Professional 200A Panel Upgrade and Grounding in Edgemoor, SC

Touchstone Electric’s Columbia branch completed a full 200A electrical panel replacement and grounding system upgrade in Edgemoor, SC for homeowner Chris Hoskins. Led by technician Viktor Opalko, this permitted and inspected project delivered safer power distribution, stronger surge protection, and clean labeling for easier future service on September 10, 2025.

What We Upgraded

New 200A Copper Main Panel (Indoor) – Removed the aging panel and installed a modern copper-bus panel brought to current electrical code. We grounded and bonded the panel, reconnected the service entrance conductors, and neatly reconnected and labeled existing circuits.
Grounding System – Drove a new 8-foot ground rod and installed a continuous grounding electrode conductor (GEC) routed to the main panel (within a 25-foot run) to ensure a low-impedance path to earth.
Whole-Home Surge Protection – Installed a service-entry surge protective device to divert transient voltage spikes safely to ground, helping shield appliances, electronics, and sensitive components from damaging surges.
Breaker Updates for Safety and Capacity – Added a 100A 2-pole breaker for a subpanel, nine 20A standard breakers for small-appliance branch circuits, and a 30A single-pole breaker for dedicated appliances.
Permitting and Inspection – The project included filing the electrical permit with the county and coordinating inspection in accordance with local requirements.
Limited-Power Support During Outage – While utility power was disconnected during the panel swap, we made a generator available for limited power usage to reduce homeowner downtime.

Why a Copper 200A Panel?

A copper-bus 200A main panel provides excellent conductivity, heat tolerance, and long-term reliability—ideal for modern homes with higher electrical demand. Upgrading the service equipment helps reduce nuisance trips, improves available capacity for future projects, and brings labeling and bonding up to current standards for safety and maintenance.

Grounding Brought Up to Code

Proper grounding is essential to safely clear faults and stabilize your electrical system. We installed a new ground rod and a continuous GEC to the main panel, eliminating splices and ensuring a robust connection to earth. This upgrade enhances protection against faults and helps surge devices perform at their best.

Whole-Home Surge Protection Details

The installed surge protective device helps guard your home from voltage spikes caused by lightning activity, grid fluctuations, or large appliances cycling on and off. The device includes manufacturer-backed coverage stated as $10,000 for three years on covered equipment; exclusions apply (for example, claims are secondary to your existing insurance and direct lightning strikes are excluded). This added layer of defense supports the longevity of appliances and electronics throughout the home.

Code Notes: AFCI Requirements

As jurisdictions implement NEC 2020, inspectors may require certain branch circuits to be protected by AFCI breakers. In some homes, pre-existing conditions—such as shared neutrals—can cause immediate AFCI tripping and may require diagnostic time to resolve. Our team explains these requirements up front and provides options if upgrades are requested by the authority having jurisdiction.

PowerCare Membership Benefits Included

For ongoing peace of mind, the homeowner enrolled in our PowerCare Membership, which provides:

Lifetime Craftsmanship Warranty on our work.
$0 Yearly Safety Check covering critical electrical safety devices, main equipment, GFCIs, disconnects, and a panel inspection.
$0 Annual Panel Tune-Up with re-tensioning of lugs and terminals, cleaning, voltage variance testing, reapplication of antioxidant, vacuuming, and sealing penetrations.
$0 Dispatch Hold when you want us to take a look at a concern.

Local, Trusted Service in Edgemoor

Completed by our Columbia team, this upgrade improves safety, reliability, and surge defense for a home in the Edgemoor, SC service area. The homeowner praised our work in a review, and we appreciate the trust placed in Touchstone Electric.

If you need a panel or service upgrade in Edgemoor, SC, our licensed electricians are ready to help bring your system up to code with clean workmanship, clear labeling, and reliable protection.

200A Electrical Panel Upgrade & Grounding in Edgemoor, SC