Electrical panel upgrade

While flooring work is going on, we're also upgrading the electrical panel. The old panel is the original 100amp Zinsco panel from late 1950s. Apparently this panel was very popular during those days, however they're now known for their failure to operate properly and carry a higher risk of fire / electric shock. Well, that panel has been working since 1950s, so the odds are that it will continue working fine for the foreseeable future. Nevertheless, kitchen remodel requires additional circuits, and just the oven and cooktop take up 40+40=80amp of the panel, so this is a good time to get the panel upgraded to a 200amp one while we're here.

The new panel is Square D brand , and our electrician Sergio from S&R electric will perform the installation. Here is how the process works:
- Pull a permit from city (without permit and city inspector OK, PG&E will not connect power to your new panel)
- PG&E disconnects power
- Remove old panel
- Put in new panel
- Inspector OKs
- PG&E reconnects power.

Here is the old panel coming out:

Once the old panel is out, the new panel goes in. Note that this one is much bigger, and it is surface mount rather than embedded into the siding. Our electrical contractor Sergio recommended going with a surface mount panel as it would be easier to pull new circuits from it in the future.

More to come later on panel upgrade..