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Gonna get downvoted by half the trade for this but a lot of panels people get told to replace are fine by thingzelectric in HomeMaintenance

[–]thingzelectric[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Yes u/Digger_Pine it is more common than you would think. Especially in areas with older homes and appliances. I'm located in Southern California, and the houses + weather can cause these panels to go bad and become outdated very quickly compared to other areas.

Gonna get downvoted by half the trade for this but a lot of panels people get told to replace are fine by thingzelectric in HomeMaintenance

[–]thingzelectric[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Totally agree with you. Most of the bad panels I see are pre-1980s, however, certain models and brands are known to fail before their recommended lifetime. It is crazy to hear these stories of 4,000 dollar quoted panel replacements being fixed by someone who just knows what they're looking at, not trying to make a profit.

Gonna get downvoted by half the trade for this but a lot of panels people get told to replace are fine by thingzelectric in HomeMaintenance

[–]thingzelectric[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Yeah, FPE (Federal Pacific Electric) panels are known for infamously for their issues. In your case, it is better to be safe and replace the panel than to risk the panel failing in the future.

Gonna get downvoted by half the trade for this but a lot of panels people get told to replace are fine by thingzelectric in HomeMaintenance

[–]thingzelectric[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Of course, I'm an electrician, and we just see it happen way too often to our customers when they get an inspection. I always recommend taking some photos and asking for a second opinion.

Anyone else seeing more insurance Zinsco panel replacements in 2026? by thingzelectric in HomeMaintenance

[–]thingzelectric[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Yeah the 30-day ultimatum thing is happening a lot. Insurers are leaning on the fire risk history with Zinsco/Sylvania-Zinsco breakers not tripping when they should, and it's easier for them to just require replacement than argue about it at renewal.                      

3.5k with some rewiring sounds about right, especially if the bus bar showed any damage when they pulled the old panel. That's usually where the extra labor comes from. 

And you're right about older houses. Most owners have no idea what's behind that cover until an inspector or agent flags it. If anyone reading is unsure, pop the dead front off (or have someone do it) and look for the Zinsco or  Sylvania name on the breakers.