The electrical panel (breaker box) is the heart of your home’s electrical system. It distributes power to every
room, appliance, and device in your house. If your panel is outdated, undersized, or damaged, it can’t do its job
safely or effectively.
At Veteran Electric, we specialize in electrical panel upgrades and replacements for Kansas City homeowners.
Whether you need more power for a renovation, want to replace a dangerous electrical panel, or simply need to
modernize your home’s electrical service, our licensed electricians have the expertise to get the job done right.
Signs You Need a Panel Upgrade
Your electrical panel often gives warning signs before it fails completely. You should consider an upgrade if:
- You have a fuse box: Fuse boxes are obsolete and often uninsurable. They should be replaced with a modern
circuit breaker panel.
- Your panel is full: If you have no spare breaker slots, you can’t add new circuits for renovations or new
appliances.
- Breakers trip frequently: This indicates your system is overloaded or breakers are failing.
- Lights flicker when appliances start: This suggests your service size (amperage) is insufficient for your
home’s load.
- You hear buzzing or crackling: These sounds coming from the panel indicate arcing, a serious fire hazard.
- The panel feels warm: While breakers generate some heat, the panel cover should not be hot to the touch.
- You have a “bad brand” panel: Certain panels installed in the 60s, 70s, and 80s (like Federal Pacific and
Zinsco) have known design defects that cause them to fail to trip during faults, leading to fires.
Service Upgrades: 100 Amp vs. 200 Amp
A panel upgrade often involves increasing your home’s electrical service size.
100 Amp Service: Common in older homes, but often insufficient for modern living. If you have gas appliances and no central AC, 100 amps might be enough, but it leaves little room for growth.
200 Amp Service: The modern standard for single-family homes. A 200-amp service provides ample power for electric ranges, dryers, central AC, hot tubs, and EV chargers. We recommend upgrading to 200 amps for most homes to future-proof your electrical system.
400 Amp Service: For very large luxury homes or homes with extensive electrical demands (multiple EV chargers, electric heating, workshop equipment), a 400-amp service may be necessary.
Dangerous Panels: Federal Pacific & Zinsco
If your home was built between 1950 and 1990, check your panel brand. Federal Pacific Electric (FPE) Stab-Lok and Zinsco (or GTE/Sylvania) panels are documented fire hazards. Testing has shown these breakers fail to trip up to 60% of the time during an overload.
These panels are not just old; they are defective. Many insurance companies will not insure homes with these
panels, or will require them to be replaced. If you have one of these panels, we strongly recommend replacing it
immediately for your family’s safety.
Our Process
Frequently Asked Questions
