aware that it’s a fairly complicated job. First, you’ll need to call your utility company and have them inspect it for you. Next, you’ll need to cut the wires inside the panel using a pair of diagonal-cutting pliers. 

When deciding to upgrade your main breaker panel, it is important to consider its age. For instance, an older panel might be a couple of decades old. If you’ve had it for several years, it’s not unusual for it to have a limited number of breaker spaces. 

However, an older breaker box may have been made with a higher amperage capacity. It’s, therefore, a good idea to check the amperage before deciding whether or not you’d like to replace it.

When it comes to replacing the breaker panels, you should always consider the size of the panels. If the panel is too small for the number of circuits that you need, you’ll need a larger panel with more breakers. 

In this guide, we will show you how to upgrade the main breaker panel. Follow this step-by-step guide.

What Is Main Electrical Breaker Panel?

If you’re wondering what the main electrical breaker panel is, the answer is pretty simple. This circuit breaker will shut off power to all branch circuits in your home, but it won’t shut off the utility. Because of this, you should always contact your utility company to turn off service to your home. 

The breaker panel connects the wiring and power grid outside the home. The main service panel is a central distribution point for power in your home, ensuring that all of your electrical appliances and outlets get power. The main electrical breaker box receives power from the main panel and routes it to the branch circuits that supply the rest of your house. 

If you’re installing a main electrical breaker panel in your home, you should make sure it’s safe to operate. The power that a branch circuit breaker is supposed to control will run through the main meter. This means that you can use a breaker panel that controls the power for several branches. A breaker panel is made to withstand voltage spikes and surges in your home. 

Why Do You Need to Upgrade Main Electrical Breaker Panel?

One of the first things you need to think about when upgrading your electrical breaker panel is safety. Older homes may only have 60 amperage, which isn’t enough to power the appliances in modern homes. You should replace your old panel with a more modern one if you don’t want to run the risk of electrocution or fire. It’s important to upgrade the panel when you notice that you’ve lost power to appliances.

Using more power than your current electrical breaker panel can also be dangerous. Overloading can cause your circuit breakers to trip, causing a fire. If you’re worried about electrical shocks, you should upgrade your panel. 

You may have noticed that your breaker panels aren’t working properly. This is because they didn’t design them to meet modern needs. It’s possible that you’re using too many appliances at once. To address this, you may need to install a new panel. The new panel will have more outlets. You may even need a power strip to plug in your appliances.

An electrical panel upgrade is necessary when you want to add circuit breakers, add more outlets, or replace an old fuse box. These upgrades can increase your home’s efficiency and safety. These upgrades can be a major hassle, but they’re worth it for the benefits.

Can You Upgrade Main Electrical Breaker Panel on Your Own?

If your electrical breaker panel is old and in need of an upgrade, you can do it yourself with the right tools. Whether it’s a simple circuit rewire or a complete electrical panel replacement, this project will require the help of an electrician. A new panel can be a good idea if you’ve just renovated your home or if you’re adding space to the house.

Upgrading an existing electrical panel is a time-consuming job that can take hours, and a skilled person needs to ensure that every step is done correctly. It’s best to leave this job to a professional, particularly if you aren’t familiar with the process. It’s not an easy task, and one wrong move can cause major damage to your property or even put you in harm’s way.

Step to Upgrade Main Breaker Panel

If you are planning to upgrade the main breaker panel, follow these steps. This step-by-step guide will help you to easily upgrade the main breaker panel in your home.

Step 1: Turn Off Main Circuit BreakerBefore you upgrade your main breaker panel, you should first turn off the main circuit breaker. This will cut off the electricity to the electric panel. If your house has several circuit breakers, you may need to call the power company and have them shut off all the electrical wires before you can proceed with the upgrade. Before replacing the electric panel, you should turn off the main circuit breaker. This will save you from any danger of electrocution, especially if you touch a live wire. 

• Step 2: Remove Outer Panel

After you turn off the main power, you need to remove the outer cover of the panel. The main panel is always covered for safety reasons. To check and access the wires, you need to remove the panel cover. Use a screwdriver and unscrew the panel and remove the cover without touching any wires.

• Step 3: Remove Wires

Another step in upgrading your main breaker panel is to remove all the wires. Make sure you label the wires so that you can identify them. Label the live, neutral and ground wire. Be careful when you are removing the wires. Take individual breakers and remove the wires. 

• Step 4: Ready Your New Panel

Electrical panels wear out over time, and upgrading them is a great way to prevent power outages. After you remove the wires and label them, you need to remove the old panel. Now, you need to prepare the new panel. Connect the wires in the new panel, i.e., neutral wire to the neutral bar, ground wire to ground bar. After that, you need to connect the ground and neutral bar. Now, you can attach the new panel to the wall. Once the panel is in place, attach the wires to individual breakers. In the end, you just need to label the breaker.