Electrical Panels: What Every Homeowner Should Know

Trusted Installation, Repair, Replacement and Maintenance by The Wire Doctors, Licensed Electricians in PA & NJ

The electrical panel—also known as a breaker box or service panel—is the heart of your home’s electrical system. Every bit of electricity that powers your lights, outlets, appliances, and HVAC flows through this critical box. When it fails, the results can range from flickering lights to serious fire hazards.

At The Wire Doctors, we help homeowners across Pennsylvania and New Jersey understand, maintain, and replace their electrical panels to keep their homes powered safely and reliably.

What an Electrical Panel Does

The electrical panel is your home’s central connection point to the power grid. It takes electricity from the utility service and distributes it through branch circuits to power everything from your kitchen outlets to your HVAC system. Inside the panel, you’ll find individual circuit breakers—or in older homes, fuses—each responsible for one part of the house.

This panel is owned and maintained by you, the property owner. If it’s damaged, outdated, or overloaded, it’s your responsibility to repair or replace it—not the utility company’s.

Types and Sizes of Panels

Panels are rated by amperage—the amount of electrical current they can safely handle. Here’s what that looks like in practice:

• 100 amps – Common in older homes, but often insufficient for modern needs

• 150 amps – Better for homes with multiple major appliances or additions

• 200 amps – Standard for most newer homes or homes over 2,000 sq. ft.

• 400 amps – For large homes, high-end appliances, EV chargers, or outbuildings

Homes built between 1950–1965 may still use 60-amp fuse boxes, which are considered outdated and a fire risk.

If you’re unsure what size panel your home needs, The Wire Doctors can inspect your setup and make recommendations based on your home’s electrical demands and future plans.

Where to Find the Panel

Electrical panels are typically located out of the way, in places such as:

• Garages (most common)

• Basements

• Utility closets or pantries

• Hallways leading to exterior doors

• Exterior walls (especially on older homes)

If you’re trying to locate your panel, look for the area where utility lines enter your home. The panel is usually just inside or directly beneath that location.

Common Signs You Need Panel Repair or Replacement

Electrical panels don’t last forever. On average, a panel will last 25 to 40 years, but signs of wear may appear much sooner, especially in homes with increasing power demands. You may need panel work if you notice:

• Frequent breaker trips or blown fuses

• Flickering or dimming lights

• A panel that’s hot to the touch

• Visible rust, burn marks, or strange sounds

• Outlets or switches that no longer work reliably

• A need for more circuits than your panel allows

In these cases, our licensed electricians can inspect your system, diagnose the issue, and determine whether repair or full replacement is required.

What’s Inside an Electrical Panel

A typical service panel includes the following components:

• Panel door – The outer metal swing cover

• Main breaker – A large switch that can shut off all power inside the home

• Individual breakers – Switches controlling each circuit (15–20 amps each)

• Lugs – Large terminals that bring utility power into the panel

• Branch wires – Wires that deliver power to different areas of the home

• Spare slots – Empty spaces that allow for future circuit additions

Panels come in both single-phase (residential) and three-phase (commercial) configurations. The Wire Doctors works with both types.

Expanding Your Electrical Capacity

Need more breakers? If your panel still has open slots, we may be able to install additional circuits. However, in older or already maxed-out panels, the solution is to:

• Install a larger main panel (e.g., upgrade from 100A to 200A)

• Add a sub-panel to handle specific areas or appliances

• Use tandem breakers (where allowed) to fit more circuits into the same space

Every home’s needs are different—let us help you determine the safest, most cost-effective option.

Electrical Panel Safety

Panels are built for safety, but working inside them is not risk-free. Even when you shut off the main breaker, live voltage remains on the incoming lines and lugs. Here’s what we always recommend:

• Never touch the service wires or lugs—they remain live, even when the panel is off

• Never work with the protective panel cover removed unless you are trained

• Use only insulated tools and wear protective gear

• Leave panel upgrades or replacements to licensed electricians

We routinely hear from homeowners who began a DIY panel project and realized halfway through it was too dangerous or complex. Call us first—we’ll get it done safely, cleanly, and up to code.

Cost of Panel Repair or Replacement

The cost to upgrade or replace an electrical panel typically ranges from $1,100 to $1,300, depending on the amperage, condition of the existing wiring, and whether additional circuits or equipment are involved. We provide transparent pricing and walk you through every step before starting any work.

Trusted Across Pennsylvania and New Jersey

The Wire Doctors is fully licensed and insured to perform electrical work in both states:

• PA Home Improvement Contractor Registration: PA147302

• NJ Electrical Contractor License: 34EB01305800

We’ve worked with thousands of homeowners across the region to ensure their homes are safe, compliant, and ready for modern power needs.

Need Electrical Panel Help? Contact Us Today.

Whether you’re upgrading an older fuse box, adding new appliances, or experiencing flickering lights and tripped breakers, The Wire Doctors is here to help.

Call (800) 373-7005 or visit thewiredoctors.com to schedule your electrical panel service in PA or NJ.