The electrical requirements of our homes are changing rapidly. There was a time not that long ago when upgrading from a 100-amp to a 200-amp service was considered sufficient, if not state-of-the-art. But today’s homes are full of equipment that consumes more energy, requiring even further upgrades to handle the demand.
During our Lexington Modern Project, master electrician Heath Eastman noticed the amount of draw could exceed the already-large panel. Heath’s solution is to install a load management panel to keep the system from overloading the panel—and the convenience is remarkable.
What is a Load Management Panel?
A load management panel is an electrical device used to control other devices and circuits in response to the demand on the electrical system. It features relays and switches that shut down circuits and reactivate them according to the amount of electricity the rest of the home is drawing.
For example, if a house is equipped with a 200-amp panel and there are new devices that are installed which could potentially draw more than the 200 amps, a load management panel can shut off non-critical circuits when the demand increases.
Why Might a Home Need a Load Management Panel?
With today’s focus on renewable, clean energy sources, many homes are upgrading existing utilities and systems to those that primarily use electricity. As more people lessen their reliance on fossil fuels, new technologies including geothermal heat pumps, solar panel systems, electric vehicle chargers, and other eco-friendly options are becoming increasingly popular.
Newly built houses are also designed to be more energy efficient, so they provide the perfect opportunity to install these advanced systems to power the home and keep it comfortable.
All these new technologies draw on a home’s electrical system with the exception of solar panels. But even when solar panels are installed, they might not provide much help at night, which results in increased electrical draws from the rest of the devices on the electrical system.
A load management panel will monitor the amount of electricity being used by the home and its devices. When the draw from these eco-friendly appliances, devices, and systems near overload, the load management panel can shed the load, shutting off non-critical circuits to lessen the draw.
Other Uses for a Load Management Panel
A load management panel isn’t just for shedding load during high draw. It can also be used to monitor the home’s electrical usage, at least on the devices linked to the panel. Users can also program the panel to turn off certain circuits during high-demand hours when electrical supply companies often charge more per kilowatt hour. It can significantly reduce a home’s energy consumption when programmed to do so.
How a Load Management Panel Works
A load management panel is simple in theory. You would mount one to a wall near the electrical panel. A wire from the load side of a breaker is connected to a lug inside the panel, where it can be controlled by a relay. After the relay, a load-side wire is run back to the circuit.
Under normal conditions, everything in the home runs smoothly. However, as the draw on the system starts to increase (such as at night, when solar panels aren’t producing energy and the heating system is working as hard), the load management panel will shed the load by opening a relay, preventing the flow of electricity to the chosen circuit.
Users can control the panel using an app on their phones or tablets, allowing them to set the order in which the relays shut circuits down, at which load level it’ll shed, and even schedule it during the day.
How To Choose Load Management Circuits
There is a trick to choosing the right circuits to attach to a load management panel. For example, linking lighting circuits or heating systems to the panel is not advised, as these systems are critical.
Consider which circuits in your home are non-critical. For instance, pools, spas, washers and dryers, garage heating systems, and certain areas of the home might not need to be powered all the time. These are the devices to choose to shed during high-demand times.
A panel can also shut circuits one at a time, so putting them in order from least critical to most critical is also a wise move. As the draw increases, the management panel will shut off the least critical circuits first, and power them back up in reverse order when the demand lessens.
Do You Need a Load Management Panel?
If nothing has changed in your home’s electrical system recently, there’s probably no need for a load management panel. Your standard panel, if installed by a knowledgeable electrician, will be sized appropriately for the components and machines installed in your home.
However, a load management panel can be a great idea for folks installing EV chargers, converting from fossil fuel heat to heat pumps, or those who’d prefer to have their home be as off-grid as possible via solar. This panel can prevent overload without requiring a full panel upgrade.
A load management panel must be installed by licensed and knowledgeable electricians. They can help homeowners choose the right circuits, ensure they’re installed correctly, and help the homeowner navigate setting up the individual circuits for the best possible user experience.