If your home was built more than 20 years ago, there’s a good chance it still runs on a 100-amp panel. That was plenty back then. But homes today pull a lot more — central air, EV chargers, hot tubs, induction ranges, and a house full of devices. If your service can’t keep up, you’ll feel it.
Here in Selden and across Suffolk County, upgrading from 100 to 200 amps is one of the most common jobs we do. This guide explains, in plain words, when it’s worth it.
What “Amps” Actually Means
Amps measure how much electricity your home can draw at one time. Think of it like the size of a water pipe. A 100-amp service is a smaller pipe; a 200-amp service is a bigger one, so more can flow without trouble. More amps means you can safely run more things at once — and leave headroom on the bus bar (the metal rails inside the panel that feed every breaker) for whatever you add later.
Signs Your Home Needs a Panel Upgrade
- Breakers trip often, especially when the AC and microwave run together.
- You still have a fuse box instead of breakers.
- Lights dim when a big appliance turns on.
- You want to add an EV charger, central air, or a hot tub.
- You lean on power strips because you don’t have enough outlets.
- Your panel is a brand with a bad track record (Federal Pacific or Zinsco).
Why 200 Amps Is the New Standard
Most new homes on Long Island are built with 200-amp service because it leaves room to grow. If you plan to buy an electric car, add a pool, or finish a basement in the next few years, 200 amps saves you from upgrading twice. It also makes your home easier to sell, since buyers and home inspectors look closely at the service rating and the service entrance conductors (the main wires feeding the panel).
Is It Safe to Wait?
An overloaded panel isn’t just a hassle — it can overheat and become a fire risk. If you smell hot plastic near the panel, see scorch marks, or feel heat on the cover, stop using it and call an electrician right away. Those are not problems to put off.
What the Upgrade Involves
- 1
We run a load calculation — adding up your home’s real and projected demand to size the new service correctly.
- 2
We pull the permit with your town, which protects you on resale and insurance.
- 3
We coordinate the service disconnect with PSEG Long Island for the cutover.
- 4
We set the new 200-amp panel, land the feeders on the bus bar, and label every circuit to code.
- 5
The town inspects the work so you have documented proof it was done right.
Not sure if your panel can handle your plans?
We’ll take a look and tell you straight — free estimates across Selden and all of Suffolk County.
Frequently Asked Questions
Most 100-to-200 amp upgrades are done in one day. Your power is off for a few hours during the cutover, then back on the same day.
Related service: Panel Upgrades in Suffolk County
