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Panel Upgrade Work Samples
Upgrade your home from 100A to 200A service — or replace an aging, unsafe panel. Bright Wire Electric pulls all permits, handles city inspection, and completes most upgrades in a single day.
Most Portland homes built before 1990 have 100-amp service — which was sufficient in its day, but no longer meets the demands of modern homes. Here's what 100A vs 200A service means for your home:
| Feature | 100-Amp Panel | 200-Amp Panel |
|---|---|---|
| Level 2 EV Charger (48A circuit) | Not compatible — will overload panel | Fully supported |
| Electric Vehicle Charging | Level 1 only (3–5 miles/hour charge) | Level 2 (25–35 miles/hour charge) |
| Home Addition / ADU | Usually requires upgrade first | Typically has capacity |
| Heat Pump / Mini-Split | May require load calculation — often marginal | Comfortable headroom for most installs |
| Breakers Tripping Frequently | Common symptom of overloaded service | Resolved with upgrade |
| Home Insurance | Federal Pacific / Zinsco panels may be denied | Modern panels accepted by all insurers |
| Resale Value | 100A service is a red flag on inspections | Adds $5,000–$15,000 to home value |
If your breakers trip when you run multiple appliances at once, your panel doesn't have enough capacity for your home's load.
A warm electrical panel or scorch marks near breakers are serious warning signs. Turn off your main breaker and call us immediately.
Lights that flicker when you turn on appliances indicate your panel is struggling to distribute power properly.
Installing an EV charger, heat pump, hot tub, or electric dryer often requires upgrading panel capacity first.
Frank or a licensed electrician visits your home, inspects your current panel, assesses your load requirements, and provides a detailed estimate. Usually takes 30–45 minutes.
We pull the electrical permit from the City of Portland Bureau of Development Services before any work begins. This is non-negotiable — unpermitted panel work voids homeowner's insurance.
We coordinate with PGE or Pacific Power to temporarily disconnect your service for the upgrade. Most Portland utilities can schedule this within 1–3 business days.
We install your new 200A panel, transfer all circuits, label every breaker clearly, and clean up completely. Most upgrades take 4–6 hours from start to finish.
A City of Portland electrical inspector signs off on the work. You receive a copy of the inspection record — critical documentation for home sales and insurance claims.