An unbalanced electrical panel can cause multiple electrical problems in your home, from annoying lights flickering to bigger issues such as overheating switches and wires. An unbalanced electrical panel means the electricity is not equally distributed among the circuits throughout the house. This can affect the safety and efficiency of your home.
In this article, we’ll understand what is an unbalanced electrical panel. What are the symptoms of an unbalanced electrical panel, and how to balance it?
What is Meant by an Unbalanced Electrical Panel?
An unbalanced electric panel is when the electricity in your home is not equally divided throughout the house. In a standard electrical panel, power comes through two sides, called “phases”. The electrical load has to be split between the two phases. This balance ensures that everything runs smoothly.
But sometimes, circuits or appliances, especially high-demand ones like air conditioners or ovens, draw more power from one phase. This creates an unbalanced load, which means one side of the panel is working harder than the other. When this occurs, you may note issues like lighting flickering or breakers tripping more frequently.
An unbalanced panel can also lead to overheating, which could damage your electrical panel or even become a safety hazard. Fixing this often needs an electrician, who can rearrange circuits to equal the load and ensure your electrical system is both safe and efficient.
Symptoms of an Unbalanced Electrical Panel
When an electrical panel becomes unbalanced, you may notice some signs. These symptoms can help you identify the issue and solve it earlier.
Symptoms of an unbalanced electrical panel include the following:
- Frequent Circuit Breaker Trips
- Flickering or Dimming Lights
- High Electricity Bills
- Damage to Sensitive Electronics
- Appliances Not Working Properly
1) Frequent Circuit Breaker Trips
One of the major signs you may notice is frequent trips in circuit breakers. Circuit breakers are designed to cut the flow of electricity when there’s too much demand or one phase is taking more power than the other. When your electrical panel is unbalanced, the circuit breakers in your home may trip again and again.
2) Flickering or Dimming Lights
When one phase of the system is taking more power than the other, it can cause voltage fluctuations. When the lights do not get enough voltage, they become dim or start flickering. The lights may dim or flicker when high-demand appliances such as ovens, fridges, and air conditioners are in use.
3) High Electricity Bills
When one phase is working for all the electricity demands in the house, it would need to pull more electricity into the house. The use of electricity increases. The other phase of the system may be wasting electricity. All these factors can increase the electricity bills.
4) Damage to Sensitive Electronics
Constant voltage fluctuations can affect the sensitive electronics. Computers, laptops, and TVs, when do not get enough voltage to work, they may become faulty or even damaged. If you notice issues with your electronics, it may be a sign of checking your electrical panel.
5) Appliances Not Working Properly
The appliances that need steady power to work properly may get affected. For example, refrigerators, air conditioners, or washers may not work properly if they’re not getting enough power. You may notice your fridge or AC is not cooling as they used to do.
All these signs and symptoms can give you a wake-up call to check your electrical system. If the issue is an unbalanced electrical panel, it is necessary to repair or replace your electrical panel. Ignoring these issues can lead to more dangerous issues like power blackouts or heating circuits.
Repairing an Unbalanced Electrical Panel
If you find your electrical panel unbalanced, it is important to repair it as early as possible. Leaving this issue can lead to more dangerous issues. It is important to hire an electrician to carefully check your electrical system and find out the issue. Following are the ways to repair an unbalanced electrical panel.
Identify the Problem
The electrician usually finds the electrical panel unbalanced by checking the circuits and look how the power load is spread between two phases. It is done by measuring the current on each side to see if one side is using significantly more power than the other.
Rearrange the Circuits
To balance the electrical panel, the first step is to rearrange the circuits. This involves moving some of the circuits from the overloaded side to the underused side of the panel. For example, if the refrigerator and air conditioner are on the same side, put one from both to the other side of the system.
Add a Subpanel if Needed
Sometimes, your panel is not able to hold much power, so it is recommended to add a sub-panel. A subpanel is a smaller panel connected to the main panel, providing extra space for additional circuits. This panel reduces the load on the main panel by dividing it.
Upgrade to a Larger Panel
If you do not want to add a sub-panel, the other option is to install a larger panel. A larger panel provides more slots for circuits, allowing for a more balanced setup. A larger panel can hold your high-demand appliances.
Test the Balance
After arranging circuits, or adding a sub-panel or larger panel, the final step is to test the balance. An electrician will measure the load on each side to confirm that the power is now evenly distributed. They will also test each circuit to make sure it’s functioning correctly and that the problem is fully resolved.
Schedule Regular Inspections
To prevent future unbalance, it’s a good idea to schedule regular inspections of your electrical panel. Regular maintenance can catch early signs of imbalance or other issues before they become major problems.
By following these steps or hiring a professional to do so, you can effectively repair an unbalanced electrical panel and ensure your home’s electrical system stays safe and efficient.
Replacing the Electrical Panel
If your electrical panel is unbalanced and the issue is not solved, the best way is to replace the electrical panel. Installing an electrical panel according to your current power needs can allow the smooth flow of electricity for your appliances.
Electrical panel replacement costs about $1,300 to $5,000 on average. However, this is just a rough estimate. The total cost will depend upon the condition of the existing panel and how much improvement it needs. Factors like type of equipment, materials, location, and labor affect the electrical panel replacement cost.
Conclusion
An unbalanced electrical panel means the electricity is not equally distributed among the circuits throughout the house. This can affect the safety and efficiency of your home. To keep the smooth flow of electricity in your house, it is important to identify the symptoms of an unbalanced electrical panel.
Understanding these symptoms can help you identify the issue early and solve it on time before it becomes a hazard. It is important to understand the ways to check and balance an unbalanced electrical panel. Hire a professional electrician to effectively manage your issue.
