Why Outdated Electrical Panels Are Still Used In Most Homes
I recently learned that most homes in the United States still have outdated electrical panels. As an electrical engineer, this surprised me. After doing some research, I realized there are several reasons why homeowners continue to use obsolete panels despite the risks. In this article, I'll explain what electrical panels do, the dangers of outdated versions, and why they remain so common.
What Are Electrical Panels and What Do They Do?
An electrical panel, also called a breaker box, is the central hub that routes electricity throughout a home. It distributes power from the utility company or generator to all the individual circuits in the house.
The panel contains three key components:
- Main breaker - This is the master shutoff switch that controls power to the entire panel.
- Circuit breakers - These are the individual switches that control power to specific circuits. Each circuit powers certain rooms or areas of the house.
- Bus bars - These thick strips of metal distribute electricity from the main breaker to each individual circuit breaker.
The main purposes of an electrical panel are:
- Safety - The circuit breakers trip or shut off when there is an overload or short circuit. This helps prevent fires and shocks.
- Control - The panel allows you to easily shut off power to certain circuits for maintenance and repairs.
- Distribution - It divvies up electricity and delivers it at safe amperages to each part of the home.
Dangers of Outdated Electrical Panels
There are two primary risks posed by outdated electrical panels:
Insufficient Circuit Breakers
Older panels often have very few circuit breakers compared to modern homes. Some only have 4 to 8 circuits for the whole house! This can overload the circuits and make them prone to tripping, overheating, or even fire.
New homes usually have at least 20 circuits to distribute electrical loads more evenly.
Lack of Safety Features
Circuit breakers in old panels lack basic safety mechanisms found in modern versions, such as:
- Arc fault detection - Shuts off power in the event of dangerous sparking or arcing that could ignite a fire.
- Ground fault detection - Immediately cuts off electricity if a short circuit is detected to prevent shocks.
- AFCI protection - Detects "series" arcs along damaged wires and stops them before they cause a fire.
Without these safeguards, old panels put homes at much higher risk of electrical fires and other hazards.
Why Are They Still So Common?
If old electrical panels are so dangerous, why are they still found in a majority of homes? There are a few key reasons:
Cost of Upgrade
Replacing an electrical panel is expensive, often costing between $1,500 to $3,000. Many homeowners put off this major upgrade due to the high costs. Financial constraints likely play a role in keeping old panels from being replaced sooner.
Lack of Problems
If the original panel is still functioning properly with no tripping issues or failures, many homeowners don't consider proactive replacement a priority. Since problems aren't overtly evident, they maintain the status quo.
Disruption
Installing a new panel requires turning off power to the whole house. For households juggling work and family schedules, finding a good multi-day window for temporary loss of electricity can be difficult. Avoiding this disruption motivates putting off an upgrade.
Grandfathered Approval
In many cases, existing older panels were code compliant when they were installed decades ago. Local jurisdictions "grandfather" them in and don't require upgrades as long as the system works fine. Their original approval enables continued use.
Lack of Awareness
Many homeowners simply aren't aware their old panel poses safety risks. Without education on why upgrades are recommended, they assume the original system is adequate. Greater public awareness could motivate more proactive upgrades.
Conclusion
Outdated electrical panels persist in the majority of American homes due to cost, inconvenience, grandfathered status, lack of overt problems, and general lack of public awareness. However, older panels have severe safety limitations like insufficient circuits and lack of arc fault or ground fault protection. I strongly recommend homeowners have a qualified electrician inspect panels over 20 years old and provide quotes for replacement. Though expensive, an upgraded panel greatly reduces fire and shock risks by distributing power more safely throughout your home.