1 - Electrical Service Panel

Ensure that you find a professional to upgrade your electrical service panel, which will be difficult for amateur electricians. If your home is relatively old, rewiring your home will require you to upgrade the electrical service panel or the breaker box. This panel is your house’s connection to the municipal power located on the street. 

Older homes typically run on a 60-amp panel, while contemporary homes require 100- or 200-amp panels to fulfill modern consumers’ electrical needs. Upgrading your electrical service panel will allow your home to distribute more electricity to all your outlets safely. 



2 - Surge Protection

If you rely on power strips or one surge protector to shield your electronics from electrical surges, keep in mind that this is not a safe or efficient option. Modern homes need more power, so you’ll have to protect all your appliances and devices from any potential surges, which can do irreparable damage. Since many present-day appliances have computer chips in them, they run the risk of having their motherboard completely fried if lightning strikes or if an electrical surge occurs. 

In the event of a major power surge, a single circuit surge suppressor can withstand only so much. For this reason, you’ll need to invest in a whole-house surge suppressor that is hard-wired to the service panel. Doing so will obstruct 85 percent of the excess voltage, so you’ll still need your individual circuit surge protectors for your computers and smartphones. 



3 - Electrical Wiring

Once you’ve had a professional upgrade your service panel, you can now upgrade your electrical wiring. You can start by planning on placing new outlets in your home or where your large appliances can safely extract more power. Ensure that your new electrical wiring is sufficient for current and future technology to ensure forward compatibility. 

After you’ve confirmed that your home has a big enough service panel, you’ll have to get a circuit breaker with at least one open slot, especially if you plan to run a 120-volt circuit. However, if you lack space on your home’s circuit breaker, you’ll need to install a subpanel. 

4 - Individual Outlets

Another essential electric upgrade is your individual outlets. Having USB outlets built into your walls will eliminate the need for bulky chargers and adapters, allowing you to power up your devices in a more streamlined way. 

If you dislike unsightly plugs protruding from your wall, you can now explore recessed outlets. These are set into the wall so that the majority of power cords can lie flush with the wall. You may want to consider this type of outlet situated behind large appliances or furniture.

You can also look into tamper-resistant receptacles or TRR. They reduce the risk of electrocution from inserting metal objects into the outlet. A TRR would be especially helpful if you have children.

One outlet you may want to consider is the arc-fault circuit interrupter (AFCI), which will stop any damaged wiring from heating. These also reduce the risk of electrical fires, making it essential for your peace of mind.

Conclusion

Upgrading the electrical system in your home is essential for modern-day living. Today’s world is highly reliant on technology, which means you’ll have to inspect your wiring and ensure that it supports your electronics safely. With these electrical upgrades, you’ll enjoy a more efficient stream of power for your devices. 

B Town Electric is a commercial electrical service in MA with electrical contractors with over 40 years of experience. We are OSHA 10 certified and an A+ member of the BBB. We offer residential, commercial, and industrial electrical services.

For free electrical estimates, schedule a call back with us!