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The last 20 years of Home Power Have Been Amazing

In the late 1990s I installed my first electric panels. Mostly for the sake of running a safe woodworking workshop but also to enable the multiple window units and my partner and my offices, plus the TV and stereo, of course.

At that time whole house surge protectors were available but not required. Being an IT guy in a storm prone area of course I went for it. Otherwise however breakers were rather similar to those from the original mid 1960s versions. I mean, I’m sure there were improvements in panel technology and how breakers were manufactured but for the home there were really only two aspects you needed to care about:

  • Current capacity
  • Poles (1 or 2)

And for the home owner that’s were things stood for almost 40 years. In the last 20 years though much has changed. Arc fault (AFCI or CAFCI) first required in 2002 for bedrooms. Now (since 2017) they are required practically everywhere in a home. Whole house SPDs (surge protectors) are required from 2020.

Most recently, the 2023 NEC greatly expanded the use of Ground Fault (GFCI) protection. GFCI’s which were limited to kitchen and bath outlets are now required for your washer and dryer, microwave, range, dishwasher and (in my case) garbage disposal. Take a look at any modern panel. You’ll see 4 different types of breakers:

  • Old fashioned
  • GFCI (white test button)
  • CAFCI (dark blue test button)
  • Combined GFCI + CAFCI (pale blue test button)

And outlets? Have you noticed weather resistant (WR, 2008) or tamper resistant (TR, 2008) requirements? In addition to GFCI requirements. Sheesh. It’s a marvel any electrician can keep them all straight, let alone a home owner.

Of all these improvements though the only one I'd suggest you rush out and get is the whole house surge suppressor unless your breaker panel is running 40 years old in which case a replacement may be a good idea soon.

erik_squires
goodlistening64
105 posts
 

@carlsbad2 

While diaphragm gas meters are commonplace, your gas company should be actively looking to replace them as smart meters provide remote billing and can detect leaks. Kind of a thing nowadays ensure a house doesn't blow up!

There is evidence that home gas explosions are on the rise and gas utility companies are held responsible for leaks that cause those explosions. And, of course, insurance companies pay for those damages so gas companies are on the hook to fix their own issues; not the homeowner. If explosions are up, insurance companies know it, and unless the gas utility upgrades their meters, their insurance premiums will go up, forcing change.

Your gas company should be actively looking to replace those meters and would be required to install it 3 feet or more away from the electrical meter to meet today's code requirements. 

While my house was built in 2011, our natural gas company just last week sent us a notice that they will replace the diaphragm meters this year; and ours in particular in just a couple of weeks. 

You should have a grandfather clause on your meter location and while it may not be up to code at this time, they cannot (IMHO) force a homeowner to fix a code issue, especially when the utility must be the one to do the work. It is their network; their risk. 

If I had the issue you have, I would call the gas company and tell them you sometimes smell gas outside your home and would like it checked out. That should get the ball rolling quite quickly to have your meter replaced.

carlsbad2's avatar
carlsbad2
1,732 posts
 

@goodlistening64 The gas company is quite aware of it. they are grandfathered. Nothing needs to change until you try to pull a permit to work on either the gas meter or the electrical panel. then CA makes you bring your installation up to code. While there may be a slight risk to having them right beside each other, it is tiny compared to the risk of the FPE breakers staying installed for who knows how long.

And the gas company has replaced the gas meter, the electric company has replaced the electric meter.  No indication of any interest in moving either of them.  they are grandfathered.

 

Jerry

mickeyb
584 posts
 

Don’t get me going in 50$ arc fault breakers and their failure rate. Complete bs. They cause more problems than their supposed safety value. 

curiousjim's avatar
curiousjim
4,847 posts
 

@erik_squires 

forgot to ask, why do I want a whole house surge protector when everything important is either on a power conditioner, with a magnetic surge protector or a UPS for the computers, NAS, Router etc?  Would I need one for the sub panel?  And what is involved in installing one or maybe two whole house surge protectors?

hickamore
681 posts
 

@erik_squires Many of us feel power amps sound best when plugged directly into the wall outlets. But these amps tend to have good internal protection. Obviously whole house surge protection would help shield other costly appliances, but how valuable for good power amps?

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