Breaker Panel Replacement

A lot of customers call their breaker box a fuse box.  It can also be called a breaker panel. While the term “fuse box” is technically incorrect, we’ll know what you are talking about.

Fuse boxes haven’t been used in homes in nearly 100 years as a fuse is a one time use device that would have to be replaced to restore power.  A breaker can be reset when it trips to restore power to a circuit.

Why Are Breaker Panels Replaced?

Breaker Panels can be replaced for a number of reasons but more often than not they’re pared down to 3 main reasons. Except in cases of catastrophic damage like flooding, fire, or a tree falling on the electric service, which would be an emergency repair but that’s not what we’re covering here.

1. Federal Pacific/Zynsco Brand Panels. These brands of panels are made by companies that are no longer in business, it’s best to replace these brands with newer, more modern technology.
2. More Physical Space is Needed. In some cases when we’re adding a new circuit to the breaker panel we have plenty of power available but we don’t have the space available and can’t make the space available, then replacing the breaker panel with one that has more spaces may be necessary.
3. More Power is Needed. While we absolutely need physical space in order to add a new breaker for a new circuit we also need to make sure that above all else the house can support the load of the new breaker. The last thing we want to do is to add a new circuit but create another problem in which you either have a tripping main breaker or you have to pick and choose which appliances you can run at the same time. When the new circuit exceeds the current breaker panel’s capacity for power, then it’s best to replace the breaker panel with a larger ampacity.