Casa De Emdeko Main Service Upgrade: A Project Recap
This past week, our crew wrapped a massive project on our schedule, both in scope and effort. The main electrical service at Casa De Emdeko, (the oceanfront condominium community on Alii Drive in Kailua-Kona), has a brand-new switchgear lineup. We removed the old gear, added the new one, and every unit at the property is back up and running like they should.
Why This Kailua-Kona Condo Needed A Main Service Upgrade
Casa De Emdeko is around two or so miles south of Kailua-Kona village. It’s one of most recognized oceanfront condo communities on the Kona Coast, with three buildings and dozens of homes that depend on a single main electrical service to keep the lights on.
That main service reached the end of its life: the original switchgear was aging, parts were getting harder to source, and the property needed a full upgrade just to keep pace with the modern electrical load. When you’re in this position, the answer is a replacement rather than any patchwork repairs.
For those unfamiliar with the term, a switchgear lineup is essentially a massive, heavy-duty commercial version of your home’s main circuit breaker panel, responsible for safely distributing power across the entire property.
Long Switchgear Lead Times On The Big Island
Did we mention parts were getting harder to source? In this case, it took a year for the new switchgear to be built, packaged, and shipped to the Big Island. The electrical market has definitely changed over the past few years.
Long lead times on switchgear are now the norm across the country, unfortunately. We tell every commercial customer the same thing: is your main equipment showing its age in any way? Let’s talk ASAP. The property management team at Casa De Emdeko were consummate professionals. They were patient and well prepared, and we used that massive lead time to finalize the shutdown plan and pre-stage as much of the work as possible.
Temporary Generator Power During The Electrical Service Upgrade
Casa De Emdeko is a residential property; people are living there and renting vacation properties. We can’t just shut the power off, tell everyone to just make do, and work at our own leisure.
To keep those important systems running during the planned outage, our team coordinated and installed two portable generators. Life-safety loads, common-area systems, and essential services stayed online without fail for residents and vacationers the whole time.
What A Commercial Switchgear Replacement Involves
Once the temporary power was in place and the utility had de-energized the service, the real work began:
- We coordinated the planned shutdown of Casa De Emdeko with the property and the utility
- We then set up and integrated the two portable generators
- We rolled up our sleeves and destroyed and removed the existing switchgear assembly
- Then we installed the new service equipment in the existing footprint
- Reconnecting began, hooking every feeder serving the property back up
- Bonding, grounding, and labeling the new gear to current code
- Testing, energizing, and commissioning the new system
By the end of day four, the new gear was live, the temporary generators were offline, and the property was back to full operation.
The Big Island Electric Crew Behind The Project
This job was a success, but not because of just one person. We’re lucky to have a crew that knows the work, trusts each other like family (we like to think we are!), and shows up ready to grind. Huge mahalo to Scott, Niko, Brent, Eric, and Taylor for the long days and careful work that brought Casa De Emdeko back online in no time in a tight schedule.
Electrical Upgrades For Big Island Condos And Commercial Properties
Casa De Emdeko isn’t the only aging property on the Kona Coast with aging electrical equipment. A lot of the condos and hotels along Alii Drive are decades-old, and much of the original gear is still in place. Combine age, saltwater air and humidity, and the electrical equipment has been through its paces.
If you manage a condo association, commercial building, or a hospitality property on the Big Island, there’s never been a better time to plan the upgrade. Lead times are long, planning can take months, and that cost of waiting for the gear to fail is way higher than the actual upgrade.
Learn more on our electrical upgrades page, or call us to schedule a free evaluation.
