Panel & service upgrades

Signs your panel needs attention

• The panel is full — no open spaces, or tandem breakers doubled up everywhere
• Breakers trip repeatedly, or one feels warm to the touch
• You hear buzzing, crackling, or smell anything hot near the panel
• Lights dim noticeably when a large appliance starts
• You still have a fuse box, or a 60A or 100A service in a house that needs more
• The panel is a Federal Pacific Stab-Lok, a Zinsco, or a Challenger

Why the recalled brands matter

Federal Pacific Stab-Lok and Zinsco panels have a documented history of breakers that fail to trip during an overload or short circuit. A breaker that doesn't trip is not a minor defect — tripping is the entire point of the device. Home inspectors flag these panels, and some insurers will decline or surcharge a policy because of one.

These panels also can't be safely expanded. Reliable replacement breakers aren't available for them, so adding a circuit means either an unsafe substitution or nothing at all.

What a service upgrade involves

A typical 100A to 200A upgrade means a new panel and breakers, a new meter socket, a new service entrance conductor, and new grounding and bonding brought up to current code. It requires a permit, an inspection, and a coordinated power shutoff with the utility — usually a single day without power, which we schedule with you in advance.

When we're done, the panel directory is labeled legibly with what each circuit actually controls. It's a small thing that the next electrician, the next home inspector, and you at 11 p.m. will all appreciate.