Thinking about upgrading your electrical system? You’re not alone. As we add more and more gadgets and appliances to our homes, older electrical panels can feel the strain. Learning how to size an electrical panel correctly is a critical first step before starting any home renovation or electrical upgrade projects. That’s because choosing the right size electrical panel will ensure that you have enough power for everything in your home – and do it safely.
Too often, outdated service panels can lead to frustrating (and potentially dangerous) issues like flickering lights and tripping breakers. But how do you know when it’s time for a change, and more importantly, how do you figure out the right electrical panel size for your home? Keep reading because I’m going to share everything you need to know about how to size an electrical panel properly.
What Impacts Your Electrical Panel Size?
The right electrical panel size for your home isn’t one-size-fits-all. It’s calculated based on your home’s specific electrical demands. Several key factors come into play:
Square Footage of your home:
A larger home usually demands more circuits to power various rooms and appliances. Generally, the larger the house, the more amps you’ll need for your electrical service.
Appliances and Devices:
Think about everything you use in your home that runs on electricity—lights, appliances, and electronics. Consider large appliances like electric ovens, HVAC systems, water heaters, clothes dryers, and electric car chargers. These all put a significant load on your electrical panel. The more power-hungry devices you have (or plan to have in the future), the greater the need for a higher-capacity electrical panel.
Future Electrical Needs:
It’s smart to factor in your future plans. Consider adding a home addition, installing a hot tub, or upgrading to energy-efficient appliances. Factoring in these factors when deciding on your new electrical panel size can help you avoid future electrical headaches. Upgrading your panel’s amperage is a great way to prepare for the future. Contact GB Electric for an electrician in Hellertown and the surrounding Lehigh Valley area.
Calculating Your Panel Size
To determine the correct size for your electrical panel, you need to determine how much electricity your home uses at any given time, which is measured in amperage, or Amps. Amps are like the amount of water flowing through a pipe—the more appliances you’re running simultaneously, the higher the electrical “flow.” The larger the “pipe,” which in this case is your electrical panel, needs to be to accommodate it without bursting. Let’s go through the steps involved in figuring this out. But remember, electrical work is dangerous and consulting with a qualified electrician is always recommended.
1. List Appliances and Wattage
You’ll need to list the wattage of all your essential electrical appliances and devices. This includes your refrigerator, oven, microwave, dishwasher, washing machine, dryer, HVAC unit, water heater, lighting, and other significant power consumers.
You can usually find the wattage information on appliance labels or in their manuals. In many cases, this information is in Watts. For example, a 100-watt lightbulb consumes 100 watts of power when turned on. If the usage is listed in amps, you can multiply that number by the voltage of your electrical system to get the wattage. If you have a 20-amp circuit running on 120 volts (standard for most homes) you multiply 20 by 120 to get 2,400 watts.
2. Determine Your Home’s Baseline Wattage Needs
The next step is to establish a baseline for your entire home’s general wattage needs. This baseline is based on the total square footage of your house. Let’s say your home is 2,000 square feet. As an industry standard, electricians usually multiply your home’s total square footage by three to determine your home’s minimum baseline wattage needs. This baseline doesn’t factor in specific heavy-duty appliances or individual circuits in your kitchen and laundry. It provides a general wattage number to begin making other calculations from.
So, in this example of a 2,000-square-foot house, you’d multiply 2,000 by three to get 6,000 watts. Add this amount to your wattage spreadsheet.
3. Calculate Essential Circuit Wattages
Your electrical system’s main circuits are where things can get complicated, but don’t worry. For circuits serving multiple general-use outlets and lighting, it’s fairly standard. However, kitchen, bathroom, and laundry circuits generally need separate calculations. Appliances like electric ranges, clothes dryers, microwaves, and garbage disposals draw significant power on dedicated circuits. For dedicated appliance circuits, you’ll need to determine the voltage and the amps, and use those figures to figure out the watts needed.
For example, electric clothes dryers are usually on a 30-amp double-pole breaker which translates to needing approximately 6,600 watts for safe and adequate function. Be sure to do this for each of your main circuits. Remember that most home electrical circuits have an operating voltage of either 120 or 240 volts. Double-pole breakers in your panel operate at 240 volts. This includes heavy appliances like ranges and clothes dryers that need higher voltage for power-hungry operation. Conversely, most other single-pole circuit breakers in your electrical panel, which include your lights and standard 15-amp outlets will be 120 volts.
4. Factor In Future Needs
Adding capacity to your electrical system later on can be a real hassle and often requires a lot of extra work, so planning ahead is crucial. A 200-amp electrical service panel is now increasingly common, particularly for larger homes or homes with central air conditioning, and definitely those with electric heating. It’s best to go up in size a bit if you anticipate major renovations in the future – you’ll be grateful you did.
5. Consult a Qualified Electrician
Figuring out these details about how to size an electrical panel can feel overwhelming. Plus, this article doesn’t contain every possibility or unique situation for sizing an electrical panel. Consulting a qualified and licensed electrician is strongly encouraged. Not only can they confirm your calculations are on track, but they can ensure the installation is safe and complies with your local building codes, which can be complex and nuanced. A licensed and bonded electrician can also often secure required permits for any project.
Signs That Your Electrical Panel Needs an Upgrade
Sometimes, it’s obvious when something’s off with your electrical panel, and sizing a panel is part of any panel upgrade process. Here are a few telltale signs to look for:
Circuit Breaker Trips Frequently:
Are you constantly resetting tripped circuit breakers? This is one of the most common signs that your panel can’t handle your home’s electrical load and is struggling to stay functional. If you’re experiencing consistent electrical issues, this is a good indication you need a service panel upgrade.
Dimming or Flickering Lights:
Notice that your lights dim or flicker when an appliance like the air conditioner turns on? This indicates an overloaded electrical circuit that can no longer efficiently accommodate peak usage, meaning your panel isn’t big enough for the demands you’re putting on it.
Warm Outlets or Switches:
This often gets overlooked, but you should always pay attention if any electrical component or panel feels excessively warm to the touch. This can be dangerous, as it indicates an unsafe electrical situation and is a sign you could have electrical issues.
Burning Smell From Panel:
Never ignore a burning smell from your electrical panel. If this happens, immediately turn off your main breaker. This smell is a definite red flag that something is seriously wrong and professional attention is urgently needed.
Outdated Electrical Panel:
Have an older home? If you have a fuse box or a very old electrical service panel (we’re talking several decades old), upgrading is a must for safety and efficiency. Older systems weren’t designed for modern electrical demands. An older home should consider this as part of any significant renovation or upgrade to prevent overloads and more serious electrical issues in the future.
As we’ve learned, knowing how to size an electrical panel and recognizing when yours needs replacing are important aspects of maintaining a safe and functional electrical system in your home.
Need an electrical contractor in Coopersburg, PA? Don’t miss out on GB Electric. Properly sizing an electrical panel ensures it can manage the power demands of modern living, avoiding potential hazards. This step should never be disregarded. Contact us today for more information.