New Electrical Circuits

About New Electrical Circuits

Just because you have sufficient power for your home now is no guarantee that it is going to accommodate any additional demands that you place upon it. While many homeowners are under the impression that just adding circuits to the breaker box will handle any additional demands, this isn’t always the case.

Most homes are outfitted with an electrical panel that is suited to its electrical requirements, with a little room for increased electricity. Adding a circuit or two might be just fine to accommodate your new electrical needs, but it’s quite easy to exceed the safe threshold if you’re not careful.

Instead of just adding circuits in the hope that it will be enough for your needs, it’s best to have your circuits and electrical panel evaluated by a certified Sanford Electrician. 

When do you need to look into adding circuits or updating your electrical panel?

Any time you add an appliance to your home, you are increasing the demand on the electrical system. Consult with a licensed electrician before hooking up a major appliance to determine if your system is ready for the added load.

  • Whenever you set up a big holiday light display, this is one of the leading causes for needing upgraded circuits.
  • EV Car Chargers will require there own 120 Volt or 240 Volt electrical circuit.
  • Hot tubs draw a lot of electricity and are almost always a time for a new circuit installation and potentially upgrading your electrical panel.
  • If adding a new room to your house or other additional square footage is added, this will need to be accommodated by adding one or more new circuits to the system. Depending on the size and electrical requirements of your addition, the increase in amperage could require updating the electric panel as the only viable option.

If you’re unsure about the best course of action, consult with the professionals at Red Elk Electric. 

 

New Electrical Circuits FAQs

How do I install a circuit breaker?

When you want to install a new circuit, you must open a slot in your circuit breaker panel to allow space for the new circuit. You will want to work in the daytime as your electrical will need to be turned off for the duration of the install.

What is a dedicated electrical circuit?

Intended for single appliance use only, a dedicated circuit is a circuit that has it’s own circuit breaker in the electrical box. This ensures that appliances that need a lot of energy can use that energy without overloading your electrical system.

What is an electrical sub panel?

An electrical sub-panel is a middleman for the main service panel and the branch circuits located further away. It is also known as a service sub-panel or a breaker sub-panel. An electrical sub-panel can also be thought of as a mini service panel.

What is a home run in electrical?

A home run is an electrical cable that connects the main circuit breaker panel to the first electrical plug, box, or switch located in the circuit.