Electrical Panel Upgrade & AFCI Breakers in Spartanburg, SC

Project overview in Spartanburg, SC

On February 12, 2025, our Greenville team from the Taylors branch completed a comprehensive service upgrade for homeowner Curt Watkins in Spartanburg, SC. Led by technician Viktor Opalko, the project focused on replacing an aging main electrical panel, adding AFCI protection where required, wiring four new outlets, installing two overhead lights, and enhancing whole-home protection against power surges.

This upgrade brought the home’s distribution system up to current electrical code, improved reliability, and provided safer, cleaner power to everyday circuits and new lighting locations.

Scope of work

• Main panel replacement (200A, indoor): Removed the existing panel and installed a new 200-amp main panel. The team grounded and bonded the enclosure, reconnected the service entrance conductors, landed existing branch circuits, and provided clear circuit labeling.
• Whole-home surge protection: Installed a surge protective device at the panel to help safeguard appliances and electronics from voltage spikes.
• AFCI protection added: Installed one 15-amp and one 20-amp AFCI breaker to provide arc-fault protection for applicable living-area circuits.
• Standard breakers replaced/installed: 13× 20A single-pole breakers, 5× 15A single-pole breakers, 2× 30A double-pole breakers, and 2× 40A breakers for larger 240V loads.
• New receptacles and lighting: Wired and installed 4 standard outlets on a new wall and added 2 new overhead light locations, controlled by new switches.
• New wiring runs: Pulled NM-B cabling (12/2 and 14/2) to support the added receptacles and lighting circuits, with properly mounted junction boxes where needed.
• Permitting and inspection: Our office handled the permitting process and coordinated the inspection with the local authority.
• Planned outage support: Power was temporarily disconnected during the panel swap; we provided a generator for limited power use to minimize disruption.

Details and materials installed

• 1× 200A indoor main panel with updated grounding, bonding, and circuit labeling
• 1× Whole-home surge protective device at the main panel
• 1× 15A AFCI breaker and 1× 20A AFCI breaker
• 13× 20A standard breakers and 5× 15A standard breakers
• 2× 30A double-pole breakers and 2× 40A breakers
• 4× standard receptacles with covers
• 2× standard switches for lighting control
• New NM-B cabling: approximately 50 ft of 12/2 and 150 ft of 14/2
• Additional field support from an electrician wireman to keep the project on schedule

Why AFCI and surge protection matter

AFCI breakers are designed to detect dangerous arcing conditions that can occur in damaged cords or wiring and help reduce the risk of electrical fires. As modern codes are adopted in more jurisdictions, AFCI protection is increasingly required in living areas. During installation, our team evaluated the affected circuits and addressed labeling and terminations to support reliable operation.

Whole-home surge protection adds a first line of defense at the service, helping to reduce the impact of transient surges from utility events or lightning-induced spikes. This complements point-of-use surge strips and provides broader protection for sensitive electronics.

Benefits for this Spartanburg home

• Safer, code-compliant power distribution: Updated grounding, bonding, and AFCI protection where required.
• Improved reliability and capacity: Fresh breakers and a modern 200A panel to support current and future loads.
• Cleaner, better-labeled panel: Clear circuit identification simplifies future maintenance and troubleshooting.
• Enhanced surge defense: Panel-level surge protection to help shield appliances and electronics.
• Convenience and lighting upgrades: Four new outlets and two overhead lights for improved functionality.

Local service you can trust

Touchstone Electric proudly serves Spartanburg, SC from our Greenville team in the Taylors area. This project was completed by Viktor Opalko with support from our field crew, with careful scheduling to limit downtime and full coordination of permitting and inspection.

After the work was completed, Curt Watkins praised our team with a review. If you’re planning an electrical panel upgrade, AFCI breaker installation, or need new outlets and lighting, contact Touchstone Electric to schedule a visit.