Maybe Get a New Electrical Panel

Some may say that the surge protection is bad for your sound and I wouldn't doubt it. I've steered clear of this for that reason, and believe me, in Florida we need it. Hope someone here will comment on this from experience.

There is a deal through a company offering a new electrical panel with whole house surge protection for $949, the regular price is $2495.

Sounds like a scam to me. Over 60% off the regular price?....

our lights dim even when turning on something like an iron to iron clothes and finally, it could save a little money on the electric bill.

That could be normal... The branch circuit the iron is being plugged into could be 15 amp and the lights that are dimming could be fed from the same 15 amp branch circuit. What else is fed from the branch circuit?

Depending where you live and the requirements of local codes in your area you may have to bring your whole house up to current code if you want to change out the electrical panel. That could be how the electrical contractor is getting his foot in the door with the ridiculously low price of $949.00.

Does the existing panel have a main breaker? What is the handle rating? 60 amp? 100 amp?
Jim
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Foster9, Jim is on the right track. Your iron has nothing to do with getting surge protection.

IMO- If you can't do this yourself, you'd be better off getting an electrician to give you a breakdown of your circuits and usage. See if you can wire a new dedicated circuit for your equipment, and purchase a power conditioner such as a Furman.

And, get a different electrician than the one offering you the deal for the panel!
Kenny

I am sure the materials used in your 1965 panel are much higher quality than the materials used today. Beside, an electrical panel for $949? I agree with what Elizabeth said "a chunk of crap".

Sounds like a scam to me. Over 60% off the regular price?....
05-15-12: Jea48

Jea48, no, this is not a scam. The offer is made through Angie's List. The company that would do the work received an Angie's List Super Service Award. The companies I have hired from Angie's List have generally been good to great. Yes, the panel has a main breaker- not sure of the amps.

Rrog, the normal price for the panel installation is $2495. The discount is a limited time offer made to Angie's List memebers. The regular price is not $949. I believe you could be right about the quality of the panel I have vs a newer panel.

Foster_9,

Materials alone would cost more than $949.00

To change the electrical panel out the power company will need to pull the electric meter.

Depending where you live the AHJ (Authority Having Jurisdiction) may require an electrical permit.

If that is the case the power company may be required to get a release from the AHJ.

And at that point the $949.00 could turn into thousands of dollars..... Depends on if the house has to be brought up to meet current code.

You could call your Building Inspection Department and ask.

To put the cost in perspective, I have been quoted between 1500 and 2000 for a new panel. My old one has aluminum bars which are corroding and the breakers are obsolete and hard to find. This is Florida and I believe a permit is required from the county. I know this job takes time and involves a service from Fla Power and Light, but do the parts really cost that much? I see breakers for $4.00 at home depot. Other than that it's just a box and buss bars. Pardon my ignorance if I am missing something here.
Anyone out there have an opinion on whether the Surge Protector is good or bad?

The material cost probably comes from the surge protector. I'm pretty sure the protection is installed before the panel, so you probably have a somewhat permanent problem if you don't like what it does to your sound.

Not sure what the surge protection does to improve your AC if it's not conditioning. Definitely, a worthwhile endeavor to fully investigate this system before leaping.

Thanks for the feedback from all of you. All things considrered, I will likely not go this route.

You can get a quality "value" pack (w/30a/50a and 20a breakers inc.) for around $120 @ HD. Homeline or GE. Top of the line Homeline "QO" panel box around $180. So, for just a panel change out $900- 1000 is fair. Are you out of circuits (spaces) in your panel box? How many amps is your old panel box? Not sure about whole home surge protection, but GE makes a product which fits in your panel box. around $60. How well it protects I do not know. I'd ask the company doing the work a few questions and then decide. Your lights are dimming b/c your iron is on the same circuit. You'll need more circuit runs which will require additional work. If you install a new 200amp panel box you'll have up to 40 circuits. Good Luck

Kotta,

The Square D Homeline was designed to compete with the likes of GE and ITE. Load center panel with cheap aluminum bus.

The Square D QO load center on the other hand is a good load center panel with plated copper bus. The QO breakers are also good quality breakers.

As for the HD pricing surely you would not expect an electrical contractor to send an employee to HD to buy the panel and breakers and then only charge the customer the actual HD cost.

Foster_9,

Materials alone would cost more than $949.00
05-15-12: Jea48

It is possible to buy a load center with aluminum bus, breakers, and a whole house Surge Protection Device for under $300.00..... Quality of ??

If an electrical permit will be pulled add the cost of the permit.

Good chance the AHJ will require AFCI, (arc fault breakers), for the 120V 15 amp branch circuits that feed the bedrooms. (NEC 2002)
An AFCI costs around $42.00 each at HD.

The AHJ may not have adopted the NEC 2008 code change for additional AFCI protection required for other 120V 15 and 20 amp branch circuits.

Good chance the electrical service Grounding Electrode System will need to be updated to meet current code as well as the power company's grounding requirements for lightning protection.
Add material and labor costs + markup.

The wire from the meter socket to the new panel may not be long enough to terminate on the main breaker lugs and the neutral bus lug.
Unless you specify otherwise the contractor will have his electrician install aluminum wire.
Add material and labor + markup.

There is a deal through a company offering a new electrical panel with whole house surge protection for $949, the regular price is $2495.

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Jim

If he has to bring up to current code, then he would most likely have to have AFCI breakers for the bedrooms. (Around $40 ea.) As well as two grounding rods. (His current ground wire may be only on the cold water pipe?) He may need a new meter base and service entrance wire. No obligation in asking. Just know the right questions to ask. Don't be pressured into buying now. Bill