Your home’s electrical panel is the heart of its electrical system. Also known as a load center and, more commonly, as the breaker box, this critical component takes an electrical current from a utility company and distributes it throughout your house. From the electrical panel, the power supply to every part of a home can be turned on or off. Notably, electrical panels should not be confused with subpanels. A subpanel only controls the power in a portion of a home and is powered by energy from an electrical panel rather than the raw electrical current from the utility company.
Electrical panels do so much more for your home than distribute electricity through it; they also provide a crucial layer of protection. Every electrical panel is filled with circuit breakers. If the electrical current becomes too strong in your home, these breakers flip and cut the power to the area of a home receiving too much power.
There are two types of circuit breakers:
While many electrical panels last for years, some of them don’t stand up well to the test of time. Aging, design issues, and quality problems can make certain types of electrical panels unsafe and require replacement as soon as possible. Mister Sparky® of Augusta is ready to come to your home, inspect your panel, and replace it as needed.
Find out more about unsafe electrical panels by reading below and then call Mister Sparky® of Augusta for help at (706) 607-6812.
If you own a home that was built before 1990, there’s a chance that you have one of four types of electrical panels that don't meet modern safety standards. Having an unsafe electrical panel is a gamble that no homeowner should take for the protection of their property and the wellbeing of their family.
In the 1970s, Zinsco (also known as GTE-Sylvania) panels were installed in homes around the nation. While the company no longer exists, many homes still have its panels today. Production of Zinsco panels was stopped after critical design flaws were discovered with them.
At the root of their danger in an aluminum bus bar, a component that can overheat, melt, and cause breakers to fail to trip. Notably, this design flaw can make a breaker appear as though it is tripped while still being active. Panels branded as GTE-Sylvania might be rebranded versions of Zinsco panels and should be inspected by an electrician.
For about 30 years, FPE electrical panels were some of the most popular in the United States. However, they are known to have issues with their double and single pole breakers. Some circumstances can cause these breakers to not trip when they need to, allowing a dangerous amount of electricity to continue flowing to a section of a house.
When breakers fail to trip when needed, a fire can start in overloaded electrical systems. These panels can work correctly for years before a short circuit causes them to overheat and potentially catch fire.
A bus is the part of an electrical panel that connects to the breaker and provides power to a home. When a breaker is not touching a panel’s bus, the power to its section is turned off. Modern electric panels have a single metal bus that’s connected to each individual circuit breaker.
An example of a split-bus electrical panel.
Decades ago, circuit breakers had a split bus that connected to two main breakers. This style hasn’t been used in so long that any split-bus circuit breakers still in use today should be replaced. While split-bus panels aren’t particularly unsafe, ones that are still in use have far outlived their lifespan and may not work as intended. Split-bus electrical panels are identifiable if a group of breakers are wired to a set of main breakers above them.
Before electrical panels used breakers, they used fuses to shut off power to problematic electrical currents. They work by burning out once too much current has passed through them. To fix a burnt fuse, homeowners had to replace them. While they served their purpose effectively during their time, they aren’t safe for use in homes today because they weren’t designed with to meet the demands of modern electrical use.
Fuse boxes have fewer circuits, making it easy to place too much strain on a single circuit. In some instances, a fuse might be replaced with a larger one to stop it from blowing as often. This practice is dangerous because it might provide wires with more current than they are designed to carry. Finally, fuses should never be replaced or bridged using metal. Doing so removes all safeguards provides by fuses and circuit breakers and makes an electrical panel incredibly prone to overheating and catching fire.
If your home has any of the panels above, or are not sure if yours is safe, Mister Sparky® of Augusta is ready to help! Our team of highly trained electricians are ready to come to your home, inspect your system, and replace your old unsafe panel with a modern one today. Safety and quality are always our top priorities, and we’re ready to help you explore options that work with your needs and budget.
At Mister Sparky® of Augusta, we’re always on time, friendly, and back our work with a 100% satisfaction guarantee so you can trust that we’re always working to solve electrical problems the correct way. Call us today to find out why your neighbors already trust our Augusta electricians! We handle all types of electrical panel repair, installation, and maintenance.
Call Mister Sparky® of Augusta to replace your aging and unsafe electrical panels today. We’re standing by to answer your questions at (706) 607-6812.
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Lawrence’s workmanship is superb! He isolated several electrical issues in my house and promptly fixed them. During his visit he explained the electrical faults, repaired them and made recommendations about safely using the outlets and not overloading them. His demeanor and attitude demonstrated that he cares about his customers by taking the time to thoroughly review his work with them.
Power suddenly cut out on a portion of my house and garage. When I went into the garage to check the breaker I noticed a burn smell. After checking the breaker and noticing that none had popped, I flipped the breaker for the garage and called Mister Sparky. The staff was very helpful and quickly understood that i needed an electrician quickly and got me set up with Stuart. Stuart was able to come out after he was done with his already full schedule, which is greatly appreciated considering it was a short notice call. He was able to isolate the problem area quickly and was very thorough. He found the outlet that had partially melted and quickly removed and replaced the outlet and corrected the problematic wiring so this issue wouldn't happen again. Stuart was very professional and knowledgeable. He provided a lot of insight as to how and why this issue occurred. Will definitely go to Mister Sparky for future electrical issues and business.
Stuart and his crew did an absolutely amazing job from start to finish! This was a large and complex project, composed of several smaller jobs that required meticulous planning and a high level of attention to detail. The work included rewiring the detached garage, installing a brand-new car charger, and removing an old, outdated charger. Additionally, extensive trench work was performed, despite a large underground stump, ensuring both durability and safety. What truly stood out was the team's dedication to adhering strictly to electrical codes and always seeking the best possible solutions. Stuart demonstrated exceptional problem-solving skills, quickly identifying and addressing any issues that arose during the project. His expertise ensured that everything was not only completed successfully but executed to perfection and to my satisfaction. The professionalism extended beyond just the technical work. Stuart's staff was courteous, reliable, and communicated effectively throughout the entire process. They promptly answered phone calls, sent timely text updates about their arrival, and provided clear, detailed invoices via email. Their responsiveness made the entire experience smooth and stress-free. I couldn’t be more pleased with their work. The combination of technical excellence, problem-solving capability, and outstanding customer service truly sets them apart. This team deserves a solid 10/10 for their exceptional performance and dedication. Highly recommended for any electrical projects, big or small!
Your team didn’t do a good job, they did a GREAT job. They are top of the line professionals. The generator itself is being set in place today. We are VERY please with the crew. (9/11). Today (9/12) the generator was set and connected to the home. The Mr. Sparky team at my home coordinated well with Dixie LP Gas to set and connect the propane tank and then Columbia County to perform the electrical inspection. Everything went smoothly and now I am ready for the next power outage. An overall GREAT job!! I highly recommend them to anyone looking for a whole-home generator.
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