Brush up on some basic knowledge about fuse boxes and service panels that will help you use energy safely and efficiently. A basic understanding of your home's electrical load is important knowledge for homeowners. After all, there will almost certainly come a time when you'll need to shut off or restore power. If you understand the fundamentals of how your home's electrical system works , you won't need to call an electrician for every small problem. Although fuse boxes and services panels can seem intimidating, the systems are fairly straightforward once you know the basics.
We'll walk you through a few key tasks you might encounter when working with electrical loads. In essence, the electrical load applies to anything that consumes electricity.
In your home, it refers to the amount of energy needed to power all the light fixtures, kitchen appliances , TVs, washing machines, and other items that require electricity. This is important knowledge if you plan to make any changes to your electrical system, including adding a circuit for a new light fixture or receptacle. Learn how to calculate your home's load, how to add capacity, how to understand the size of your home's electrical load, and how to inspect a service panel using our tips below.
Familiarize yourself with these basics to help you use your home's energy safely and efficiently. Different homes need different amp services, and you can use a bit of math to figure out what kind of electrical load your home requires.
A amp service, for example, is probably inadequate for a modern home, while a amp service is good for a home of less than 3, square feet that does not have central air-conditioning or electric heat. A home larger than 2, square feet that has central air-conditioning or electric heat probably needs a amp service. Use the equation listed in the graphic above to deduce exactly how many amps your home needs. Installing a new circuit is not difficult, but before you begin, make sure your service panel can handle the extra load.
A service panel with too many circuits is dangerous. Fuse boxes rarely have space for new circuits, so if you have a fuse box and need new service, replace the fuse box with a new service panel or install a subpanel. If you see an available slot in a breaker box, either an open space or a knockout that can be removed, chances are you can simply install a new breaker there and run cable to it.
If there is no open space, local electrical codes might allow you to replace a single breaker with a tandem breaker, which supplies power to two circuits. Make sure you do not overload your service panel. A panel's total amperage is printed near or on the main circuit breaker, which controls all the circuits in the panel. Most breaker boxes are , , or amps. The amp rating on this main circuit breaker identifies your electrical service size.
If your home has fuses instead of breakers, the panel will contain a main fuse block with an amp rating that identifies the total service size of your home. This main fuse block has a metal handle, and by pulling the handle outward so the block separates from the panel, you shut off power to the entire house.
Most homes served by fuse panels have amp or amp service. A subpanel is a secondary service panel that is fed by the home's main service panel. Subpanels are commonly installed to accommodate the many new circuits and breakers added as part of a home addition or large remodel.
A subpanel can also serve as a convenient satellite panel for a detached garage or workshop that may be far away from the main panel. Subpanels are typically 60 to amps and often have branch circuits serving a specific area of the house, such as a kitchen. They have their own main breaker, which is fed by the main panel.
If your home has a subpanel, there will be a double-pole breaker in the main panel that has the same amp rating as the main breaker in the subpanel. Because the subpanel is fed by the main panel, you do not add the subpanel's amp rating to the household total; use the main panel's amperage only.
When an electrical contractor computes the necessary size for electrical service during new construction or when updating an electrical system, the process involves computing the likely total demand of all appliances and fixtures, then sizing the electrical service to provide a comfortable margin. The calculations are fairly complex, so most electricians use a convenient calculator tool to properly size the main electrical service.
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Select personalised ads. Apply market research to generate audience insights. Measure content performance. Develop and improve products. List of Partners vendors. A bigger service panel also significantly decreases the danger of overloading, which may lead to short circuiting and fires. No matter the age of your home, it would be wise to ensure its service panel is functioning properly and capable of meeting the electrical demands of your household. If you have plans to remodel your home, upgrading to a amp will ensure that your electrical system will be ready for additional demands.
The number of mobile and IoT Internet of Things devices is also growing rapidly. If you want a smart home , you will need more electricity. Providing professional electricians since in Maryland, Cook Electric is the company you can rely on for all your electrical service needs, including:.
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