Old panels
Federal Pacific & Zinsco Panel Replacement
If your 1960s or 1970s home still has a Federal Pacific (FPE) Stab-Lok or Zinsco panel, expect home inspectors to flag it and plan on replacement rather than repair. Most owners use the replacement to move to 200 amps at the same time.
How to tell what you have
Read the label; don't open the panel. The manufacturer's name is printed on the panel door or on the label inside it.
- Federal Pacific: "Federal Pacific Electric," "FPE" or "Stab-Lok" on the door or label.
- Zinsco: "Zinsco" on the label; Zinsco-design panels were also sold under the Sylvania (GTE-Sylvania) name.
- Not sure: a home inspection report usually names the brand, or an electrician can confirm it in a few minutes.
Leave the inner cover (the dead front) in place. Removing it exposes energized parts.
What official sources say
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission looked at Federal Pacific Stab-Lok breakers in the early 1980s. Its focus was two-pole residential breakers made before Reliance acquired FPE in 1979, some of which failed certain UL calibration tests. In 1983 the CPSC closed the investigation, saying the available data "does not establish that the circuit breakers pose a serious risk of injury," and that staff had "insufficient data to accept or refute" the manufacturer's position. It advised consumers to follow general breaker safety, including finding out why a breaker trips instead of just resetting it.
We found no CPSC recall or official finding for Zinsco panels. Concerns about them come mainly from home inspectors and electricians.
Replacement options
The panel comes out either way. The question is whether to add capacity while the walls are open.
| Option | What it involves | Makes sense when |
|---|---|---|
| Same-amp replacement | New panel at your current service size (often 100A) | A load calculation shows enough capacity for what you plan to add |
| Replace and upgrade to 200A | New panel, larger service conductors, often a new meter-main; PG&E involvement | You plan an EV charger, heat pump, induction range or ADU |
| Replace and add a subpanel | New main panel plus a subpanel for a garage or ADU | Space for circuits is the issue, not capacity |
Costs: panel upgrade cost guide. Not sure about capacity? Do I need a panel upgrade?
Buying or selling a 1960s or 1970s home
Lamorinda's median home was built in 1960, Walnut Creek's in 1974 and Pleasant Hill's in 1972 (Census), the era when these panels were common. A buyer's inspection report that names Federal Pacific or Zinsco often becomes a repair request or a price adjustment. Replacing the panel before listing, with a permit and final inspection, gives buyers a clean answer.
Homes from the same era can also have aluminum branch wiring, which CPSC treats as its own issue. If an inspector mentions both, see home rewiring.
Federal Pacific and Zinsco questions
How much does it cost to replace a Federal Pacific panel?
One Contra Costa County permit record put the declared value of a Federal Pacific 100A to 200A replacement at $7,993. Bay Area guidance for a 100A to 200A upgrade with overhead service is $3,000–$8,000+, and $20,000+ underground (East Bay Electric, citing PG&E). A same-amperage swap usually costs less than an upgrade.
Does homeowners insurance cover Federal Pacific panel replacement?
Policies differ, and we can't advise on coverage. Insurers generally pay for sudden damage rather than replacing equipment that still works, and some ask about the panel brand when writing a policy. Ask your insurer directly.
Should a Federal Pacific panel be replaced?
The CPSC closed its investigation without finding a serious risk, but it also said it lacked the data to settle the question. Home inspectors routinely flag these panels, they're decades old, and replacement is the usual recommendation from electricians. Many owners replace when they sell, buy or add a big load.
Is a Sylvania panel the same as a Zinsco?
Some are. Zinsco-design panels were also sold under the Sylvania (GTE-Sylvania) name. Let an electrician identify the panel from its label.
Sources
Next step
Replace an old panel
Call to talk it through, or send the short form. A local electrician can follow up to look at your panel and service and give you a written quote.
Call (925) 722-6103Prefer to type? Use the form.