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Project overview
Touchstone Electric’s Charlotte team completed a comprehensive panel relocation, breaker upgrades, grounding improvements, and whole-home surge protection for Jeff Clements in Charlotte, NC. Led by technician Christian Cedillos from our Matthews-based Charlotte branch, this Panels & Service Upgrades project brought the home’s electrical system in line with current best practices and our Panel Rejuvenation standards. Completed in October 2025, the work focused on safety, reliability, and long-term protection for sensitive electronics and appliances.
Scope of work
- Electrical cleanup: We ensured all connections were properly made, removed unnecessary wiring, and safely terminated any open hot conductors to reduce future troubleshooting issues and improve safety at the panel.
- Panel relocation: The main electrical panel was relocated to a more suitable position. Any required drywall repairs are to be completed by the homeowner (we can recommend a trusted drywall company upon request). As local inspectors increasingly implement NEC 2020, certain circuits may require AFCI protection. Note: installing AFCI devices can reveal preexisting issues (such as shared neutrals) that may cause tripping and require diagnostic time to identify and correct.
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Breaker replacements and upgrades:
- 2 × 20A double-pole breakers for 240V loads typically used by small appliances or equipment requiring two poles.
- 1 × 15A GFCI/AFCI combo breaker for kitchen receptacle protection, addressing both ground-fault and arc-fault safety needs. As with any AFCI installation, existing wiring conditions can cause nuisance trips and may require additional diagnostics.
- 1 × 30A double-pole breaker for higher-demand 240V equipment (e.g., dryer, water heater, air condenser, spa, EV charger—actual connected loads vary by home).
- 6 × 20A standard single-pole breakers for general small-appliance branch circuits.
- 4 × 15A standard single-pole breakers for bathroom lighting and standard branch circuits consistent with 2020 code considerations.
- Grounding electrode system upgrade: We installed a new ground rod (typically driven ~8 ft) and replaced the grounding electrode conductor (GEC) with a continuous run from the electrode to the main service panel. The GEC routing was completed within the stated maximum 25 ft guideline for this service.
- Whole-home surge protection: A service-rated surge protective device was installed at the main panel to divert transient overvoltages to ground, helping protect the home’s electrical system and connected equipment from surges caused by lightning in the area, utility fluctuations, or equipment cycling. This SPD includes $10,000 / 3-year coverage on covered equipment per the manufacturer’s terms. All claims are secondary to the homeowner’s insurance and direct lightning strikes are excluded. Covered equipment typically includes major home appliances, HVAC equipment located inside the home, wiring and electrical components, and other hardwired devices; security systems and medical equipment are excluded.
Why this upgrade matters in Charlotte homes
Relocating an aging or poorly placed panel and refreshing breakers helps reduce nuisance trips, supports safer operation, and prepares the system for the expanding use of AFCI and GFCI protection under newer code cycles. The grounding upgrade improves fault-clearing performance and lowers risk from stray voltage. Adding a whole-home surge protector provides a critical first line of defense for today’s sensitive electronics and appliances, helping extend equipment life and reducing the likelihood of costly replacements after a surge event.
Completed by a local pro you can trust
This project was completed by Christian Cedillos with our Charlotte team serving the greater Charlotte, NC area from Matthews. Our approach emphasizes neat workmanship, code-forward recommendations aligned with NEC 2020 implementations, and clear communication when preexisting conditions—like shared neutrals—may require added diagnostics to achieve optimal AFCI performance.
Customer feedback
We’re grateful that Jeff Clements shared a positive Google review of this project. Read the review here: See Jeff’s Google review.
Need panel or service upgrades in Charlotte?
If you’re planning a panel relocation, breaker rejuvenation, grounding updates, or surge protection in Charlotte, NC, Touchstone Electric’s Charlotte team is ready to help. We bring the same careful attention to safety, code compliance, and long-term reliability to every Panels & Service Upgrades project we complete.