Electrical Panel Upgrades

Your home’s electrical panel might have a serious defect if it’s more than 25 years old, because there are some electrical panels from that era that have known safety issues due to poor design. Electrical panels installed after 1990 are generally well designed and safe.

Contact Mr. Electric right away to replace the following types of defective panels:

Federal Pacific Electric (FPE) Electrical Panel

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission classified this panel as a safety defect warranting a new electrical panel. These panels, installed in homes between 1950 and 1980, have design and manufacturing defects that can cause fires and electric shocks.

Zinsco Electrical Panel

Thankfully, Zinsco panels were taken off the market in the mid-1970s. They have a defective design that allows power to flow even when the breakers are switched off. Breaker switches also melt, which basically renders them useless. Zinsco electrical panels pose fire and shock hazards. Replace them with a new electrical panel immediately.

Pushmatic Electrical Panel

Pushmatic panels have weak breaker switches that get harder to reset over time. They also do not have a main breaker switch to stop all power from flowing into the panel. Mr. Electric recommends that Pushmatic panels be replaced with better functioning panels.

Fuse Boxes

The oldest type of electrical panel is actually called a fuse box. Today’s homes require up to 200 amps of power or more. Fuse boxes can only handle 30-60 amps. Back in the day, every time a glass fuse broke, it had to be replaced. You can’t even get fuses for many fuse boxes anymore. That’s because these outdated systems are a huge fire and electrocution risk. Immediately contact Mr. Electric to replace your fuse box with a modern electrical panel. We can also assess whether the wiring in the home is sufficient and up to modern electrical codes. Chances are, it’s not – but we can help fix that too.

If you’re thinking about making a major improvement to your home, don’t forget to assess the additional power that you will need. Room additions, kitchen remodels and major appliances such as heating and air conditioning systems, hot tubs, double ovens, garage door openers and outdoor lights all may require an expanded electrical panel. You may have to add outlets to a wall or special 240-volt circuits or a sub-panel for a generator.

Electrical panel upgrade projects are priced individually because the price depends on three major factors:

• Location – Each Mr. Electric is independently owned, and each owner sets their own rates.
• Scope of the project – The cost of your electrical panel replacement will vary based on what you need done. The price to replace an old fuse box with a modern electrical panel will be far greater than installing a small secondary electrical panel for a generator.
• Site conditions – If the existing wiring, conduits or installation site need work before a safe panel replacement can be completed, the price of the electrical panel upgrade will increase.

Should I Upgrade or Repair My Electrical Panel?

In some cases, we’re able to repair your existing electrical panel rather than upgrade to a new system. Our electricians will determine whether your panel is a candidate for repair after they’ve had a chance to assess the current system and your household energy demands. Some key factors to determining electrical panel repair vs. replacement include the age of the electrical panel, reliability and safety.

Electrical panel repairs include:

• Circuit breaker replacement
• Circuit breaker installation and upgrades
• Rewiring the electrical panel
• Bus bar replacement
• Relocating electrical panel due to moisture or other concerns