Things You Need to Know About a Commercial Panel Upgrade

A Commercial Panel Upgrade In Murrieta!

Things You Need to Know About a Commercial Panel Upgrade

A commercial panel is the heart of your electrical system. At its most basic level, the electrical panel is the conduit that links the power lines from the utility company. Running on a dated electrical panel are usually in need of an upgrade.

The main electrical panel is the central distribution point for all branch circuits. Sometimes a commercial panel is improperly installed yet can function for years without a problem. The wires of your commercial panel are typically divided between neutral and hot. The main electrical panel is the heart of your electrical system and your distribution point for all the electric circuits in your place.

IS YOUR COMMERCIAL BUILDING DUE FOR AN ELECTRICAL UPGRADE?

No matter how well your building’s electrical system was designed, there comes a time when an electrical upgrade is necessary. Upgrading your electrical system improves both the safety and utility of your building. If you find your electrical system no longer meets your needs, there are a few things to consider before contacting an electrician.

Signs You’re Due for an Electrical Upgrade
Many older buildings were designed when demand for electricity was lower. They were typically built with 60 or 120 amps and a few circuits for an entire commercial building. This was enough decades ago, but it isn’t enough to power the amount of electronics and machinery in use today. Nowadays, even small workshops require at least 200 amps.

One of the biggest signs you need an electrical upgrade is that there doesn’t seem to be enough power for everything. Your lights flicker or go out entirely when a large appliance or machine is turned on. Your equipment shuts itself off for no obvious reason. You have extension cords run between different circuits in attempt to balance the load. Read more here.

The electrical panel is an intimidating piece of equipment only touched when there is a circuit blown or a power outage.

Due to rapid advances in modern technology, many businesses are operating with insufficient electrical wiring for both the quantity and power needs of their equipment. To make matters worse, when buildings are updated or renovated, rather than adding a new electrical panel existing electrical wiring often goes untouched.

What is an electrical panel?
The electrical panel provides electricity to your business’s equipment. Power from the utility company flows into your business through this panel, branching out into major electrical branches and then smaller branches in order to distribute power. A properly functioning electrical panel is essential to the safety and productivity of your business.

What’s more, commercial electrical panels are required by Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) to have a “dead front,” which protects live parts from being exposed to a person on the operating side of the equipment preventing electric shock. See more here.

The electrical panel is the box in that contains the circuit breakers, and is the location from where electrical current from the electric company gets distributed to the various circuits.

How Much Does it Cost to Upgrade an Electrical Panel?

Whether it’s a farm home in the country or a large commercial complex in the city, electrical systems are the life and blood of modern properties, and panels are where that electricity is controlled. When a panel upgrade is required for additional power usage or modernization, many different factors can determine the costs. Before a home or business owner decides to commit to an upgrade, he or she should carefully consider all the factors involved.

Reasons to Get an Upgrade
Upgrades to an electrical panel can be made for both functional and financial reasons. Modern homes use a variety of devices, including high-definition televisions and computers, which have power needs beyond the design specifications of homes and businesses older than a few decades. As technology continues to enter every facet of life, power requirements will continue to increase. Prospective homeowners may look at old panels as a sign of an obsolete electrical system in disrepair, so upgrading a panel can make a big difference during the sale of a property.

Labor Costs
When upgrading a panel, labor will likely be the most significant portion of costs. Electrical contractors are highly trained professionals that earn a good hourly rate for their services. An average panel upgrade takes about 8 to 10 hours to complete. At anywhere from $50 to $80 an hour, a client can expect to pay between $500 and $800 for their project labor. Typically, wage guidelines are established by an official body like the National Electrical Contractors Association. Read full article here.

Commercial Panel Upgrade Is A Must

Your new electrical panel is keeping you safe, but you will have the option of safely increasing the size of your electrical system by adding new circuits. The circuit breakers in your commercial panel are designed to protect you from an electrical fire. If your fuse boxes or electrical panel are out of date, it can cause several problems with your electrical system.

Make sure that each of the circuits in your commercial panel is clearly labeled on the inside of the main breaker panel door by what they are powering. Signs of a failure in your electrical panel are flickering lights and excess heat at the circuit breakers. Electrical panels normally last around 25 years, but this depends on how electrical panel are treated, call us here: (951) 805-1262 for more information.

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