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Electrical panel upgrade and surge protection in Cary, NC
Service area: Cary, NC | Branch: Raleigh | Completed: May 29, 2025
Touchstone Electric’s Raleigh team completed a turnkey 200-amp main electrical panel replacement with a whole-home surge protection system for homeowner Rosco Judd in Cary, NC. Led by Technician Cody Perry, this project modernized the home’s power distribution, enhanced safety, and added robust protection for appliances and electronics—while handling permitting and inspection coordination from start to finish.
Scope of work completed
- Permitting and inspection: Pulled the required permit and coordinated inspection for a smooth, code-compliant upgrade.
- Main panel replacement (200A, indoor): Installed a new service panel with a copper bus bar, properly grounded and bonded. Reconnected the service-entrance conductors and all existing branch circuits, and provided a clearly labeled circuit directory for safer operation and easier troubleshooting.
- Copper bus advantage + warranty: The new copper-bus panel includes a 50-year transferable warranty for long-term confidence and resale value.
- Whole-home surge protection: Added a panel-mounted device that shunts excess voltage safely to ground, helping shield the home’s wiring, outlets, and hardwired equipment from surges caused by lightning nearby, utility fluctuations, or large appliances cycling on/off. This system includes $100,000 in coverage over 10 years for eligible equipment when properly connected. Claims are secondary to homeowner’s insurance and exclude direct lightning strikes; security systems and medical equipment are not covered.
- Breaker updates: Installed new standard and GFCI breakers to align with current safety requirements, including:
- 50A and 70A standard breakers for large loads (range, HVAC, subpanel, EV-ready circuits, etc.)
- Multiple 20A and 15A standard breakers for general and appliance circuits
- 20A GFCI breakers for bathrooms, laundry, garage, exterior, and similar areas where ground-fault protection is required
- Transfer switch support: Identified and organized the wiring associated with the home’s transfer switch to ensure safe, reliable standby power operation.
- Power management during the upgrade: Power was temporarily disconnected during the panel change; our team made a generator available for limited essential power during the outage.
Safety, code compliance, and what to expect
As local inspectors continue implementing NEC 2020 requirements, AFCI updates may be called for on certain circuits. Installing AFCI protection can reveal pre-existing wiring conditions (such as shared neutrals) that may require diagnostic time to correct. Our team explains these findings clearly and provides options to bring affected circuits up to today’s standards.
Why a copper-bus 200A panel is a smart upgrade
Copper’s superior conductivity and higher heat tolerance help reduce hot spots at connection points and provide more durable long-term performance than aluminum alternatives. Combined with the 50-year transferable warranty, this upgrade supports safer operation, improved reliability, and a stronger platform for future additions like EV charging, HVAC changes, or new kitchen appliances.
Lifetime craftsmanship and protection
This project includes Touchstone Electric’s Signature Lifetime Craftsmanship Warranty for our installation workmanship, plus the manufacturer’s $100k/10-year surge protection coverage and the 50-year copper panel warranty—a comprehensive protection stack for lasting peace of mind.
Local service from our Raleigh team
From our Raleigh branch, Touchstone Electric proudly serves homeowners in Cary, NC and nearby communities with expert panel upgrades, service changes, and whole-home surge protection. If your panel is outdated, crowded, or warm to the touch—or if you’re adding high-demand equipment—our licensed electricians can help you plan a safe, code-compliant solution.
Customer feedback
We appreciate customers like Rosco Judd for sharing their experience. See the review on Google: View Rosco’s Google review.