Electrical Panel Upgrades & Services in Orlando, FL

Your electrical panel is the nerve center of your home. Whether you need a full panel replacement, a sub-panel for a new addition, a hazardous Federal Pacific or Zinsco panel removed, or a breaker that keeps tripping diagnosed and fixed, Thomas Edison Electric handles the complete range of residential and light-commercial panel work in Orlando and Central Florida. Licensed under Florida EC13015487, our electricians assess, recommend, and execute the right solution the first time.

Why Electrical Panel Work Matters in Orlando

Central Florida’s climate and growth patterns put unique stress on electrical panels that homeowners in cooler, drier states simply do not face:

Storm and surge loading. Orlando averages more lightning strikes per square mile than almost anywhere else in the United States. A panel that is not properly rated, bonded, and protected can allow surge damage to cascade through every circuit in the house. After a hurricane or severe thunderstorm, breaker wear accelerates dramatically.
Heat and humidity. Sustained high temperatures and Florida’s signature humidity accelerate insulation breakdown inside panels. Bus bars corrode, breakers lose clamping pressure, and arc-fault events become more likely in a panel that was designed for a northern climate decades ago.
Salt-air corrosion. Florida homeowners within roughly 15 miles of the Atlantic or Gulf coast face interior panel corrosion from salt-laden air. Corroded connections run hot, and hot connections cause fires. If you are in a coastal county or have recently moved an older panel from a coastal property, inspection is warranted.
Rapid load growth. Central Florida is one of the fastest-growing metro areas in the country. New EV chargers, added AC units for Florida additions, whole-home generators, and pool equipment are regularly being connected to panels built for 1970s or 1980s lifestyles. A 100-amp panel is simply not adequate for the average 2020s Florida home.

What We Do: The Full Range of Panel Services

This page covers the broader scope of panel work. If you already know you need a straightforward capacity upgrade, see our dedicated electrical panel upgrade page for details specific to that service, including permit process, NEC 220.87 load calculations, and cost factors.

Panel Upgrades and Full Replacements

We replace outdated 60-amp and 100-amp services with modern 200-amp or 400-amp gear sized to NEC 220.87 load-calculation standards. Every replacement includes a new meter base, updated grounding electrode system, and AFCI/GFCI breaker placement as required by the current Florida Building Code adoption of the NEC.

Hazardous-Panel Removal (Federal Pacific and Zinsco)

Federal Pacific Stab-Lok and Zinsco panels have documented failure rates that make them an active fire hazard. These panels are known to fail to trip under overload, meaning a circuit drawing twice its rated current can remain energized until something ignites. We remove and replace these units completely, including new breakers, bus, and enclosure. No refurbishment, no partial fix.

Sub-Panel Installation

A detached garage, workshop, pool house, or large addition often warrants its own sub-panel fed from the main service. We size the feeder conductors, install a properly rated enclosure, and label every circuit to NEC 408.4 requirements.

Breaker Diagnosis and Replacement

A breaker that trips repeatedly is not just an annoyance; it is a warning. We trace the underlying cause, whether that is an overloaded circuit, a failing breaker that no longer trips at the correct threshold, a ground fault, or damaged wiring, before we replace any hardware. Swapping a breaker without finding the root cause is a shortcut we do not take.

Load Capacity for EV Chargers, AC Units, and Additions

Adding a Level 2 EV charger typically requires a dedicated 50-amp, 240-volt circuit. A new central AC unit or a Florida room addition can add 30 to 50 amps of continuous load to a panel that may already be at 80 percent capacity. We perform a full NEC load calculation before any work begins so you know exactly where your panel stands and what it can handle.

Signs Your Panel Needs Attention

Breakers that trip repeatedly under normal use
Breakers that feel warm or hot to the touch
A burning or electrical smell near the panel
Flickering or dimming lights when large appliances start
Rust, discoloration, or visible scorching inside the panel door
A Federal Pacific or Zinsco brand label on your panel
Fuses instead of breakers (original fuse box never updated)
You are adding an EV charger, pool, addition, or second AC unit

For a deeper look at what triggers a full upgrade versus a targeted repair, see our panel upgrade page.

Financing and Related Services

Panel work is one of the most significant electrical investments a homeowner makes, and we want to make it accessible. Thomas Edison Electric works with financing partners including GoodLeap, Turns, and Synchrony so you can spread the cost over time with the plan that fits your budget. Ask us for options when you call.

Many panel projects connect directly to other work around your home. For protection against Florida’s lightning and surge events, see our whole-home surge protection page. And if a panel upgrade is part of preparing for backup power, our generator installation service covers standby and portable generator hookups.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I know if my electrical panel needs to be replaced or just repaired?

Age, brand, and symptoms together tell the story. If your panel is a Federal Pacific or Zinsco unit, replacement is the right answer regardless of symptoms because those designs have a documented failure mode. If your panel is 30 or more years old and showing signs of corrosion, heat damage, or repeated tripping, a full replacement is usually more cost-effective than chasing individual breaker failures. For a panel that is relatively modern and in good physical condition, targeted repair or a breaker swap may be all that is needed. We will give you a straight assessment on the first visit.

Is 24-hour emergency panel service available?

Yes. If your panel fails, a breaker will not reset, or you are experiencing sparking or a burning smell at the panel, do not wait. Call Thomas Edison Electric at (407) 490-0004 around the clock. Electrical panel emergencies are exactly the kind of situation where waiting until morning is not the right call.