The Hidden Dangers of Zinsco and Federal Pacific Electrical Panels (FPE)

If your home was built between the 1950s and 1980s, there’s a serious electrical safety issue you may not know about. Thousands of homes across California — including San Jose, Los Altos, Palo Alto, Sunnyvale, and surrounding Bay Area cities — still contain Zinsco or Federal Pacific Electric (FPE) panels.

At Drummond Electric, we regularly inspect these outdated panels, and the reality is concerning: many of them fail to trip during overloads, creating a real fire hazard.

Let’s break down what homeowners need to know.

Why Zinsco and Federal Pacific Panels Are Dangerous

Electrical panels are designed with one primary job: shut off power when something goes wrong. Unfortunately, both Zinsco and FPE panels have well-documented failure issues.

⚠️ Zinsco Panel Problems

Zinsco panels were widely installed from the 1950s through the 1970s. Over time, their internal components can deteriorate.

Common issues include:

• Breakers that appear OFF but are still energized

• Aluminum bus bars that corrode and melt

• Breakers that fuse to the bus bar

• Overheating that can occur without tripping the breaker

In the field, we often see breakers that feel loose or show heat damage — major red flags.

⚠️ Federal Pacific (FPE) Panel Problems

Federal Pacific Electric panels, especially those with Stab-Lok breakers, are even more notorious.

Independent testing has shown that many FPE breakers:

• Fail to trip during overloads

• Fail during short circuits

• Can allow wires to overheat to dangerous levels

This means the very device meant to protect your home may not work when you need it most.

Real Fire Risk in Bay Area Homes

In older neighborhoods throughout:

• San Jose

• Los Altos

• Mountain View

• Cupertino

• Sunnyvale

• Santa Clara

we still encounter these panels weekly.

Because Silicon Valley has many mid-century homes, the risk locally is higher than many homeowners realize.

Insurance companies are increasingly flagging these panels, and some carriers may:

• Deny coverage

• Require panel replacement

• Increase premiums

Warning Signs Your Electrical Panel May Be Unsafe

You might have a Zinsco or FPE panel if you notice:

• Panel installed before 1985

• Breakers labeled “Zinsco,” “Sylvania,” or “Federal Pacific”

• Lights flickering under load

• Breakers that feel hot

• Burning smell near panel

• Breakers that won’t reset properly

If you see any of these, it’s smart to have a licensed electrician evaluate the system.

Why Repair Is NOT the Right Solution

Homeowners sometimes ask if we can just replace a breaker.

Here’s the problem:

• Replacement breakers do not fix the underlying bus failure

• Heat damage inside the panel is often hidden

• The fundamental design flaw remains

Industry best practice is full panel replacement.

Recommended Solution: Modern Panel Upgrade

Upgrading to a modern panel provides:

✅ Proper breaker protection

✅ Increased electrical capacity

✅ EV charger readiness

✅ Solar and battery compatibility

✅ Improved home safety

✅ Better insurance acceptance

For many Bay Area homes, we typically recommend a 200-amp panel upgrade, especially if you’re planning:

• EV charger installation

• Heat pump conversion

• Induction cooking

• ADU additions

Why Bay Area Homeowners Choose Drummond Electric

At Drummond Electric, we specialize in safe, code-compliant panel upgrades across:

• San Jose

• Los Altos

• Palo Alto

• Mountain View

• Sunnyvale

• Cupertino

• Santa Clara

What you get with us:

• ✔️ Clean, labeled installations

• ✔️ PG&E coordination

• ✔️ Permit handling

• ✔️ Same-day power restoration (in most cases)

• ✔️ Transparent pricing

• ✔️ Local, licensed electricians

We’ve replaced hundreds of unsafe panels throughout Silicon Valley.

Get Your Panel Checked Before It Becomes a Problem

If your home still has a Zinsco or Federal Pacific panel, the safest move is a professional evaluation.

Electrical failures don’t give warnings — and when these panels fail, they often fail silently.

Protect your home and family.

📞 Schedule a Panel Safety Inspection

Drummond Electric

Serving San Jose & the Greater Bay Area

Licensed • Insured • Local

👉 Contact us today for a panel inspection and upgrade quote.