What kind of electrical panel do I have?

Your electrical panel is the metal box where power from the utility is split into the circuits that run through your house. It is sometimes called the breaker box, the fuse box or the service panel. Knowing what kind you have helps you read a home report, talk to an electrician and plan for things like a new heat pump or an electric car charger.

You can learn most of what you need by looking at the outside of the panel and its door label. You never need to take the front cover off. The cover protects you from live parts, and removing it is a job for a licensed electrician.

Where to find it

Most panels are in a garage, basement, utility room, laundry area or hall closet. Some homes have the panel on an outside wall next to the electric meter. Some homes also have a smaller second panel, called a subpanel, that feeds part of the house.

What size (amps) is my panel?

Panel size is measured in amps. It tells you roughly how much electricity the home can draw at once. Rewiring America, a nonprofit that helps homeowners plan electrical upgrades, describes three places to look [1]:

1. The main breaker or main fuse. This is usually the largest switch, at the top of the panel, and may be labeled "Main" or "Service Disconnect." The number printed on it is the panel's size in amps.
2. The panel label. A sticker inside the panel door, put there by the manufacturer or by a code inspector when the panel was installed, often lists the rating.
3. The electric meter. Some meters have a rating printed on the face or on a label, such as "CL200."

Common sizes are 60, 100, 125, 150 and 200 amps. Older homes often have 60 or 100 amp panels, while newer homes commonly have 200 amps or more [1]. On older panels the size can be hard to find. If you can't tell, an electrician can tell you.

Fuse panel or breaker panel?

Open the panel door (not the cover behind it) and look at what's inside.

What you see	What it is	How it works
Round, screw-in fuses, or pull-out blocks with cartridge fuses	Fuse panel	A fuse melts when a circuit draws too much current. It must be replaced with a new fuse of the correct size.
Rows of switches that flip on and off	Breaker panel	A breaker trips (switches off) when a circuit draws too much current. You reset it by switching it back on.

A fuse panel isn't automatically unsafe, but it has a weak point: a fuse of the wrong size can be screwed in. The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) warns that the wrong size fuse can let too much current flow, overheat the wires and create a fire hazard. If you don't know the correct size for a circuit, have an electrician identify and label it [2].

On a home report, an old fuse panel usually shows up as an outdated fuse panel, and the usual fix is replacing it with a breaker panel.

How to find the brand

The brand is usually printed on the panel door, on the label inside the door, or on the breakers themselves. Write down the brand and any model or type number on the label. Take a photo of the label. That photo is what an electrician or contractor will want to see first.

Age is harder to read. A home's build year is a rough clue, but many panels have been replaced since the house was built. If the label doesn't help, an electrician can usually date a panel by its design.

Federal Pacific Stab-Lok panels

Federal Pacific Electric (FPE) panels with "Stab-Lok" breakers are the brand you will hear about most. Here is what reputable sources actually say:

• The CPSC investigated FPE Stab-Lok breakers and closed the investigation in 1983 without deciding whether they are safe. It said the data it had did not establish that the breakers pose a serious risk of injury, and it cited its limited budget and the cost of more testing. It also said it could reopen the matter [3].
• At least one insurer recommends replacing them. AmTrust, an insurance company, says a large percentage of these breakers fail to trip and overheat, which can lead to fire or shock. It recommends replacing all Federal Pacific Stab-Lok panels and breakers with UL Listed equipment, and says replacing only the breakers is not recommended [4].
• Insurance can come up when you buy or sell. Because some insurers take this view, a Federal Pacific panel can come up during a sale or when you shop for homeowners insurance. Ask your insurance agent how your insurer handles it.

On a home report, this shows up as a Federal Pacific Stab-Lok panel, and the usual fix is a new breaker panel.

Other older brands

You may also hear concerns about other older panel brands, such as Zinsco. We did not find a CPSC recall or finding on Zinsco panels, so the brand name alone doesn't tell you the condition of the panel in your house. If your panel is an older or less common brand, ask a licensed electrician to evaluate it.

Some breakers and panels from other makers have been recalled over the years. You can search the CPSC's recall list by product [5]. A panel covered by a recall shows up on a report as a recalled electric panel, and the fix follows the recall's instructions.

Warning signs to act on now

Whatever the brand, the CPSC says outlets or switches that feel unusually warm can mean a loose connection that could start a fire. Stop using them until an electrician checks them [2]. Also call a licensed electrician if you notice:

• A burning smell near the panel, an outlet or a switch
• Scorch marks, rust or water stains on or around the panel
• A breaker that trips again right after you reset it, or a fuse that keeps blowing

Don't keep resetting a breaker or replacing a fuse without finding the cause. The CPSC gives that same advice [3].

Small findings worth fixing too

Not every panel finding means a new panel. A common one is breakers that aren't labeled. Labels tell you which breaker to switch off in an emergency, and an electrician can trace and label each circuit.

What to do next

1. Take photos of the panel door, the label inside it and the main breaker.
2. Note the brand, the amp rating and whether it uses fuses or breakers.
3. If it's an old fuse panel, a Federal Pacific Stab-Lok panel, a recalled panel or shows any warning sign, have a licensed electrician evaluate it.
4. If you're adding big loads, like a heat pump, an electric range or a car charger, ask whether the panel's size is enough.

For what HomeCloud reports price these fixes at, see what electrical panel work costs. If the home also has older wiring, read aluminum wiring in older homes and GFCI and AFCI protection explained. HomeCloud is a licensed general contractor that evaluates homes and prices and does the repairs, and you can request an estimate for panel work.

Sources

1. Rewiring America: How to determine your home's electrical panel size
2. U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission: Home Electrical Safety Checklist (Publication 513)
3. U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission: Commission Closes Investigation of FPE Circuit Breakers and Provides Safety Information for Consumers (1983, revised 2011)
4. AmTrust Safety Zone: Federal Pacific Stab-Lok electrical panels
5. U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission: Search Recalls and Product Safety Warnings