OUR SERVICES
Electrical Panel Upgrades
200-amp power for AC, EVs, and modern desert living.
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Is Your Panel Keeping Up With Your Home?
Phoenix homes work their electrical panels harder than almost anywhere in the country. Big AC units running six months a year, pool pumps, EV chargers, and workshops all pull power through a box that, in many Valley homes, was installed 30 or 40 years ago. When a panel runs out of headroom you see it: breakers that trip when the AC and dryer run together, lights that flicker, and no open slots for anything new.
Some panels are more than undersized — they’re documented fire risks. Federal Pacific (FPE) and Zinsco panels, common in homes built from the 1960s through the early 1980s, are known to fail to trip under fault. Many insurers now require replacement before they’ll write or renew a policy. If your home has one, replacement isn’t an upgrade — it’s a safety repair.
What we handle
- 100 → 200 amp service upgrades (APS & SRP coordination included)
- Federal Pacific & Zinsco panel replacement
- Main breaker & sub-panel installation
- Code corrections for home sales & insurance
- Permits, inspection & old-panel haul-away included
- Whole-home surge protection add-on
UPFRONT PRICING
What It Costs
| Job | Typical Price |
|---|---|
| Panel replacement (like-for-like, 200A) | $2,800–$4,800 |
| 100 → 200 amp service upgrade | $3,500–$6,500 |
| FPE / Zinsco replacement | $2,900–$5,200 |
| Sub-panel installation | $800–$1,800 |
| Whole-home surge protection add-on | $350–$600 |
Every panel job includes permits, utility coordination, inspection, and haul-away — priced flat-rate before we start. 5-year warranty on panels.
Upfront Pricing
No surprises, ever.
5-Yr Warranty
On everything we install.
Licensed & Insured
Licensed, bonded & insured.
Same-Day Service
24/7 for emergencies.
How It Works
01
Call or Book
A real person answers, 24/7.
02
Approve the Price
Flat-rate quote in writing before we start.
03
Done & Guaranteed
Clean work, 5-yr warranty, tidy exit.
GOOD TO KNOW
Pro Tips & Straight Answers
- Panels age faster in Arizona. A panel’s working life is 25–40 years anywhere else; garage panels on west-facing walls here cook at 130°F+ all summer and land at the short end of that range.
- The warm-breaker check: put the back of your hand near (not on) your breakers. Noticeable heat, buzzing, or a plastic smell means loose connections or an overloaded circuit — that’s a call-today situation.
- The FPE numbers are real. Independent testing found roughly one in four Federal Pacific Stab-Lok breakers failed to trip under overload. A breaker that doesn’t trip isn’t a breaker — it’s a wire waiting to overheat.
- Double-taps are the #1 sin we find: two wires under one breaker lug from decades of DIY add-ons. Often a $150–$300 fix with a tandem breaker or sub-panel feed — you don’t always need a whole new panel.
- New meter rule: since the 2020 code cycle, new services need an exterior emergency disconnect — that’s why newly-built neighbors have that extra box by the meter. Replacements trigger it in some Valley jurisdictions.
- Thinking about solar or batteries within 5 years? Say so before we order your panel. Bus rating, main breaker sizing, and open spaces determine whether your future installer smiles or quotes you another change-out.
- Photograph your panel label before calling your insurance agent — brand, amperage, and date codes answer 90% of their questions and can head off a premium surcharge.
- Surge protection belongs at the panel. Monsoon season is lightning season; a $350–$600 whole-home surge protector shields every appliance at once, and it’s cheapest to add on panel day.
FAQ
Common Questions
How long does a panel upgrade take?
Most panel replacements are done in one day — typically 4 to 8 hours. Power is off for part of the day, and we schedule around your needs. Service upgrades that involve APS or SRP can add a utility appointment, which we coordinate for you.
Do I need a permit for a panel upgrade in Phoenix?
Yes — panel replacements and service upgrades require a permit and inspection everywhere in the Valley. We pull the permit, schedule the inspection, and handle utility coordination as part of the flat-rate price.
What are the signs I need a panel upgrade?
Frequent breaker trips, warm panel covers, buzzing or crackling sounds, flickering lights when large appliances start, or a panel rated under 150 amps in a home with modern loads. An FPE or Zinsco label is reason enough on its own.
Will my homeowner’s insurance require this?
Increasingly, yes. Many Arizona insurers decline or surcharge homes with FPE, Zinsco, or fuse panels. We provide the documentation and inspection paperwork you need for your insurer after the job.
Does a panel upgrade add home value?
It’s one of the few electrical jobs that shows up at resale. Buyers’ inspectors flag old panels routinely, and a documented 200-amp upgrade with permits removes a common negotiation point.
Related
Panel upgrade cost guide • FPE panels • Zinsco panels • Challenger panels • Pushmatic panels • Panel upgrades in Mesa • Panel upgrades in Glendale • EV charger installation