In 2024, there are two reasons to upgrade the wiring in your home: You need to upgrade, or you want to upgrade. Because modern electrical codes already see to the safety and efficiency of your wiring, about the only reasons to rewire would be after some sort of damage, if you plan to add an extension on your home that will need extra power, or if you want to make it easier to sell your home.
Rewiring Without the Extension
If you’re only using 80-100 amps of power, then you don’t need to upgrade your junction box when rewiring the home. You’ll continue to live in the home as before, so the 100-amp panel will be more than enough. Remember, this applies to modern homes that have suffered damage and not to older homes with legacy wiring that doesn’t meet modern electrical codes.
Still, there is merit to the argument that if you’re going to have to replace the wiring in your home after a flood, fire, or other kind of damage, then why not have tougher wire and a 200-amp junction box installed just in case? You have to weigh the list of items for and against this and then decide which is best for you. Remember, too, that 200 amps is the standard as of 2015, so that’s also a good reason to upgrade the box when you’re upgrading the wiring. Your 100-amp box, however, if it still fits your needs, doesn’t need replacing if it still works.
Rewiring Because of Adding an Extension
When you add more rooms to your home, you add more need for electricity throughout. If the expansion is big enough, then you’ll need to upgrade your HVAC system, as well, to handle the climate control for all of the extra space. Bigger HVAC systems require more power, so if you have a 100-amp panel, then it might not suffice for your newly expanded home. There will also be more lights to power, and if it’s a “granny suite,” then there will be a kitchen, washer and dryer, and other appliances that need power because someone else will be living in your expanded space full time.
You Have an Old House
Back in the day, knob-and-tube wiring was the standard, and many homes had just 50-amp or 60-amp panels. Many appliances back then worked on gas rather than electricity, including many forms of lights and kitchen items, so the electrical load was much less. If you’re going to upgrade your appliances and such, then you’ll need not only modern wiring but also a new junction box. This is the category of, “You need to upgrade.” When upgrading this way, you should have a 200-amp box installed. It’ll be a big job, anyway, so an extra $1,500-$3,000 for a new junction box should be part of your budget.
Upgrading Because of Damage
Because of the 200-amp standard these days, that’s what you should install if you have to replace your wiring as part of a rebuild after damage to your home by fire, flood, storm, or other “acts of God.” The reasoning is the same as upgrading from an old house to modern standards.
What About a 400-Amp Junction Box?
Boxes that draw more power than 200 amps are generally for commercial buildings. So, if you have a home business that requires you to use lots of electrical power, then you might want a 400-amp junction box because you need to have power available for the other occupants of your home when you’re doing your work. If you think that you would need this much power, then it’s a good idea to talk to an electrician about your possible needs. That way, you can rely on a professional’s advice about what you need rather than guessing.
How Much Value Does an Upgraded Junction Box Actually Add?
The bad news is that upgrading the junction box won’t increase the dollar value of your home. However, what it will do is make your home more attractive to buyers. So, if you ask $300,000 for your home and then upgrade your junction box, it won’t magically become worth $310,000. Prospective buyers, though, will generally think that your home is closer in worth to your asking price if you have an upgraded junction box.