Use AI to review your service panel upgrade plan before starting work to spot safety issues and code violations.

Before you start ripping out an old panel and installing a new one, run your upgrade plan past AI to catch problems you might have missed. This is especially helpful when you're upgrading from 100 to 200 amps, adding subpanels, or dealing with older homes where existing wiring might not be up to code. 1. Open ChatGPT or Claude and describe the existing setup: panel size, main breaker rating, grounding system, age of the house, and any weird conditions like aluminum wiring or knob-and-tube remnants. 2. Tell the AI what you're planning to install: new panel specs, amperage, number of circuits, whether you're adding a subpanel, and any special circuits like EV chargers or workshops. 3. Ask AI to review your plan and flag potential safety issues, code compliance gaps, or things you might have overlooked—like adequate grounding upgrades, bonding requirements, or service entrance cable sizing. 4. Review the AI's feedback and adjust your plan before ordering materials or starting the job. Pay special attention to anything flagged around grounding, panel clearances, or circuit sizing. 5. Use the AI's suggestions to update your material list and work plan so you don't get halfway through the job and realize you're missing a critical component or facing a code violation. This takes three minutes and can save you from expensive mistakes, failed inspections, or safety hazards you didn't catch on your first walkthrough.

February 24, 2026