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Electrical Panel and Subpanel Upgrade in Chapel Hill, NC
On September 2, 2025, our Raleigh team completed a comprehensive panel and subpanel project for homeowner Catherine Diggs in Chapel Hill, NC. Led by technician Brad Williams, the job included installing a new 20‑space subpanel and running three dedicated circuits to support two sump pumps and a crawlspace dehumidifier. We also brought the main electrical panel up to current code and added whole‑home surge protection for enhanced safety and reliability.
Primary service: Panels & Service Upgrades | Secondary: Subpanel Installation
What we installed
- New 150A indoor main panel (aluminum): Brought the service up to current electrical code, updated grounding and bonding, reconnected the service entrance cable and existing branch circuits, and clearly labeled the new panel.
- Whole‑home surge protection: Installed a surge protector included with a $10k warranty to help protect appliances and electronics from damaging voltage spikes.
- 20‑space subpanel: Added capacity for current needs and future expansion, cleanly labeled for easy identification and maintenance.
- Feeder and overcurrent protection: Installed a 100A 2‑pole breaker to feed the subpanel and pulled approximately 40 feet of 4‑wire SER 1/0 cable for a safe, code‑compliant connection.
- Dedicated circuits for critical equipment: Ran three new dedicated circuits—two for sump pumps and one for the dehumidifier—to ensure reliable operation without nuisance tripping.
- Code‑appropriate breakers: Installed a mix of new breakers, including 7x 20A standard, 2x 15A standard, 1x 15A GFCI/AFCI combo for kitchen receptacles, and a 30A double‑pole breaker for larger loads as needed.
- Professional routing and finish: Carefully fished wiring through tight areas to protect finishes and used an additional wireman to keep the project efficient and tidy.
- Permitting and inspection: Handled by our Raleigh branch so the upgrade meets local requirements and passes inspection.
Safety, code, and reliability benefits
This upgrade improves everyday reliability and safety for the home. Proper grounding and bonding reduce shock hazards, surge protection defends sensitive devices, and dedicated circuits keep essential equipment—like sump pumps and dehumidifiers—running when they are needed most. The added subpanel capacity also leaves room for future projects without overloading existing circuits.
A note on AFCI/GFCI and inspections
As local inspectors continue adopting NEC 2020, some circuits may require AFCI or GFCI/AFCI breakers. Installing these can reveal preexisting issues such as shared neutrals, which may cause immediate tripping until corrected. If diagnostics are needed to locate and resolve those conditions, our team will identify the cause and advise on the best path to a safe, code‑compliant solution.
Customer feedback
Catherine Diggs praised our work and shared her experience online. Read Catherine’s review on Google.
Serving Chapel Hill from our Raleigh branch
Touchstone Electric helps Chapel Hill homeowners with dependable Panels & Service Upgrades and expert Subpanel Installation. Whether you’re adding dedicated circuits for critical equipment or proactively modernizing your service, our licensed team plans, permits, installs, and labels everything to current code for long‑term safety and peace of mind.