Summary
Most modern office buildings have numerous appliances and gadgets that need power. However, due to the increased demand for energy, traditional electric panels might be unable to handle the load, leading to inefficient distribution, overloading, electric fire, and shock.
As a business owner, upgrading to a smart electric panel can improve your electric panel’s capacity and ensure improved safety. Smart panels allow for increased monitoring, which helps you track consumption, and they also serve as an early warning system for potential issues before they become significant.
Other benefits include remote access and management, increased efficiency, lower electric bills, and even improved property value.
Table of Contents
Introduction
The electrical output determines efficiency in modern office buildings. These buildings are expected to power many appliances, including laptops, computer systems, factories, and charge phones. However, your office buildings are sometimes not equipped to handle the electrical load it consumes. This could lead to fire, explosion, and loss of properties.
That is where getting a smart electric panel upgrade comes in. This article examines the signs that your office building might need a fuse box upgrade, the benefits of the upgrade, processes, considerations, and how to choose the perfect electrical partner for your fuse upgrade.
However, before we start, let’s have a brief introduction to smart electric panels.
Understanding Smart Electric Panels
Smart electric panels are advanced electronic monitoring systems. They operate similarly to traditional fuse boxes but incorporate modern technologies to manage and monitor energy consumption and output. They also offer an extra layer of security to prevent overloads.
In an office building, a smart electric panel helps optimize energy consumption, cut costs, and gives you remote access to the central unit.
What is a Smart Electric Panel Upgrade?
A smart panel upgrade is an upgrade to an advanced version of the traditional fuse box. This upgrade equips your panel with advanced monitoring and management functions, making it easier to monitor energy usage.
Smart panels also give you access to real-time data, remote control capabilities, and increased efficiency. They allow business owners to see exactly how much energy each office uses and will enable them to turn circuits on or off remotely.
Benefits of Smart Electric Panels
1. Manage Electricity Load
Smart electric panels give you better control over the load in your circuit breaker. This means you can control and divert electricity as you deem fit and prevent overload. Most modern offices have appliances that need electricity, including laptops, computers, HVAC units, breakroom fridges, and more. Upgrading your electric panel to fit these appliances and the load they consume will take time and cost too much money.
2. Real-Time Energy Consumption Data
Monitoring energy consumption gives you the data required to make informed decisions on optimizing your electric consumption.
3. Control Which Circuits to Energize
Another benefit of smart panels is that they let you choose which circuits to power and prevent the overloading of your circuit breaker. You can also remotely turn off the electric panel in an office setting to save energy.
4. Improved Safety
Unlike traditional electric panels, smart panels enhance safety and ensure that common electrical problems like overloading circuits, shocks, and fire can be easily prevented.
5. Save on Electric Bills
The ability to divert power to specific circuits and switch to alternative power sources is an important aspect of smart electric panels, which can help business owners reduce their electric bills.
Signs Your Office Needs an Electrical Panel Upgrade
An outdated electrical panel is a walking disaster, and as a business owner, you need to recognize those signs before it becomes a serious problem. Here are some clues that your office needs an upgrade:
1. Aging or Outdated Electrical Systems
If your electrical panels and circuits are outdated or used for several decades, your building will benefit from a fuse box upgrade. Older fuse boxes do not meet the required safety standards or cannot handle modern energy demands. A smart electric panel upgrade will scale your system to meet your consumption and safety demands.
Frequent circuit breaker trips, noise from the panel, and overheating are some signs that your electrical system is outdated.
2. Increased Electrical Demands
If you plan to expand business operations or accommodate more appliances, you will need more energy to power your building. It is then critical that you upgrade existing electrical panels to meet your office’s new power demands.
When you load new appliances on existing panels, you risk electrical issues like fire, shock, explosion, burnt fuses, etc. In the long run, the damage might include property loss.
The Process of Upgrading to a Smart Electric Panel
Upgrading your outdated electric panel is a crucial step towards optimizing energy usage and enhancing the safety of your office building. However, while anybody can identify the signs of an outdated fuse box, it takes a professional to plan and implement a smart electric panel upgrade. The following are the steps for a fuse box upgrade:
1. Assessment and Evaluation
Before any work begins, you must get a licensed electrician to inspect your home’s electrical panel thoroughly. The inspection will assess your current wiring and circuit breakers to determine if an upgrade is necessary.
2. Planning and Permits
Proper permits are required to ensure compliance with state codes and national requirements for a smart panel upgrade. When we determine that an upgrade is necessary, Tercero Inc. will handle all the planning and permits needed.
3. Installation and Upgrade Process
A fuse box upgrade typically takes less than a day to complete. All it takes is replacing the old panel with the new one and testing it to ensure functionality at all levels. When the installation is complete, the electrician will give you a walk-through on remotely accessing the panel and provide monitoring and safety tips.
Cost Considerations for Upgrading Electrical Panels
Upgrading to a smart electric panel has a higher initial cost, but the investment is worth it in the long run. However, even with a higher initial cost, some factors may bump or reduce your cost and help your budget.
Factors Influencing the Cost
- Panel Size and Capacity: The size and capacity of the panels you choose directly impact the price. For instance, smaller 100-amp panels are less expensive but have lower capacity. An office building would typically need larger panels with 200-amp or 400-amp capacity.
- Labor Costs: Another factor that affects the cost of a fuse box upgrade is the complexity of the installation process. Modern offices often require additional wiring instead of a straight-up upgrade, which may increase costs.
Return on Investment (ROI)
The return on investment in electrical panel upgrades could come in the form of the following:
- Energy savings: Smart panels help optimize energy usage and reduce electricity bills by at least 10-20%.
- Increased property value: If you own an office building, investing in a smart electric panel can boost its value by 3-5%.
- Safety features: Smart panels reduce the risk of electrical fires, shock, and explosion.
- Maintenance cost: Smart panels can help reduce maintenance and repair costs by identifying issues before they become significant problems.
Choosing the Right Electrician in Los Angeles
Selecting the best electrician in Los Angeles is very important when it comes to ensuring the safety and functionality of your business. Hiring a qualified electrician can also save you from potential dangers and costly errors. Here are some tips for choosing the right electrician in Los Angeles:
- Verify license and insurance
- Check for experience and specialization
- Read reviews and ask for references
- Compare quotes and pricing
- Warranty and guarantees
Questions to Ask Potential Electricians
- Do you offer guarantees?
- Are you licensed?
- Can you provide references?
- Do you hold any certifications?
- What are your specialties?
- Will this project require a permit?
- How long will the project take?
- What does your estimate include?
Conclusion
Whether you want to increase your panel’s capacity or upgrade for safety, Tercero Inc. provides solutions that suit your needs and budget. Our technicians are licensed, bonded, and certified in commercial lighting, fuse box upgrades, and repairs. Contact Tercero Inc. today to get a quote for your upgrade.
FAQs
Some benefits of upgrading electrical panels include improved efficiency, better safety features, and reduced electricity bills.
Smart electrical panels make it easy to monitor energy usage and reduce consumption when necessary.
You should upgrade your electrical panel when it is outdated or can no longer meet your electricity demands.
The price of electric panels varies according to their prizes and capacity. An upgrade is expensive because of the cost of the panel itself and associated labor costs.
An electrical panel upgrade refers to replacing your traditional panels with modern and more efficient ones.
