Vancouver Electrical
Service Upgrade
Bring your electrical panel up to speed
With new technologies drawing on more electricity than ever, older electrical panels and fuse boxes simply can’t keep up. TCA Electric can install a new 200-amp panel (or higher!) in your home or commercial building, allowing your family or business to make use of the best modern technologies and appliances without worry.
When Should You Upgrade Your Service?
Whether you’re a homeowner or a business owner, there are many reasons to upgrade your service. Most new residential buildings these days have 200-amp panels, while larger homes and commercial buildings may need more than that.
Here are a few reasons to consider upgrading your electrical panel:
- Breakers frequently tripping
- Building still relies on a fuse box
- No room for additional circuits
- Existing panel is old or recalled
- Visible damage to your panel (such as rust or frayed wiring)
You may also want to upgrade if:
- You’re planning to remodel or make an addition to your home
- You’d like to install new luxuries such as a hot tub or spa
- Your home has a 100-amp panel and you plan to sell soon
- You’re looking to expand your business
- You’re upgrading equipment or adding new appliances
Strengthen Your Home or Business’s First Line of Defense
When it comes to electrical safety, having a reliable, high-quality circuit breaker with more than enough capacity is essential. These devices protect us from dangers like electric shocks, overloads, and electrical fires. Electrical safety has come a long way throughout the years, and effective breaker panels are a huge reason for that.
At TCA Electric, we’ve performed service upgrades for hundreds of homes and businesses throughout Vancouver. Whether we’re bringing homes up to speed with a 200-amp panel or expanding a business’s electrical capacity to 400 amps or beyond, services upgrades are second nature to our talented, experienced team of electricians. As your family or business grows, make sure your electrical panel is a step ahead.
Contact TCA Electric to schedule your service upgrade today!
Here in Vancouver, the cost to replace a breaker box averages around $5,000, but these projects can cost anywhere from $3,000–$9,000 depending on the circumstances.
Though the cost of a panel upgrade does vary, in general, upgrading from a 100-amp to 200-amp panel typically costs between $8,000 and $12,500. If you are considering a panel upgrade, it’s important to speak with an experienced electrical contractor who can help you understand the factors that will ultimately determine your out of pocket cost.
An electrical panel upgrade is a great way to increase your home’s value while adding safety and electrical load to your property. In addition to a panel upgrade, other popular electrical home upgrades here in Canada include: ev charger installations, LED lighting and backup generators.
At the most fundamental level, your electrical panel breaks the main source of power entering your home, from a power line, into smaller branch circuits from the different areas of your house. The wires in your home wouldn’t be able to handle the full supply of electricity from a power line all at once, so your electrical panel serves to distribute this power safely. Breakers protect circuits from being overloaded by “tripping” when a circuit draws on too much power. This cuts off electricity from the overloaded area of your electrical system, preventing potential electrical fires.
There are several reasons why you might want to upgrade your electrical panel. One of the most common reasons is to increase capacity (the amount of electricity the panel can handle) or to increase the number of circuits, if your panel is maxed out. As more and more appliances enter your home, the amount of electricity needed to power them generally increases. Older electrical panels can’t typically handle the added load of multiple new appliances. If you’re planning a remodel or addition, or if you’re installing new power-hungry appliances in your home, you should first consult an electrician to make sure your electrical panel is up to par.
Another important reason to upgrade your electrical panel is if it has become damaged over the years. Panels can be contaminated by water, and any kind of corrosive elements near or on your electrical panel (such as paint) can damage it as well. Finally, older models of electrical panels can become obsolete entirely. Making it harder to repair them – an inconvenient and dangerous situation. If any of the above situations apply in your home, you should upgrade your electrical panel.
Fuse boxes are an older form of electrical panel, and while they’re still somewhat common, they’re widely considered less effective (and more hazardous) than circuit breakers. While you can restore power from a circuit breaker with the flip of a switch, fuse boxes require you to manually replace melted fuses. Worse, you risk causing a fire if you install the wrong-size fuse in your fuse box. Finally, unlike circuit breakers, fuse boxes offer no protection against electrocution. Insurance companies often hesitate to cover homes that still have fuse boxes installed for this very reasons, among others. If your home still relies on fuses, it’s a good move to upgrade your electrical panel to a circuit breaker.
There are many reasons to upgrade to a 200-amp service. A panel upgrade increases your home’s electrical load capacity, meaning you can efficiently run more appliances and devices simultaneously. Safety is often a deciding factor for property owners concerned with fire risks associated with overloaded electrical panels. Finally, upgrading to a 200-amp service will make your property more appealing to potential buyers should you choose to sell in the future.
You can absolutely change from a 100-amp panel to 200 amp panel. This is a fairly common electrical upgrade that adds value to your home and increases your home’s electrical load capacity. With the continuous advent of new technologies to our everyday lives, most modern homes require more electrical load than a 100-amp panel can provide.