100A panels can't keep up
Many SoCal homes built before the 1990s still run 100A or 125A service. Add a Level 2 EV charger and an induction range and you start tripping breakers — or worse, overheating the bus.
Section 1.0 — Overview · Main panel upgrades
The spine of your home, upgraded to carry the next forty years.
200A and 400A service-entrance upgrades — sized for EV charging, heat pumps, induction ranges, and standby-generator tie-in. Permitted, inspected, and signed off by C-10 licensed electricians.
Section 2.0 — The problem · 3 symptoms
Why this work matters.
Federal Pacific & Zinsco are still out there
Two of the most-recalled panel brands in U.S. history are still in service across LA County. They're frequently flagged by inspectors and increasingly questioned by insurers at policy renewal.
Electrification needs headroom
A generator interlock, a 50-amp EV circuit, a heat-pump retrofit, and solar back-feed all want space on your panel. Upgrading once with room to grow is cheaper than upgrading twice.
Section 3.0 — The solution
Our approach, in one paragraph.
A panel upgrade is the one electrical project that touches everything else. We start with a load calculation on what you actually use today and what you've told us you're planning — EV, generator, solar, ADU — then size the new service to carry all of it with margin. We coordinate the utility shutoff, set the new meter base, install the panel, ground and bond to current code, and pull the inspection. You wake up to the same lights, the same fridge, the same Wi-Fi — on a panel that's ready for whatever you add next.
Section 3.5 — Specifications
Sized for your home.
Service size sets how much power your home can draw at once. We pull a load calculation on your actual and planned demand before recommending a size — we don't sell capacity you won't use.
| Service size | Typical home | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| 100A | Pre-1990 small homes | Legacy service — usually the panel being replaced |
| 125A | Older 2–3 bedroom homes | Limited headroom for new high-draw circuits |
| 200A | Most 2,000–3,500 sqft homes | EV charging, induction, A/C, and room to grow |
| 400A | Estates, ADUs, solar + EV + standby | Maximum capacity and critical-load distribution |
Sizes shown are typical residential configurations. Your load calculation determines the right service for your home.
Section 4.0 — Configurations · 3 options
Configurations for your home.
Essential
200A · installed, permitted, inspected
A straight swap of an existing 100A or 125A panel to modern 200A service. Right for most homes with no planned EV or solar tie-in.
- Modern 200A panel (Square D or Eaton)
- New meter base & service entrance
- Whole-home grounding & bonding to current code
- Permit, install, and inspection handled
- Workmanship warranty included
Most installed
Whole-home
200A + sub-panel · installed, permitted, inspected
A 200A main upgrade plus a garage or addition sub-panel pre-wired for EV charging and surge protection — our most-installed configuration for homes adding electrification.
- 200A main service entrance
- EV-ready garage or addition sub-panel
- Type 2 whole-home surge protection
- Generator interlock pre-wired
- Permit, install, and inspection handled
- Workmanship warranty included
Estate
400A + dual sub-panels · installed, permitted, inspected
For estates, multi-unit properties, or homes running solar + EV + standby + ADU. Sized for larger homes with redundant capacity and critical-load distribution.
- 400A main service entrance
- House + ADU sub-panel distribution
- Type 1 surge protection at the meter
- Critical-load distribution panel
- Generator transfer-switch ready
- Workmanship warranty included
Section 5.0 — Peace of mind protocol · 5 steps
From first call to lifelong protection.
- 1
Peace of Mind Assessment
A licensed electrician opens your existing panel, photographs the bus and breakers, measures real load with a clamp meter, and reviews what you're planning to add over the next 5–10 years. No pressure.
- 2
Engineered proposal
A written, itemized proposal with the exact panel make and model, service-entrance size, grounding plan, and any sub-panel layout. You see the line items, not a lump sum.
- 3
Permits & utility coordination
We pull the city permit, file the service-change request with SCE or LADWP, and schedule the meter pull. Most upgrades are a single-day install.
- 4
Install, test, inspect
Old panel out, new service entrance in, every circuit re-landed, torqued to spec, and labeled. We run the test cycle with you and host the city inspector.
- 5
Ongoing protection
A labeled panel directory, photos of every step, the inspection sign-off, and a workmanship warranty. We stay your panel electricians for as long as you own the home.
Section 6.0 — Questions · 5 entries
Questions worth answering.
Plan for four to six hours without power for a standard residential 200A upgrade. We coordinate the utility meter pull in advance and tell you the window when you book — then we stick to it. We can arrange a temporary feed for medical equipment or refrigeration when the situation calls for it; just tell us at the assessment.
Sometimes that's the right answer — if your main is healthy and you only need a few new circuits. But if the main is a Federal Pacific, a Zinsco, or already running near capacity, a sub-panel just postpones the bigger fix. We'll tell you honestly which one you need at the assessment.
Increasingly, yes. Several major carriers now ask for panel make and model at renewal, and some decline to renew homes with Federal Pacific Stab-Lok or Zinsco panels. A modern panel with a current inspection sign-off resolves the issue.
Yes, and we handle it. Service-entrance work always requires a city permit and inspection — anyone who tells you otherwise is doing the job wrong. The permit fee is part of the line-item price.
That's the whole point of the Whole-home and Estate configurations. Pulling the panel is the right moment to land a generator interlock, a 50A EV circuit, surge protection, and a sub-panel for the garage or ADU — all at marginal cost compared to doing it later.
Section 7.0 — Related services 3 entries
What we typically pair with this.
01
Sub Panel Installation
Sub-panel installation for home additions, ADUs, garages, and workshops — permitting, utility coordination, and code-compliant installation throughout Southern California.
View service
02
Dedicated Circuits
Dedicated circuit installation for high-draw appliances, home offices, EV chargers, and HVAC equipment — code-compliant and permitted in Santa Clarita and Valley Glen, CA.
View service
03
EV Charger Installation
Level 2 EV charger installation sized for your vehicle and panel — dedicated circuit, permitting, and utility rebate coordination in Santa Clarita and Valley Glen, CA.
View service
Where we work
Where we provide main panel upgrade.
Santa Clarita & the SCV
Serving Santa Clarita, Valencia, Stevenson Ranch, Castaic, Newhall, and surrounding communities.
View Santa Clarita →Valley Glen & the SFV
Serving Valley Glen, North Hollywood, Van Nuys, Sherman Oaks, Burbank, and Northridge.
View Valley Glen → Ready when the next outage isn't
Your "Peace of Mind" Assessment, on us.
We'll walk your property, evaluate your system, and give you a clear, plain-English plan — with a fixed quote you can take to the bank.
- Licensed C-10 contractor (#938027) — fully insured
- Permit handling, install, and inspection — done for you
- Clear, itemized quotes after a free on-site assessment
- Serving Santa Clarita & the San Fernando Valley
- A real human answers — not a queue