Federal Pacific Electric manufactured Stab-Lok circuit breaker panels from the 1950s through the 1980s, and millions of them were installed in homes and commercial buildings across the United States during that period. Decades of independent testing and fire investigation research have established that FPE Stab-Lok breakers fail to trip at rates that are significantly higher than acceptable safety standards allow meaning the fundamental safety function of the breaker, interrupting current flow during an overload or short circuit, cannot be relied upon.
The Consumer Product Safety Commission has investigated FPE panels. Electrical engineers and fire investigators have documented the failure patterns extensively. Numerous states and municipalities have issued guidance recommending replacement. And insurance carriers across the country have moved to exclude or restrict coverage on properties where these panels remain in service.
Replacing a Federal Pacific Electric panel is not an elective upgrade. It is the correction of a known safety defect, one that your family, your tenants, and your property are exposed to every day the panel remains in service.
All Thingz Electric’s licensed electricians replace FPE Stab-Lok panels with modern, code-compliant electrical panels from trusted manufacturers, restoring the safety margin your electrical system is supposed to provide and bringing your property into full compliance with current California electrical code.
One of the most widely specified residential and commercial panels in the industry, available in a full range of amperage capacities and circuit configurations.
A modern panel option with built-in surge protection capabilities and strong performance in residential applications.
A reliable, widely available panel line with strong residential and light commercial applications and excellent breaker availability for future circuit additions.
A trusted manufacturer offering residential and commercial panels with modern arc-fault and ground-fault breaker compatibility and a strong track record of code compliance.
Replacing a Federal Pacific electrical panel is essential to protect your home from serious electrical hazards and improve the safety of your entire electrical system. Here are four important reasons homeowners choose Federal Pacific panel replacement services:
Not sure whether your property has a Federal Pacific Electric panel? Our licensed electricians inspect your panel, identify the manufacturer and model, assess the current condition of the equipment, and give you a clear picture of the risk level and your replacement options at no obligation.
We remove the existing FPE Stab-Lok panel completely and replace it with a new, properly sized, code-compliant electrical panel from a reputable manufacturer. The replacement includes all necessary circuit transfers, proper labeling, grounding verification, and a final inspection through your local Orange County building department.
FPE panel replacement frequently reveals that the service entrance and the wiring running from the utility meter to the main panel is also undersized or in need of replacement. We assess and upgrade service entrance equipment as part of or alongside the panel replacement when conditions require it.
Replacing an FPE panel is an opportunity to install the electrical capacity your property actually needs today and into the future. We perform load calculations to determine the correct panel size for your current and anticipated electrical demands, whether that's a 200-amp residential panel or a larger commercial service.
A new panel installation is the right time to add whole-building surge protection, a device that protects every circuit in your home or business from voltage spikes that can damage appliances, electronics, and electrical equipment. We install surge protection as part of the panel replacement process.
Every Federal Pacific panel replacement we perform is fully permitted through the appropriate Orange County or city building department and inspected by a qualified electrical inspector before the job is closed. We manage the entire permitting process from application through final sign-off, you don't make a single call to the city.
A Federal Pacific Electric Stab-Lok panel doesn’t always announce its problems loudly but the consequences of ignoring the warning signs can be catastrophic. These panels have a well-documented history of breaker failure, and the hazards they create range from nuisance tripping to electrical fires that start without warning. Here are the most common signs that your FPE panel needs to be replaced immediately.
The single most dangerous characteristic of Federal Pacific Stab-Lok breakers is their failure to trip when a circuit is overloaded. A breaker that doesn’t trip allows excessive current to continue flowing through your wiring generating heat, degrading insulation, and creating the conditions for an electrical fire inside your walls.
Paradoxically, some FPE breakers trip far too easily, shutting off power to circuits under normal load conditions. If circuits in your home or business are tripping without an obvious cause, your panel may be exhibiting early signs of internal component failure.
Any burning odor coming from your electrical panel or any visible discoloration, scorch marks, or melting around breakers or the panel box itself indicates that heat is being generated internally at dangerous levels. This is an emergency. Do not wait.
If your home or commercial building was constructed between the 1950s and 1980s and the electrical panel has never been replaced, there is a significant probability that you have a Federal Pacific Electric Stab-Lok panel. Many Orange County property owners don’t know what they have until a licensed electrician opens the panel door.
Many homeowners and commercial property insurance carriers in California will not issue or renew coverage on properties with Federal Pacific Electric panels still in service. If your insurer has flagged your panel or declined to cover your property, replacement is typically the fastest path to resolving the issue.
All Thingz Electric has completed 35+ Federal Pacific panel replacements across Orange County communities, including HOA-managed neighborhoods, multi-unit properties, and residential developments. We regularly support HOA and community-wide electrical upgrade programs, working within approval processes, scheduling requirements, and inspection coordination standards. Every panel replacement is fully permitted and includes a 5-year workmanship warranty for long-term installation assurance.
Don’t wait until an outdated Federal Pacific Electric (FPE) panel puts your home at risk or affects your insurance coverage. Contact All Thingz Electric for a free consultation on FPE panel replacement. Our licensed electricians provide safe, code-compliant upgrades that protect your home, family, and property.
Serving Orange County homeowners, we specialize in permitted panel replacements built for safety, reliability, and insurance compliance. We are fully licensed, bonded, and insured in California, and every project is backed by our commitment to quality workmanship.
Yes. Independent testing, fire investigation research, and decades of documented field failures have established that FPE Stab-Lok breakers fail to trip during overloads at rates that far exceed acceptable safety standards. This is not a theoretical risk, it is a documented hardware defect in panels that are still actively in service in millions of properties across the country, including right here in Orange County.
No reliable solution exists for repairing or upgrading a Federal Pacific Stab-Lok panel in place. Replacement breakers marketed as compatible with FPE panels are not a code-compliant or safety-validated solution. The correct resolution is full panel replacement with a modern, code-compliant panel from a reputable manufacturer.
 Many California homeowners and commercial property insurance carriers will not issue new policies or renew existing coverage on properties with Federal Pacific Electric panels still in service. If your insurer has flagged your panel, contacting us for full replacement is typically the fastest and most straightforward path to resolving the coverage issue.
At All Thingz Electric, we provide transparent, upfront estimates before starting any work, so you know the total cost with no hidden surprises.
Yes. Panel replacement is a permitted electrical project in every city we serve throughout Orange County. Permits exist to ensure the work is inspected by a qualified electrical inspector and verified to meet current code requirements. All Thingz Electric handles the complete permitting process on every panel replacement we perform.
Most residential FPE panel replacements are completed in a single day. The timeline includes the utility disconnect coordination, panel removal and installation, circuit transfers, and restoration of power. The permit inspection is typically scheduled within a few days of installation completion.
We serve Aliso Viejo, Irvine, Mission Viejo, Laguna Niguel, Lake Forest, Newport Beach, Huntington Beach, Costa Mesa, Tustin, Santa Ana, and surrounding communities throughout Orange County. Contact us to confirm service availability at your specific address.
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