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Most homes built before 1990 were designed around a 100-amp electrical panel. At the time, that was plenty. A typical household ran a fridge, a stove, some lights and maybe a television. Today the same house might have an EV charger, a heat pump, a home office full of monitors and a kitchen of high-draw appliances.
The panel hasn’t changed. The load has.
Warning signs you need an upgrade
- Breakers that trip often under normal use
- Lights that dim when an appliance turns on
- A panel that’s warm to the touch or smells of burning
- A fuse box instead of breakers, which is a serious safety concern
- A Federal Pacific or Zinsco panel, both of which have documented failure rates
- You’re adding a major appliance, an EV charger or an addition
What the upgrade process looks like
A panel upgrade is permitted electrical work. A licensed electrician takes out a permit, the work is inspected, and the permit is closed when it passes. This isn’t optional. Unpermitted electrical work creates insurance problems and causes trouble when you sell.
The typical process:
- Assessment. The electrician looks at your current panel, your load and what you plan to add.
- Permit. The permit is filed before work begins.
- Power disconnect. The utility disconnects power at the meter, usually booked for the same or next day.
- Panel replacement. The old panel comes out and the new one is installed and wired.
- Inspection. An electrical inspector reviews the work.
- Power reconnect. The utility restores power once the inspection passes.
How long does it take?
For a straightforward swap in an existing home, the electrical work usually takes 4–8 hours. Permits and inspection add time, typically 1–3 weeks depending on inspection scheduling.
If the upgrade is part of a larger renovation or involves rewiring circuits, the timeline grows with it.
200-amp or 400-amp?
Most residential upgrades go from 100-amp to 200-amp service. That covers the vast majority of homes, including EV charging and heat pumps. 400-amp service is usually for large custom homes, properties with big workshop loads, or commercial buildings.
When in doubt, go with 200-amp. It’s the right size for most homes and leaves room for future loads without another upgrade.
CORE Electrical does panel upgrades across Moncton and Greater Moncton. If you’re not sure whether your panel needs attention, a walkthrough assessment is the right first step.
