Federal Pacific and Zinsco panel replacement in Tampa Bay

Federal Pacific Stab-Lok panels are usually labeled and have a distinctive breaker design, while Zinsco panels often have colorful, blocky breaker switches. If your home was built or last rewired between the mid-1950s and mid-1970s and you haven't had the panel replaced, it's worth a free inspection. We can confirm the brand in a few minutes.

Both brands have documented histories of breakers failing to trip during an overload or short circuit, which is the exact scenario a breaker exists to catch. When that failure happens, the result can be overheating, arcing, or fire without the panel ever cutting power. This isn't marketing language, it's a well-documented issue that's led many insurers and electricians to recommend proactive replacement.

Many Florida carriers now flag these panel brands specifically during underwriting and either require replacement before binding a new policy or decline to renew an existing one. This is common in Tampa Bay's older neighborhoods where original panels are still in place. We provide documentation of the replacement that you can submit to your insurance agent.

A standard 200 amp panel replacement typically runs $2,500 to $4,500, depending on whether the service entrance and meter need work alongside the panel itself. The job usually takes a full day including the permitted inspection. We give you a firm quote after the initial inspection, not an estimate that changes once we start.

Yes, power to the home has to be off while we disconnect the old panel and install the new one, typically for several hours during the workday. We coordinate the utility disconnect in advance and let you know the expected window so you can plan around it.