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Project overview
On March 10, 2026, Touchstone Electric’s Raleigh branch completed a 200A main electrical panel replacement with whole-home surge protection for homeowner Dorothy Whitmer in Hillsboro, NC. Lead technician Cody Perry handled the upgrade from start to finish, including permitting and final inspection. This project is covered by our Signature Lifetime Craftsmanship Warranty for added peace of mind.
What we upgraded
- Permits and inspection: We secured the required permit and coordinated inspection to ensure a smooth, code-compliant completion.
- 200A main panel replacement (indoor): Installed a modern panel featuring an aluminum bus bar with a 20-year transferable warranty. We brought the installation up to current electrical code, grounded and bonded the enclosure, reconnected the service entrance conductors, re-terminated existing branch circuits, and provided a clearly labeled circuit directory.
- Whole-home surge protection: Added a panel-mounted surge protective device designed to divert damaging voltage spikes safely to ground. The unit includes $50,000 in covered equipment protection for 10 years in the event of an SPD failure. Coverage is secondary to the homeowner’s insurance and excludes direct lightning strikes. Security systems and medical equipment are not included in covered items.
- New breakers installed:
- 1 × 40A standard breaker for major loads (e.g., dryer, water heater, HVAC, EV charging)
- 1 × 30A double-pole standard breaker
- 1 × 20A AFCI breaker
- 7 × 20A standard breakers for small-appliance and general-purpose circuits
- 4 × 15A AFCI breakers for required living-area circuits
- 12 × 15A standard breakers for lighting and standard branch circuits
- Generator support: Assisted with reconnecting the homeowner’s generator setup to maintain limited power during the panel changeover.
Why this upgrade benefits your home
- Safety and reliability: A new, code-compliant panel with improved grounding and bonding reduces the risk of overheating, arcing, and nuisance outages.
- Modern protection: Arc-fault circuit interrupter (AFCI) breakers help detect dangerous arcing conditions on required circuits, enhancing fire safety in living spaces.
- Surge defense: The whole-home SPD helps shield appliances, HVAC equipment, and electronics from grid fluctuations and transient voltage events, supporting longer equipment life.
- Future-ready capacity: A clean, well-organized 200A panel with updated breakers supports today’s and tomorrow’s loads, from kitchen upgrades to HVAC and EV charging.
- Transparent options: This installation features an aluminum bus panel with a 20-year transferable warranty. Our copper-bus panel option carries a longer warranty for homeowners comparing upgrade paths.
Code and inspection notes
As inspectors implement NEC 2020 requirements, some circuits may need AFCI protection. In older homes, newly added AFCI breakers can trip immediately if there are preexisting wiring conditions (for example, shared neutrals). When this occurs, additional diagnosis and corrections may be required to resolve legacy issues. Our team discusses these possibilities up front and prepares your system for a smooth inspection process.
During the changeout, power must be safely disconnected. When needed, our Raleigh team can support limited temporary power; in this project, we assisted with reconnecting the homeowner’s generator equipment after the panel work.
Local service in Hillsboro, NC
Touchstone Electric’s Raleigh branch proudly serves Hillsboro and nearby communities with Panels & Service Upgrades and Electrical Panel Upgrades. After completion, Dorothy praised our team with a Google review. Read it here:
Planning a panel or surge upgrade?
If you’re considering a 200A panel replacement, breaker updates, or whole-home surge protection in Hillsboro, NC, our Raleigh-based electricians can help you choose the right equipment and complete a clean, inspection-ready installation.