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Project overview
Touchstone Electric’s Charlotte branch (based in Matthews) completed a 200A electrical panel upgrade with whole-home surge protection for homeowner Sumit Kumar in Charlotte, NC. Led by technician Mark Viktorovich, this panel and service upgrade was finished on May 14, 2025 and is aligned with our Panels & Service Upgrades and Electrical Panel Upgrades specialties. The work was performed to current electrical code and is NEC 2020 compliant as required by the local inspector.
Following completion, the customer praised our team with a Google review. You can view the shared review link here: See the review on Google.
Scope of work and materials installed
- 200A main panel (indoor, aluminum bus): Panel brought to current code to enhance safety. We replaced the panel and main lug, labeled the new panel, grounded and bonded the panel, reconnected the service entrance cable, and tied in existing circuits.
- Breakers installed:
- 21x 15A standard breakers for lighting and standard branch circuits
- 4x 20A standard breakers for small appliances
- 1x 50A standard breaker for heavy loads (range, furnace, small subpanel, or EV charger)
- 2x 60A standard breakers for larger dedicated loads
- Surge protection: Whole-home surge protector included, with a $10k warranty per manufacturer terms.
- Service entrance wiring: 20 ft of SER 4/0, 4-conductor cable from the main panel to the subpanel, sized for a 200A service.
- Grounding system upgrade: New ground rod driven (typically about 8 ft) and the grounding electrode conductor (GEC) replaced. The GEC is continuous from the rod back to the main service panel (maximum ~25 ft run as applicable on this project).
- Labeling and documentation: Clear circuit labeling for easier future service and safety.
This project included permitting and inspection. Breakers, service disconnects, feeders, or meter upgrades are separate items when required; for this job, applicable breakers were included as listed above.
Safety, code compliance, and AFCI considerations
As NEC 2020 implementation advances across jurisdictions in the Charlotte area, inspectors may require upgrading certain circuits to AFCI protection. Installing AFCI breakers can reveal preexisting wiring conditions—such as shared neutrals—that may cause immediate tripping. In these cases, resolving the issue can require additional diagnostic time to locate and correct the condition, which may involve opening devices on affected circuits.
Our upgrade focused on proper grounding and bonding, verified terminations, and secure panel installation to support reliable operation and future inspections. The whole-home surge protector adds an important layer of defense for the home’s electronics and appliances.
Permitting, inspection, and power during the upgrade
Touchstone Electric filed the electrical permit with the county and coordinated the inspection. Note: Some projects may require non-electrical permits (e.g., historic preservation, zoning, environmental, or builder-related) which are not included. If additional non-electrical permits are needed, we identify them and can provide pricing to process those separately or advise on homeowner-handled steps.
Power must be temporarily disconnected during a main panel replacement. To minimize disruption, we made a generator available for limited power usage during the outage.
Warranty and ongoing care
- Panel warranty: 20-year transferable warranty on the installed panel.
- PowerCare Membership:
- Lifetime Craftsmanship Warranty on our work
- $0 Yearly Safety Check: site test of safety devices; inspection of main electrical device and panel; GFCI and disconnect tests
- $0 Annual Panel Tune-Up: re-tension lugs and breaker terminals, re-apply antioxidant, voltage variance test, vacuum and clean panel, apply electrical cleaner, and reseal penetrations
- $0 Dispatch Hold: if you have a concern, we waive the dispatch fee to come out
Serving Charlotte, NC
From Matthews to neighborhoods across Charlotte, Touchstone Electric’s Charlotte team delivers code-compliant electrical panel upgrades, grounding improvements, and surge protection. If you’re planning a 200A service or need an evaluation of your existing panel, we’re ready to help with permitting, inspection coordination, and careful outage planning.
Looking for reliable Electrical Panel Upgrades in Charlotte, NC? Our team is here to make your home safer, more capable, and ready for today’s electrical demands.