A handful of older panel brands come up again and again in home inspections. Some have well-documented problems; one had a narrow product recall. Here is what is actually known, without the scare tactics.
Not sure what you have? Try the problem panel checker, or send us photos of the panel label and breakers.
Is a Federal Pacific (FPE) Stab-Lok panel dangerous?
Federal Pacific Electric "Stab-Lok" panels and breakers were installed widely from roughly the 1950s into the 1980s. The concern is that some breakers may fail to trip during an overload or short, which is the one job a breaker has.
- The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) investigated and, in 1983, closed its investigation without a recall and without determining that the breakers were or were not a safety hazard. Its own testing had found breakers that failed UL calibration tests, especially two-pole breakers.
- A New Jersey court later found that Federal Pacific violated that state's consumer fraud law in how breakers were tested and labeled to UL standards. That was a civil finding about testing and labeling, not a safety recall.
Many electricians, inspectors and insurers recommend replacing Stab-Lok panels, and some insurers may decline or add conditions for a home that has one.
Are Zinsco panels dangerous?
Zinsco and GTE-Sylvania Zinsco panels (roughly 1970s) have a long problem history: breakers and aluminum bus bars that overheat, arc, and can fuse to the bus so the breaker cannot trip. There is no CPSC recall, but the problem history is widely known and most electricians recommend replacement, especially when there is discoloration, a hot smell or loose breakers.
What about Challenger panels?
Be precise here: in 1988 the CPSC announced a recall of certain Challenger GFCI breakers (Type HAGF, 15- and 20-amp, made in a short window in early 1988) that could fail to protect against ground faults. That recall covered those GFCI breakers, not Challenger panels as a whole. Separately, some Challenger panels and breakers have a history of overheating at the breaker-to-bus connection, so they deserve an inspection.
Pushmatic and Bulldog panels
Bulldog "Pushmatic" panels used push-button breakers and were common from roughly the 1940s to 1970s. There is no recall. Their concerns are age: breakers that stiffen and may not trip reliably if never exercised, no main breaker in some versions, limited capacity and hard-to-find parts.
Should I replace my old panel?
Not every older panel is a crisis, but these brands are worth having inspected, and replacement is often recommended before adding loads like an EV charger, heat pump or solar. IES replaces a main panel in the same location from $4,675, and a 200-amp service upgrade starts at $6,500. Any FPE, Zinsco or other problem panel is quoted from photos or a free estimate.
About these prices: rough starting-at prices from the IES price book. The final price depends on what we find on site, your utility and your city or county. Estimates are free.
A panel thermal scan can show hot spots before they fail. See also how panel upgrades work.
Common questions
Was Federal Pacific recalled?
No. The CPSC closed its investigation into FPE Stab-Lok breakers in 1983 without a recall and without a safety determination. Many electricians and insurers still recommend replacing them because of documented test failures.
Is a Zinsco panel a fire hazard?
Zinsco panels have a well-known history of breakers and bus bars overheating and fusing. There is no formal recall, but replacement is widely recommended.
Were Challenger panels recalled?
A 1988 CPSC recall covered certain Challenger Type HAGF 15- and 20-amp GFCI breakers made in early 1988, not Challenger panels in general.
Will my insurance cover a home with a Federal Pacific panel?
It depends on the insurer. Some decline or require replacement of FPE or Zinsco panels; ask your agent.
General information for California homes under the California Electrical Code (based on the NEC). Local rules and inspectors can vary. Not a substitute for an on-site inspection. Never work inside a panel, at the meter or on live circuits.