100-amp panels can't keep up with modern loads — EV chargers, heat pumps, and induction cooktops pull more than they were designed for. We upgrade to 200 or 400 amps, replace the meter base if Duke Energy requires it, and label every circuit.
We check your existing panel's capacity, available slots, bus rating, and condition. If it's a Federal Pacific or Zinsco, it goes — period.
Itemized quote with everything listed. Hardware at cost, labor separate. Same number on the quote and the invoice.
Old panel out, new panel in. Every circuit labeled, every connection torqued. Permitted through New Hanover County.
We show you the new panel, explain the breaker layout, and hand over the inspection paperwork. Duke Energy reconnects the same day.
If any of these sound familiar, your panel is either at capacity or past its useful life. Either way, it's worth a look.
Running the microwave and hair dryer shouldn't trip a breaker. If it does, your panel is overloaded or the breakers are worn out.
A panel that's warm to the touch or making noise has loose connections or overloaded circuits. Both are fire hazards.
100 amps was fine in 1985. Add a heat pump, electric range, and a couple of window units — you're already past capacity.
An EV charger pulls 40–60 amps. A generator transfer switch needs dedicated space. Hot tubs draw 40–50 amps. Your panel needs room for all of it.
Insurers are flagging Federal Pacific, Zinsco, and old fuse boxes. Some won't renew the policy until the panel is replaced. We handle it.
Screw-in fuses, split-bus panels, and anything with cloth wiring inside is past due. These weren't built for what homes draw today. Time to swap it out.
Pricing depends on whether the meter base needs replacing and the scope of work. We quote everything itemized before starting.
Most jobs are done in a day. Meter base replacement might push to a day and a half. Duke Energy reconnects same day or next.
Yes. Every panel upgrade in New Hanover County requires a permit and inspection. We pull the permit and schedule the inspection.
Yes, power is off during the swap — typically 4–6 hours. We coordinate with Duke Energy for the disconnect and reconnect.
200 amps handles most homes. If you're adding an EV charger, generator, pool equipment, AND a workshop — 400 might make sense. We'll tell you which one you actually need.
We install electrical panel upgrades across the Wilmington area — from older homes in Landfall and Forest Hills to beach houses in Wrightsville Beach and Carolina Beach. Salt air corrodes connections faster down here, and a lot of the panels we replace in Kure Beach and Figure Eight Island have corrosion damage on top of being undersized.
We also handle panel upgrades in Hampstead, Leland, Monkey Junction, Myrtle Grove, and Ogden / Porters Neck. Estimates available for most jobs in New Hanover and Pender counties.