Our homes are getting smarter every year. We have smart TVs, smart doorbells, smart lights, and even smart thermostats. Now, even your electrical panel can be smart.
The SPAN Panel is a new type of electrical panel that gives homeowners more control over the power in their homes.
At Anchor Electric of Florida, we are always looking at new electrical technology. We want our customers to understand what is available and how it may help make their homes safer, smarter, and ready for the future.
What Is a SPAN Panel?
Every home has an electrical panel. You may also hear it called a breaker panel.
Your electrical panel takes power coming into your home and sends it to different areas. One breaker may power your kitchen. Another may power your bedroom. Larger breakers may supply your air conditioner, water heater, pool, or other large equipment.
A normal electrical panel does this job very well, but it doesn’t tell you much about how you’re using electricity.
SPAN changes that.
A SPAN Panel can connect to an app on your phone. The app lets you see how electricity is being used around your home.
This means your electrical panel isn’t just a box full of breakers anymore. It becomes part of your smart home.
See Where Your Power Is Going
Have you ever opened your electric bill and wondered why it was so high?
It can be hard to know what caused it.
Was it your air conditioner? Your pool pump? Your water heater? Your dryer? Maybe you started charging an electric car at home.
SPAN can help you better understand where your electricity is going.
Instead of only seeing how much power the whole house used, you can see information about different circuits in your home.
This gives you a much better picture of how your family uses electricity.
You may find that one part of your home is using much more power than you thought.
Knowing this can help you make smarter choices.
Control Circuits From Your Phone
SPAN doesn’t only show you information. It can also give you more control over many of the circuits in your home.
Using the SPAN app, homeowners can manage supported circuits without having to walk out to the electrical panel.
This can be useful when you are away from home or when you want to manage which parts of the house are using electricity.
It can become even more helpful when your home has solar panels or a battery backup system.
What Happens if the Internet Goes Out?
One question we often hear about smart products is, “What happens if my Wi-Fi stops working?”
That’s a good question.
Your electrical panel is too important to depend only on your home’s internet connection.
SPAN uses an internet connection for smart features such as the app, monitoring, and updates. If your internet goes down, the panel can still continue its basic electrical job.
Your lights don’t suddenly stop working just because the Wi-Fi went out.
The smart features add more control and information to the electrical system, but the panel is still an electrical panel.
Is SPAN Right for Every Home?
Not every homeowner needs a smart electrical panel.
A regular electrical panel may still be the best choice for many homes.
SPAN becomes especially interesting for homeowners who want to add more electrical technology.
Maybe you are thinking about buying an electric vehicle. You might want solar panels in the future. You may want a home battery system. Maybe you’re building a new house and simply want it to be ready for technology that may come along later.
These are good reasons to talk with an electrician about your options.
Building a New Home? Think Ahead.
When people build a new home, they spend a lot of time choosing things they can see.
They choose cabinets, counter tops, flooring, appliances, lights, paint colors, and bathroom fixtures.
But some of the most important parts of a home are hidden behind the walls.
Your electrical system is one of them.
At Anchor Electric of Florida, we believe your electrical system should be designed for more than what you need today.
Think about what your family might need five or ten years from now.
You may not own an electric vehicle today, but you could own one later. Your family could eventually have two electric vehicles. You might add a pool, outdoor kitchen, workshop, generator, solar panels, or battery system.
Planning for these things during construction can be much easier than trying to add them later.
Smart Home. Smart Power.
A smart home needs power.
As more things in our homes become electric, the electrical system becomes even more important.
SPAN is an exciting example of how electrical panels are changing. Instead of simply sending power around the house, the panel can help homeowners better understand and manage that power.
If you’re building a new home, remodeling, replacing an old electrical panel, or just wondering if a SPAN Panel might be right for you, Anchor Electric of Florida can help.
Our team can look at your home’s electrical system, talk about what you may want to add in the future, and help you understand your options.
Your home is getting smarter. Your electrical system can too.
Contact Anchor Electric of Florida to learn more about smart electrical options for your home.