Commercial Electrical Panel Upgrades


Are you due for an electrical panel upgrade? Your business may be operating with insufficient wiring and you don’t even know it. Buildings with outdated wiring are at risk of power outages, lost information, and electrical fires. Many buildings in the Santa Ana area have been updated or renovated without touching the electrical panel. This is bad news! Call My Santa Ana Electrician Hero to find out if your building could benefit from a new electrical panel or circuit upgrades.

Electrical Panel Basics

The average person doesn’t need to know everything about electrical panels, but a bit of basic knowledge can help you identify potential problems. When power from the utility company reaches your building, it travels through a meter box first and then to the electrical panel. This panel houses circuits that deliver power in small batches to the outlets and switches in your building. If any part of this process is disrupted, the safety and productivity of your business and its employees could be at risk. You may think that your building has an approved commercial electrical panel, but that’s not always the case. Some buildings, especially those that were converted from residential to commercial, may operate on antiquated electrical systems that do not meet current codes.

Did you know? The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) require commercial electrical panels with a “dead front.” This is a safety feature that protects a person from being exposed to electricity and at risk of electric shock.

How do I find my building’s electrical panel?

The electrical panel is a gray or metal box. It should be located in an area of the building that easily accessible, but also out of the way so that the panel isn’t blocked. Blocked electrical boxes are an OSHA and NFPA safety violation. Sometimes the panel may also be attached to an exterior wall.

Need help finding your building’s electrical panel? Give us a call. We’ll be happy to send a licensed electrician near you to help you find it.

Commercial Electrical Panel Upgrade Checklist

Do any of the following situations sound familiar? If so, get in touch with a Santa Ana electrician right away for a safety inspection and professional recommendations.

  • Rusted breakers or panel
  • Electrical service conductors are overheating
  • Sounds coming from the electrical panel
  • Your business relies on extension cords too often
  • Equipment is not operating at full power
  • Power spikes and surges
  • You recently installed new, heavy-duty equipment (servers, copiers, printers, etc.)
  • Recent renovations to your business
  • Business has a fuse block or split bus panel (this technology is not up to NEC code and extremely dangerous)
  • Your building only has two-prong outlets or you need additional grounded outlets installed
  • Your insurance policy requires new electrical panel upgrade service

Always Opt for Professional Electrical Panel Installation and Maintenance

Electrical repair, installation, and maintenance services should always be performed by a licensed electrician. Only professionals with in-depth knowledge and experience should touch your building’s wiring. While you may think it’s a good idea to assign these jobs to your janitorial or maintenance staff, you could be putting them in danger of electrocution and your company at risk of a liable suit.

Whether you need sub-panel installation, whole-building commercial rewiring, or another electrical service, give us a call. Our electrical panel repair services are guaranteed to meet local building codes, NEC codes, and come with the peace of mind that your upgrades were done correctly.

To schedule an appointment with a commercial electrician, call us at (714) 881-5510. We offer free estimates and 24-hour emergency electrical services.

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