 Electrical LOAD CENTERS Commonly referred to as the Fuse Board, Breaker Panel, or Electric Panel. The Load Center is the heart of the electrical system in the home. It takes the incoming electric supply from the utility company and distributes the power throughout the house. The fuses or breakers act as safety barriers in the case of an electrical problem or overload. The most common sizes in residential use are 100 amps, 150 amps and 200 amps. The amperage (amps) referred to is a measurement of electricity. The higher the number of amps, the more electricity you can use in your home. 60 amp panel. This size service, usually a fuse panel, is no longer installed in new homes because homes now use a lot more electricity than they did 40 years ago. This size service is inadequate for normal load use. If you have a home with this size service we recommend that it be upgraded to 100amp service. Many banks or mortgage companies are no longer loaning money for purchasing homes with this size service. 100 amp panel This size panel, usually equipped with
circuit breakers, is ideal for smaller homes. 150 amp panel This panel is rarely used when rewiring because the cost for installing the larger 200 amp panel is not very much more and it provides a lot more service. This panel commonly found in new construction is well suited to most average sized homes. NOTE: 150 or 200 amp service is always necessary in smaller homes with all electric furnace, baseboard or radiant heating. 200 amp panel This size panel is well suited to most average to larger size homes, allowing the homeowner plenty of leeway to add a hot tub, additional outlets, etc. This panel may not be adequate for homes of 3500 sq. feet or larger, especially if the home has electric appliances, water heater and there is dual air conditioning system, hot tub etc. In homes exceeding 3500 / 4000 sq feet it is not uncommon to see two 200 amp panels. Note: Wires entering the load center, enter
through a hole or "knockout". Before
these wires can be routed through the hole, a
wire clamp must be inserted and secured in the
hole. The wiring is then fed through the clamp
and secured. | Welcome to BIS | About BIS | Home Inspections | Get Started | Technical FAQ | Contact us |
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