Updated October 2026
Your breaker panel quietly protects every circuit in your home. Most panels hold up well for decades, but a few older brands have a long track record of problems. If you have one of these three, it's worth having a licensed electrician take a look.
What does a breaker panel do?
Each breaker watches one circuit. If that circuit gets overloaded, like a space heater and a vacuum running on the same outlet, the breaker trips. That keeps the wires from overheating and protects your home.
1. Zinsco
Zinsco was once a popular brand, but its breakers can let wires overheat and even melt. We don't see many anymore, but if you have one, replacing it is the safe call.
2. Sylvania
Some Sylvania panels were made by Zinsco and share the same overheating issues. Many insurance companies won't cover a home until one of these is replaced.
3. Federal Pacific
Federal Pacific is the one we run into most around Moore, Norman and OKC. These panels have been linked to breakers that fail to trip and to house fires. If you have one, we recommend replacing it soon.
How to tell what you have
Open your panel door and look for a brand name on the label or the inside of the door. "Federal Pacific," "FPE," "Stab-Lok," "Zinsco" or "Sylvania" are the ones to watch for. If you can't tell, snap a photo and text it to us.
Next steps
If your panel is one of these brands, or you're just not sure about its age or condition, we're happy to inspect it. We can replace it, or do maintenance if a full replacement isn't needed. How much a panel replacement costs.
Call or text us anytime. We'll give you an honest answer, with no pressure.
Bo Johnson
Hello, I’m Bo Johnson and I founded Passion Electric in 2014. After working as a Journeymen electrician for over ten years, I decided to start my own company!