Breaker Box
Most people know the term “breaker panel” as a way to refer to the area of the house where all of the wires come into one place. This panel is an essential part of our home’s wiring system, providing protection from short-circuits or power surges. The breakers housed in this box control power to each of the branch circuits leading out from it, thereby keeping homeowner’s families safe in the event of any possible malfunction within the electrical system.
However, breaker panels have many different names depending on who you talk to. It can be referred to as circuit breaker box, breaker box, fuse box, electrical panel, load center, or electric service panel – but whatever you call it, it works pretty much the same way and serves an important safety function for homeowners. To ensure that your home is properly protected these boxes must be installed and maintained by a professionally trained and certified electrician according to code standards. Installed properly, they serve an irreplaceable role in keeping homes safe from harm while allowing us access to all of life’s luxuries electricity brings us.
The circuit breaker panel is a vital part of any home’s electrical system. It serves as the main distribution point for the circuits and powers all lights, appliances, and plugs found in the house. The panel usually provides between 100-200 amps of power, though for larger homes this can be up to 300-400 amps. When you need to reset a circuit or turn off electricity altogether, it is done from this central point. Circuit breakers are designed to trip and disconnect when too much current passes through them; this prevents surges that could damage electrical components or create unsafe conditions in the home. Therefore, ensuring that your circuit breaker is able to handle your specific needs is key in maintaining a safe environment year round.
Questions about your electrical panel? Contact Juniper Mountain Electric!
How does a circuit breaker panel work?
The circuit breaker panel is a crucial part of any electrical system, as it allows power distribution to flow safely through house wiring or appliance circuits. It consists of a metal box which contains the breakers and other components that regulate and distribute power. The service entrance wires which carry electrical current from the street connect directly to two large terminals (or lugs) at either end of the panel. As long as these lugs are energized, this electricity will be regulated in the breakers and directed accordingly around the house.
The heart of the circuit breaker panel is secured behind a flat metal cover known as the ‘dead front’ cover. The front of the enclosure can only be removed by qualified professionals and has openings for each individual breaker switch contained in that section for easy access when needed. Homeowners should never attempt to remove this dead front cover unless they have an understanding of what lies beneath and know exactly what they’re doing – otherwise serious injury or damages could occur from attempting to access live wires and the complicated components behind it.
There are a few types of circuit breakers. Branch circuit breakers are generally found in two rows of the main panel. These 15-amp and 20-amp circuits feed regular lighting and outlet circuits, as well as specialty outlets like those in the kitchen, garage, or other areas. They are also responsible for supplying power to certain appliances such as refrigerators and air conditioners. For larger 240-volt appliances such as electric ranges, dryers and hot water tanks, double-pole breakers providing 30, 40 or 50 amps are necessary.
In some cases, a large breaker may be used to provide power to a separate subpanel for large additions or detached buildings such as garages or workshops instead of providing direct power to these buildings from the main panel. Subpanels provide enough current for large projects without overloading the primary circuit supplied by the main breaker box. This ensures that all projects have an adequate electrical supply without any disruptions from overloaded wires or circuits.
If you are having issues with your breaker box, contact Juniper Mountain Electric today!
When do you need to replace the circuit breaker?
The circuit breaker is tripping
When your circuit breakers keep tripping, it can be frustrating and potentially dangerous. Not only is it inconvenient when you need the power in a hurry to do something like get ready for work or make coffee, but this issue is also a sign of serious trouble. Tripping circuit breakers is often caused by too much electricity running through the system all at once, there’s a risk of overheating and blown fuses that could eventually lead to an electrical fire.
So, if your circuit breakers continue to trip even when you’re taking careful measures to prevent this from happening, you should contact Juniper Mountain Electric who specialize in replacing and installing new circuit breaker panel boxes. It won’t take long for us to find out what the cause is and repair or replace the system as needed. In fact, preventing potential damages that could be caused by faulty electrical wiring may actually save you money in the long run!
If your breaker is tripping, keep your home and your family safe! Contact Juniper Mountain Electric now.
Your breaker box is actually a fuse box
Fuses have been used in home electrical systems for many years, but they are not as safe as modern circuit breakers. Fuses can cause serious safety hazards by overheating and causing fires, whereas circuit breakers protect by automatically cutting off the electrical power when an overload or short circuit is detected. Additionally, many insurance providers will charge you more for having an outdated system in place instead of updating to a modern circuit breaker panel.
If your electrical system operates on fuses, it is recommended that you upgrade to a new circuit breaker panel for better safety and to save money in the long run. This is a job best done with professional help, since a licensed electrician should do any work that involves the electrical wiring of your home. Juniper Mountain Electric can also check to make sure everything else in the system meets code standards set by local regulations. This added protection and peace of mind comes at an affordable price.
Your house is old and the circuit breaker panel is original to the house
It is important to take a look at the age of your circuit breaker panel in order to ensure it is functioning properly and safely. If you own an older home, chances are that the circuit breaker panel may be very old and needing replacement. Even if your home has had some electrical upgrades over the years, but your circuit breaker panel has not been updated, it’s possible that it might need replacing immediately. The best way to handle such an issue is by having an electrician who specializes in replacing a circuit breaker come and inspect the panel for you.
Older breakers tend to need replacing every 25-30 years as they are prone to problems and can lose their efficiency from regular wear and tear. Juniper Mountain Electric will be able to accurately assess the condition of the equipment in order to determine if replacement or repair is necessary. Furthermore, by opting for a professional inspection you can be reassured knowing that all safety protocols and building regulations are strictly adhered to when making changes or repairs.
For timely, efficient, effective and reasonably priced service, contact Juniper Mountain Electric!
There is a burning smell coming from the breaker panel
A burning smell is not something to take lightly. This can be an indication of a serious problem with your circuit breaker panel, and potentially other dangerous fire hazards in the home. To identify the cause of this smell, you should bring in an experienced electrician like Juniper Mountain Electric who can thoroughly inspect the area and make sure that no potential fires will occur. If we recommend replacing the circuit breaker panel, we will explain whether that is the only problem or if you need other work done.
It is important to make sure that electricity isn’t the only cause behind the burning smell. In some cases, problems like faulty wiring or bad outlets may not be related to your electrical load but might instead involve other problems. Should this be the case, Juniper Mountain Electric will either be able to give you a quote for the necessary service or recommend the appropriate contractor. By taking every precaution possible when addressing a burning smell, you can ensure that your home will stay safe, and your family protected from potential fire risks.
If you are smelling burning don’t wait! Contact Juniper Mountain Electric today!
You are upgrading some or all of your appliances
Upgrading an electrical appliance can be a great way to improve the look and functionality of your home, but it also may require some extra work as well. If you’re considering upgrading an existing appliance to a more modern appliance, one of the first things you’ll need to do is to check your circuit breaker panel. The new appliance may require more amps than what your circuit breaker can handle, so if this is the case, you will need to replace your existing panel. It’s important to read through the manual that comes with your appliance in order to determine what its amps requirement is; this number should appear somewhere on the document. Once you’ve done that, check what number appears on your circuit breaker panel; if it’s lower than what’s in the manual then you know it time for an upgrade.
Lights are flickering or dimming randomly
Flickering or dimming lights can be a scary phenomenon in any home. They indicate that something is wrong with the electrical system, which needs to be addressed as soon as possible. Depending on the severity of the issue, it might require a circuit breaker panel replacement. However, if it’s just one light that flickers periodically, then often it’s just some minor wiring issues that are easy to fix.
Nonetheless, flickering and dimming lights should never be ignored as they can signify more severe issues such as an overloaded power outlet. Additionally, it’s best not to attempt to repair them yourself because you could potentially electrocute yourself if you are unfamiliar with how to shut off the electricity and which wire is the hot wire vs. the ground wire. It’s always a better decision to call an experienced electrician like Juniper Mountain Electric who can safely identify the source of your flickering or dimming lights and provide effective solutions.
Give yourself peace of mind by contacting Juniper Mountain Electric.
You are upgrading some or all of your appliances
If you’ve noticed black spots or scorched areas on the panel or wall outlets in your home, it’s essential to take action immediately. This is a clear sign of an electrical issue and potentially hazardous. Depending on the extent of damage, it can be difficult to identify what’s causing the problem. It’s likely due to a short circuit or failing wiring in the panel box – both of which require an electrician’s expertise to repair safely.
The reality is that faulty wiring is incredibly dangerous and can lead to fires when left unattended too long. With any electrical issue, time isn’t your friend. You should hire a licensed electrician like Juniper Mountain Electric. We have extensive experience in identifying and handling these matters right away. We can inspect, diagnose, and fix any issue at hand quickly and effectively so that you are free from harm’s way as soon as possible. Don’t leave yourself vulnerable to a home disaster – stay one step ahead and contact Juniper Mountain Electric whenever you suspect something may be wrong with your wiring system.
You are considering adding an addition or home office to your home
Addition
Adding an addition to your single family home can be an exciting and rewarding experience. Not only will you gain more square footage, but your home’s value can also increase if the project is done right. Before you begin work on the addition, however, as part of your project costs you will need to consider how much additional electricity the addition may require. You will also need to ensure that the plans for the breaker space are sufficient for an electrician to easily access the panel. For instance, current U.S. building codes prohibit installing a breaker panel in clothes closets because there will be insufficient space to access the panel.
If your existing electrical panel is not able to handle the new load that comes with an addition, you may have to install a larger panel or add more circuit breakers for all the new wiring that needs to be installed. These factors need to be addressed before beginning construction on any addition – otherwise unsightly wiring might appear or worse, there could be a potential hazard in the form of overloaded circuits. Consult with Juniper Mountain Electric for assistance when undergoing such a project – we know best what kind of electrical system your home needs in order to safely power your home and its additions.
Home Office
Adding a dedicated home office can be immensely beneficial, but potentially comes with new electrical requirements. Before setting up your office, it’s important to consider the extra electrical load of the lights, printers and computers you will be using and the additional electrical outlets you may need. Juniper Mountain Electric can provide an evaluation of the increased load and estimate of how much it will cost to make the changes.
Without adequate electricity, the power for computers, phones and printers won’t suffice. At the least you will need to replace any existing fuse boxes with new electric panels and consider investing in safety switches and increased wiring throughout your house. This may involve having additional building work done such as structural rewiring which could involve considerable cost and time investment but is usually worth it in order to make sure everything functions correctly while preventing unnecessary safety risks.
By using Juniper Mountain Electric all of the work will be done according to appropriate building codes and your modern home office will work the way it is supposed to.
Contact Juniper Mountain Electric for all your circuit breaker needs.