When 100 Amps Can Still Work
- A smaller home with gas heat, a gas water heater or a gas stove
- No central air, or one small unit
- No plans for an EV charger, hot tub or big addition
Durham Electrical Panel Upgrades Built for the Power Your Home Needs Today
Breakers that keep tripping, an old panel, or plans for an EV charger or new HVAC? Brian Electric LLC replaces worn electrical panels and upgrades homes in Durham to 200 amp service. You get a clear price up front, and we handle the permit and inspection.
- Licensed in North Carolina
- Free estimates
- Permits and inspections handled
What We Do
Panel Upgrade and Replacement Services in Durham
Not every panel job is the same. Some homes need a new panel of the same size. Others need more power coming in from the street. Here is the panel work we do for homes in Durham, NC.
Full Panel Replacement
Your old panel comes out and a new breaker panel goes in, with new breakers and a clear, labeled layout.
Good fit if: The panel is old, rusty or damaged, but your home already has enough power.
100 to 200 Amp Service Upgrade
We raise the power your home can draw by upgrading the panel and the service wires that feed it. This often includes a new meter base.
Good fit if: You are adding an EV charger, heat pump or addition, or the home still runs on 100 amps or less.
Federal Pacific and Zinsco Panel Replacement
We take out these older panels and put in a modern breaker panel. Swapping single breakers does not solve the problem, so the whole panel gets replaced.
Good fit if: Your panel label says Federal Pacific, Stab-Lok or Zinsco, or your insurance company asked you to replace it.
Subpanels for Garages and Additions
A subpanel is a smaller panel fed from your main one. It adds breaker space where you need it, close to the circuits it serves.
Good fit if: You are finishing a basement, building an addition, or need power in a detached garage or workshop.
Fuse Box to Breaker Panel
Still have screw-in fuses? We replace the fuse box with a breaker panel, so a tripped circuit means flipping a switch, not buying fuses.
Good fit if: Fuses blow often, or you are tired of keeping spares in the drawer.
More about fuse box repair and replacement
Know the Signs
Signs Your Home Needs a Panel Upgrade
Your electrical panel sends power to every circuit in your home. When it gets old or can no longer keep up, the signs show up in daily life. Here is what to watch for in your Durham, NC home.
Call Right Away If You Notice
- A burning smell near the panel
- A panel cover that feels warm
- Scorch marks, rust or buzzing inside
These can mean a fire risk. Our emergency electrician line is open 24/7.
Call NowBreakers Trip Often
A breaker that trips now and then is doing its job. One that trips every week, or every time the microwave and toaster run together, points to a panel that is overloaded.
Lights Dim When Things Turn On
Lights that dip when the AC, dryer or well pump starts can mean the panel is struggling to keep up with what your home uses.
The Panel Is 25 Years Old or More
Most panels last 25 to 40 years. If yours came with an older house and has never been replaced, it is worth having it looked at.
A Brand With a Bad Record
Federal Pacific and Zinsco panels have breakers that may not trip when they should. Many insurance companies ask homeowners to replace them.
No Room for New Circuits
Every slot is full, or two wires share one breaker. Adding an EV charger, hot tub or new kitchen needs space the panel does not have.
Still on 60 or 100 Amp Service
Many older homes run on 60 or 100 amps. Central air, electric heat and an EV charger together often call for 200 amps.
Choosing the Right Size
100 Amps or 200 Amps: What Size Does Your Home Need?
Amps measure how much power your home can draw at one time. The right size depends on what runs in your home, not only on how big it is.
When 200 Amps Makes Sense
- An electric heat pump, water heater, range and dryer
- Central air, plus a hot tub, pool or workshop
- An EV charger now or in the next few years
- A remodel or addition that adds new circuits
Adding an EV Charger, Heat Pump or Hot Tub
Each of these needs its own large circuit, often 30 to 60 amps. On a 100 amp panel, one of them can take up most of the spare room. That is why plans for an EV charger often lead to a panel upgrade.
- EV charger
- Heat pump
- Hot tub
- Electric range
- Electric dryer
- Workshop tools
How a Load Calculation Decides
Before we suggest a size, we add up what your home uses: heating and cooling, appliances, lighting and anything you plan to add. This follows the method in the National Electrical Code. It shows whether your current service can handle the load or needs an upgrade.
How It Works
What Happens During a Panel Upgrade
A panel upgrade takes some planning. Here is each step, including when your power will be off, so you can plan your day around it.
Estimate and Load Calculation
We look at your panel, meter and wiring, run a load calculation and give you a price.
Permit
We apply for the electrical permit with the local inspections office before the job is scheduled.
Power Shut Off
On the day of the job, power to the house is shut off. For a service upgrade, the power company handles this step at the meter.
New Panel Goes In
We take out the old panel, mount the new one, connect each circuit and label every breaker.
Inspection
A local inspector checks the work. Some jobs need this approval before the power company reconnects service.
Power Back On
Power is restored. We test the circuits and walk you through the new panel and its labels.
Tip for the day: charge your phones the night before and keep the fridge and freezer closed while the power is off.
Upgrade Costs
What Affects the Cost of a Panel Upgrade in Durham?
Every panel upgrade is priced after we see the home. These four things make the biggest difference to the cost of an electrical panel upgrade in Durham, NC.
Panel Size and Brand
The amp rating, the brand and the number of breaker spaces all change the price of the panel itself.
Meter Base and Service Wires
A service upgrade often needs a new meter base and heavier wires from the meter to the panel. A same-size swap usually does not.
Moving the Panel
Keeping the panel in the same spot costs less. Moving it, for example out of a closet or bathroom, means extending every circuit to the new spot.
Code Updates Found During the Job
Current code may call for better grounding, AFCI breakers or surge protection. If your job needs any of these, we tell you up front.
Free estimates on every panel upgrade
You get the full price before any work starts. No surprises once the old panel comes off the wall.
Why Choose Us
Why Choose Our Durham Electrician for Your Panel Upgrade?
A panel upgrade touches every circuit in your home. You want it done right the first time, by someone who explains each step.
Licensed in North Carolina
Panel work needs a licensed electrician who knows the code and builds work that passes inspection.
15+ Years in Local Homes
Years of work in homes across the Triangle means few surprises when the old panel comes off the wall.
Bonded and Insured
Your home is covered while we work on the heart of its electrical system.
Straight Answers
If your panel can be repaired instead of replaced, we tell you. You get a clear price before any work starts.
- 5.0 Google rating from 14 reviews
- Free estimates
- No extra charge for nights or weekends
Service Area
Panel Upgrades in Durham and the Triangle
We are based in Durham and upgrade panels for homes across the Triangle. Call to check if we serve your town.
Neighborhoods We Serve
View All Service AreasFAQ
Electrical Panel Upgrade FAQs
Not sure what size panel you need? Call and tell us what you plan to add. We will help you figure it out.
Call (984) 271-2113Do I need a permit to upgrade my panel in Durham?
Yes. Panel replacements and service upgrades need an electrical permit and an inspection. We apply for the permit and set up the inspection for you.
How long does a panel upgrade take?
A same-size panel swap is often done in one day. A service upgrade can take longer, because the power company and the inspector both need to fit into the schedule. You get a time frame with your estimate.
Will my power be off during the upgrade?
Yes, for part of the day. The power has to be off while the old panel comes out and the new one goes in. We tell you ahead of time so you can plan around it.
Do I need a new panel to install an EV charger?
Not always. A Level 2 charger needs its own circuit, often 40 to 50 amps. If your panel has space and the load calculation shows room, the charger can go on your current panel. If not, the upgrade comes first.
Should I repair or replace my electrical panel?
A loose connection or one bad breaker can often be repaired. Rust, burn marks, a problem brand or a panel with no free spaces usually means replacement. We tell you which one makes sense after we look at it.
Can a new panel help with home insurance?
It can. Some insurance companies charge more for, or refuse to cover, homes with Federal Pacific, Zinsco or fuse panels. Ask your insurer what they need. Your permit and inspection records show the new panel was done to code.