electrical panel

Installing an electrical panel in your home may seem like an intimidating task, but with the right approach, it can be easier than you think. Here are some tips and tricks to help you through the process of installation of your electrician panel and also give you confidence that you can complete the project on your own.

What You Should Know About Your Electrical Panel

Your electrical panel is where all of your home’s circuit breakers and power lines are connected. There should be the main circuit breaker at one end, with many smaller breakers on either side for individual circuits—kitchen, living room, garage. As you add more appliances and electronics over time, you may need to add additional breakers. If your house is old or outdated, it’s worth speaking with an electrician about updating your electrical panel.

Follow These Steps Before Getting Your Electrical Panel Installed

1. Hire a qualified electrician for panel installation. A good source for finding a quality professional is word-of-mouth referrals from family, friends, and colleagues who have had similar jobs done in their own homes or offices. 2. Plan your remodel. Draw up plans for electrical upgrades and share them with your electrician before beginning any work. All changes must be communicated so they can be properly addressed during installation, which could include re-routing electrical lines if need be. 3.

Notify Everyone at Home

It’s always a good idea to tell everyone at home that you’re going out and when you expect to be back. That way, if something happens while you’re away they will know who they should call. If anything does happen, be sure that someone calls 911 immediately. If a crime has been committed against you or there is some other emergency, don’t wait for the attacker or troublemakers to leave before calling authorities.

Secure Your Wires and Cables

When installing new electric panels, always remember that you need to secure wires and cables so they don’t come loose. It may seem like a small point, but loose cables can easily become fire hazards and should be treated as such. Don’t risk causing a fire; instead, make sure all your wiring is tight and secure before making any final connections.

Learn How Long It Will Take to Complete the Installation

One of your first steps should be learning how long it will take for a pro to install your panel. After all, you want a new panel to get installed quickly and safely. On average, it takes about two days for a qualified electrician to install a breaker box and connect all necessary wires. This doesn’t include any time spent getting permits or drawing up designs. If possible, you might want to plan your installation around standard business hours since most electrical contractors are available during normal business hours Monday through Friday.

Organize Your Wiring Plan

One thing people don’t realize about having a fully functioning home electrical system is that you have many different types of wires doing many different things. Without planning, these systems can look like a rat’s nest of cables. The first step is knowing which wires do what, and that starts with laying out your plan on paper.

Measure Twice, Cut Once, Drill Holes Once

Before you get started, use a measuring tape and/or level to make sure you’re installing your panels properly. To avoid cutting into something or causing any damage, measure from the wall to wall, then from floor to ceiling. Once you have these measurements, add them together—this is how much space you have for your panel installation. If it comes out to be more than what will fit on one panel, divide it up evenly between two panels (if possible).

Work With the Electrician, Not Against His/her

When you hire a licensed electrician, they should be doing everything possible to keep your home or business safe. If you don’t work with them (providing access when needed and explaining what should be done), then there’s no way that person can do their job. For your electrician panel installation job to go smoothly, make sure you’re working together.

Do Not Touch the Wires Until Everything Is Connected

Before you begin working with electricity, make sure all of your tools are connected to a ground-fault circuit interrupter or GFCI. This should be a standard safety protocol for all panel wiring jobs. The last thing you want is for someone’s body part to slip into live wires, causing injury or death.

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