Table of Contents
The Six Symptoms
- Warm or hot panel cover — a real warning sign; call a licensed electrician
- Burning or plastic smell near the panel — turn off the main and call immediately
- Whole-house dimming when large appliances start
- Multiple circuits tripping under normal use
- No open slots and you need to add a circuit
- Two-pole tandem 'cheater' breakers filling every slot — indicates prior owners maxed out available circuits
What to Do
Stop adding load. Unplug what you can. Book a load calculation with a licensed electrician — takes an hour and tells you exactly where you stand relative to the panel rating.
Need a licensed Orange County electrician?
Family-owned since 1974. C-10 #1050793 Licensed, Bonded & Insured. Serving all of Orange County.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is a warm panel ever normal?+
Slightly warm on a hot day, yes. Uncomfortably warm to the touch, no. That's heat from bad connections or overloaded conductors and it needs eyes on it.