ASL
Your electrical panel is the heart of your home's electrical system. Every circuit starts there, and every breaker in it is supposed to shut off power the moment something goes wrong. If your panel is old, undersized or one of the brands with a documented history of problems, it may not be able to do that job, and it may not have the capacity for the EV charger, heat pump or kitchen remodel you are planning.
ASL Electric replaces and upgrades electrical panels across Orange County, including main service upgrades from 100A to 200A, subpanels, and full replacement of Federal Pacific and Zinsco panels. We start with a load calculation and an inspection of the panel and wiring, coordinate the shutoff and reconnect with Southern California Edison or SDG&E, pull the permit and handle the inspection, so you deal with one licensed contractor from start to finish.
Panel and service work we handle
⚡Main service upgrades (100A to 200A)
Many older Orange County homes were built with 100A service or less. Adding an EV charger, a heat pump, a larger air conditioner, induction cooking or an ADU can push past that. A service upgrade replaces the panel and meter section with one sized for how you live now, coordinated with your utility.
⚡Federal Pacific panel replacement
Federal Pacific Electric (FPE) Stab-Lok breakers have been documented to fail to trip under overload in independent testing, and a court found some were labeled as meeting UL standards without being tested to them. Replacing individual breakers does not remove the risk, so we replace the panel.
⚡Zinsco panel replacement
Zinsco panels, common in homes built in the 1960s and 1970s, are widely recommended for replacement because their breakers can overheat and fail to trip. Insurers and home inspectors frequently flag them during a sale.
⚡Subpanels
A subpanel adds circuit space where you need it, such as a garage, workshop, addition or ADU, without moving the main panel. We size it from a load calculation so the main service is not overloaded.
⚡Breaker and bus repairs
A single failed breaker or a damaged bus section can sometimes be repaired. If the panel is a brand or age where parts are unsafe or unavailable, we will tell you honestly that replacement is the better path.
⚡HOA, condo and apartment panels
Multifamily buildings and HOAs often have aging panels and meter banks serving many units. We replace unit panels and common-area panels and coordinate shutoffs so residents are without power for as little time as possible.
Signs your panel needs an upgrade
Panels can last for decades, but breakers and connections age. Have yours evaluated if any of these sound familiar:
- Breakers trip often, especially when large appliances run
- Your panel is a Federal Pacific (Stab-Lok) or Zinsco
- The panel or a breaker feels warm, buzzes or smells hot
- Rust, scorch marks or water stains inside the panel
- Your home still has a fuse box
- No open spaces for new circuits, or many tandem breakers
- You are adding an EV charger, heat pump or ADU
- A home inspector or insurer flagged the panel
- Lights dim when the air conditioner starts
- Your home has 100A service or less
Why an outdated panel is worth replacing
A breaker's whole purpose is to cut power before a wire overheats. If it fails to trip, the wiring in your walls becomes the weak point instead. Undersized panels also cause the everyday frustrations that send people to us: breakers tripping during dinner, lights dimming when the AC starts, and no room to add the circuits a remodel or EV needs. Upgrading solves both the safety concern and the capacity problem at once, and it is far easier to plan than to replace a panel in an emergency.
Recent work by our electricians
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Real ASL Electric jobs in Orange County homes and businesses.
How we plan and complete a panel upgrade
Inspection and load calculation
We inspect the panel, breakers, grounding and the wiring that feeds it, then calculate your current and planned loads. That tells us whether you need a new panel at the same size, a service upgrade, or a subpanel, and keeps you from paying for more capacity than you need.
Permit and utility coordination
Panel and service work requires a permit from your city (or the County in unincorporated areas like Coto de Caza and Ladera Ranch). For service changes, we coordinate the disconnect and reconnect with SCE or SDG&E, depending on who serves your address.
Clean, labeled installation
We install the new panel with properly sized breakers, correct grounding and bonding, and a clearly labeled circuit directory. Where code requires it, we add AFCI and GFCI protection and can add whole-home surge protection at the same time.
Inspection and reconnect
After the city or County inspection, the utility reconnects service. We test every circuit, confirm everything is working and walk you through the new panel.
Which panel upgrade is right for your home
Same-size replacement
If your service size is adequate but the panel is unsafe or worn out, such as an FPE or Zinsco, a same-amperage replacement removes the hazard with less utility coordination.
Service upgrade to 200A
The right choice when you are adding major electric loads like an EV charger, heat pump, electric range or ADU, or when your home has 100A or less today.
Subpanel
When the main panel is sound but out of space, a subpanel in the garage or addition adds circuits without a full replacement.
Load management
In some homes, a load management device can let you add an EV charger without a full service upgrade. We will tell you if your home is a good candidate after the load calculation.
“Walter was prompt and able to check our breaker that we wanted him to look at. Upon returning with the new information I gave him he was able to find the root of a different problem that needed to be fixed.”
“Cory from ASL came to our house to provide a more precise estimate for our project. Unfortunately, we do not have enough room in the electric panel to add another 240v breaker. He told us the bad news even though that means no business for ASL. He also shared his honest opinions on what we could do and did not charge us the fee for his visit.”
What affects the cost of a panel upgrade
The biggest factors are whether you need a same-size replacement or a full service upgrade, the panel's location and whether the meter section has to move, the condition of the grounding and the wiring feeding the panel, how many circuits need new breakers or AFCI and GFCI protection, permit requirements in your city or the County, and the utility coordination involved. We quote the full job upfront after an onsite inspection, and the estimate is free.
How it works with ASL Electric
We inspect the panel, check the wiring and grounding, and run a load calculation based on what you have and what you plan to add.
You get an honest recommendation, whether that is a repair, a same-size replacement, a 200A upgrade or a subpanel, with an upfront price. If you do not need the upgrade, we will say so.
We pull the permit, coordinate with SCE or SDG&E, install the panel, pass the inspection and test every circuit before we leave.
Electrical Panel Upgrades across Orange County
Panel upgrades are one of the most common jobs we do across Orange County. Homes built in the 1960s and 1970s in Laguna Hills, Mission Viejo, Lake Forest and the early villages of Irvine may still have their original panels, including Federal Pacific and Zinsco models, and many have 100A service that was never meant for EVs and modern kitchens. Older homes in San Juan Capistrano, Laguna Beach and Huntington Beach often have small services as well.
Who reconnects your power depends on where you live. Most of the county is served by Southern California Edison, while San Clemente, San Juan Capistrano, Dana Point, Ladera Ranch and Rancho Mission Viejo are served by SDG&E, and some cities like Mission Viejo, Laguna Niguel and Aliso Viejo have both depending on the address. We work with both utilities and with every local building department, including the County of Orange for unincorporated communities. We also replace panels and meter banks for HOAs and multifamily properties throughout the county.