Electrical Panel Upgrades
in West Palm Beach & Palm Bay
Older panels weren't built for today's electrical loads, EV chargers, whole-home generators, and modern appliances all push panels past their original design. We upgrade residential panels throughout Palm Beach County and Brevard County, permitted and inspected.
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Warning Signs Your Panel Needs Attention
- Breakers that trip repeatedly under normal use
- Breakers that won't reset after tripping
- Lights that dim when you run the washing machine or AC
- A panel that feels warm or makes buzzing or crackling sounds
- Burn marks or melted plastic visible anywhere near the panel
- Your panel is Federal Pacific (Stab-Lok) or Zinsco brand
- You want to add an EV charger, hot tub, or standby generator
- Your panel is 25 or more years old
What We Upgrade
100A to 200A Service Upgrade
The most common upgrade. Replaces an undersized service with a modern 200A panel, giving you capacity for generators, EV chargers, and additional circuits.
Main Breaker Replacement
The main breaker protects your whole panel. Worn or faulty main breakers are a fire risk and are often the source of unexplained electrical problems.
Sub-Panel Installation
Adding a workshop, detached garage, or pool equipment often means adding a sub-panel rather than running long individual circuits from the main panel.
Federal Pacific & Zinsco Panel Replacement
These specific panel brands have a history of breaker failures. If you have one, we strongly recommend replacement regardless of what else you're having done.
Panel Upgrade Cost Factors
A panel upgrade is not a commodity job. The price depends on several factors specific to your home:
- Current service size (60A, 100A, 150A, or 200A)
- Distance from the meter to your panel
- Whether the utility requires a meter socket upgrade at the same time
- Number of existing circuits to reconnect
- Whether permit fees have increased in your county recently
- Whether the work is bundled with a generator install (usually saves money)
Panel Upgrade FAQs
Do I Need a Panel Upgrade Before Installing a Generator?
Most generator installations require at minimum a dedicated breaker space for the transfer switch. If your panel is full, every slot occupied, or if it's an older panel showing signs of wear, a panel upgrade will be included as part of the generator quote. We assess this during our site visit, so you won't discover it mid-project.
Federal Pacific and Zinsco panels must be replaced before any generator work begins, no exceptions. These panels have a documented history of breakers that fail to trip under overload conditions, creating a serious fire hazard. Adding generator load to a compromised panel is something we won't do, and no licensed electrician should.
Upgrading to a 200A panel opens the door for everything you might want to add in the future, EV chargers, heat pumps, additional circuits, without requiring a second service upgrade. It's the foundation that makes all future electrical work simpler and less expensive.
We often bundle panel upgrades with generator installations, one job, one permit process, one crew.
Panel Upgrade Process in Palm Beach & Brevard County
Step-by-Step Process
- 1
Assessment & Quote
We visit your home, evaluate the existing panel, assess service entrance condition, and provide a written quote that accounts for permit fees and utility coordination.
- 2
Permit Application
We apply for the electrical permit with Palm Beach County or Brevard County, depending on your location. Work does not begin until the permit is issued.
- 3
Utility Coordination
For service upgrades, we coordinate directly with FPL (Palm Beach County) or SECO Energy (Brevard County) to schedule the utility-side disconnect and reconnect.
- 4
Installation Day
Power is off for the working portion of the day, typically 4–6 hours. We remove the old panel, install the new one, reconnect all circuits, and verify everything is functioning before we leave.
- 5
Inspection & Sign-Off
The county inspector reviews the completed work. We handle scheduling the inspection and are on-site for it. You receive a permitted, inspected upgrade.
What to Expect on Installation Day
- Our crew arrives early, typically between 7–9 AM
- Power is shut off at the main before any work begins
- We work through the panel swap without needing to re-enter most rooms
- Expect 4–6 hours with power off for the main living areas
- We test every circuit before restoring power
- All old panel materials and debris are removed from the property
- We walk you through the new panel labeling before we leave
- Permit card is posted at the panel for the inspection
Signs Your Panel Is Failing Right Now
These are emergency signs, call immediately, don't wait for a scheduled appointment.
Burning Smell Near the Panel
A burning or acrid smell near your electrical panel indicates active overheating or arcing. This is a fire emergency. Turn off the main breaker and call us.
Breakers That Feel Warm or Hot
Breakers should not be warm to the touch under normal operation. Heat means resistance, resistance means a failing connection or an overloaded circuit that isn't tripping correctly.
Scorching or Discoloration
Visible scorch marks, blackened plastic, or discoloration around breakers or bus bars means heat damage has already occurred. The panel needs to be inspected immediately.
Panel Upgrades Near You
We serve residential customers throughout Palm Beach County and Brevard County, Florida.