Federal Pacific and Zinsco Panel Replacement in Phoenix

How to tell if you have one

• Federal Pacific: “Federal Pacific Electric” or “FPE” on the door or label, and “Stab-Lok” printed on the panel or breakers.
• Zinsco: “Zinsco” or “Sylvania” on the label (Sylvania took over the line), often with multi-colored breaker handles.
• Not sure? Text us a photo of the panel with the door open. We'll tell you.

Why they get replaced

A breaker has one job: trip when a circuit overloads or shorts. The concern with these panels is breakers that don't. In 1980 Federal Pacific's parent company reported to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission that many Stab-Lok breakers did not fully comply with UL requirements, and the CPSC's own testing confirmed they failed certain UL calibration tests. The CPSC closed its investigation in 1983 without a recall, stating the data didn't establish a serious risk, and without ruling on whether the breakers were safe. Zinsco panels are known in the trade for breakers that can overheat and fuse to the bus bar.

That's the honest version. What we see in the field is simpler: these panels are 40 to 60 years old, replacement breakers are a salvage market, and home inspectors and insurers flag them. Paying a premium for a used breaker to keep one running is money better spent toward the panel you'd actually want.

What replacement involves

• Load calculation, so the new panel is sized for the house you have now
• Permit pulled under our license
• Utility disconnect and reconnect (SRP or APS, we coordinate it)
• New panel, and often a new meter-main, riser and mast on older services
• Grounding and bonding brought up to current code
• Circuits re-landed, AFCI/GFCI where required, every circuit labeled
• City inspection, and APS's own inspection where required

Most replacements are a single working day with the power off. The price depends on the same things as any panel job. What a panel upgrade costs in Phoenix →

Do it once

If you're replacing an obsolete panel anyway, it's the cheapest moment to add capacity for an EV charger, a pool or a casita. Tell us what's coming and we'll size for it. 200A or 400A? →