Electrical Panel Upgrades in Los Angeles
The unglamorous part that makes everything else possible.
Batteries, EV chargers, heat pumps, and induction ranges all land on the same service panel. If yours is a 100-amp box from 1962, that is the first thing to fix.
Do I need to upgrade my electrical panel for solar?
How we approach it
200-amp service as the default
It is what a modern electrified home needs, and doing it once is far cheaper than doing it in stages as each new load arrives.
Obsolete panel replacement
Federal Pacific, Zinsco, and Challenger panels are known hazards and are common in Valley homes built before 1980. Insurers increasingly refuse to cover them.
Utility coordination included
A service upgrade means a utility disconnect and reconnect. We schedule that with LADWP, SCE, or your municipal utility so you lose power for hours, not days.
Done with the solar permit
Bundling the upgrade into the solar submittal saves a separate plan check and a second inspection trip.
Questions
Panel Upgrades, answered
How do I know if my panel needs upgrading?
Check the main breaker rating. If it reads 100 amps or less, or the panel is a Federal Pacific, Zinsco, or Challenger, plan on replacement before adding storage or an EV charger. A full bus with no open slots is another clear sign.
How long does a panel upgrade take?
The physical work is typically one day. The utility disconnect and reconnect scheduling is what stretches the calendar, and that varies considerably between LADWP and SCE.
Coverage
Panel Upgrades across 110 cities
Everywhere within 50 miles of Los Angeles, across seven electric utilities.
Related
Other things we do
Let’s talk about your project
Tell us the address and the problem. We will tell you what it takes and what it costs.