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Think you need a service panel upgrade?

Think Again!

CASE STUDY #1

“I had an electrician who offered to inspect my electrical wiring for free. He told me that I had burned wiring and needed to ‘upgrade the service panel’ since it obviously could not handle the load…”

After inspecting the panel myself, I was perplexed as to why the other electrician informed this homeowner that she needed a panel upgrade. This type of panel, commonly referred to as a “Bryant style panel” (Bryant was the first to manufacture a panel with this common design, hence the nickname), is in my professional opinion very reliable and quite good. The failure rates of the breakers and bussing is relatively low and they are inexpensive to service and maintain.

My next question to the homeowner was “Are you planning to add additional load items to your house like a Jacuzzi or air conditioner?” The answer was negative. Still perplexed, I asked her what the electrician had used for justification for a panel upgrade. She told me, “He pointed to a wire on a 30-amp breaker that was slightly bubbled and looked like it had overheated in the past.” I looked at the wire and said, “Man, that looks like the wire is not tightened under the breaker lug,” and in the same breath reached down and wiggled the wire … It came out!

CASE STUDY #2

“My breakers keep tripping so I need to get more power. I need to get a panel upgrade.”

I would say about 99.99% of the time (very unscientific percentage) that when a circuit breaker keeps tripping you most definitely do NOT need a panel upgrade. You need to split up the circuit. If you have 30 amps worth of electricity trying to run on a 20 amp breaker, that just is not going to work.

A panel upgrade with this type of problem will do nothing to keep your power from going out. What you will be left with is a nice, shiny, new panel with lots of capacity and NO NEW WIRING. It is akin to having a turbo charged drag car without any wheels. You have all the potential to move out, but without tires you are going nowhere fast.

CASE STUDY #3

“I am adding a hot tub, air conditioner, kitchen remodel, granny flat, etc., and need to put wiring in for it. My house was built in the 1950s, and I have a (take your pick of the following panels) Zinsco, Push-Matic or FPE Stablok panel that is rated at 60-amps with no additional capacity. Don’t you think I can just put in a different breaker and make it all work?”

No, sorry. You need a panel upgrade!

If you have a Zinsco, Push-Matic, or FPE Stablok panel, that in and of itself makes the case for a panel upgrade. These panels are notorious for burning on the bussing, breaker failure, and difficult-to-find replacement parts. The replacement breakers are very expensive when compared to a Square D or Bryant Style panel.

In addition, it is very difficult, if not impossible, to get GFCI breakers for any of these panels. To my knowledge, FPE is the only one of the three that might have GFCI breakers available. Another electrician I know likes to call Zinsco the “Never Blow Zinsco”. I have found that this is not always the case but I will say that I have pulled out my fair share of burned Zinsco breakers. They basically incinerate and fuse to the bussing over time, and eventually will cause your lights to blink or dim when using heavy loads, or will burn the bussing to the point that it can no longer be repaired.