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Maybe Get a New Electrical Panel

My house was built in 65 and the electrical panel is at least 15 years old. There is a deal through a company offering a new electrical panel with whole house surge protection for $949, the regular price is $2495. I'm thinking of getting a panel for several reasons: the whole house surge protection, the cost savings on the work, improvement in the quality of the AC in the house for my system, 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.

Your thoughts? If I do this, any tips on the kind of panel to get or to pass on? I saw here that a Square D panel with copper buss is preferred over one with aluminum buss?
foster_9
Post removed 
hifiharv
351 posts
 
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.
jea48
4,282 posts
 
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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kennythekey
571 posts
 
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
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