Project Snapshot
| Property Type | 6‑Unit Multifamily (built 1963) |
| Original Gear | 200 A Federal Pacific (FPE) disconnect & 6 FPE 40 A sub‑panels |
| Upgrade Installed | 400 A overhead service with Eaton 400 A disconnect (1 φ 3‑wire 240/120 V) • (2) Eaton 4‑socket 125 A meter packs • Eaton BR 100 A house panel • (6) Eaton BR 40 A 12/24‑circuit load centers |
| Timeline | 14 calendar days – cumulative tenant outage < 6 hrs |
| AHJ / Permit | City of Long Beach – Building & Safety |
| Utility Coordination | Southern California Edison |
Client Challenge
Replace main electrical service and sub panels and acquire necessary permits from the city of Long Beach
The complex relied on an aging 200 A FPE disconnect feeding six under‑sized FPE sub‑panels. The owner faced:
- Documented fire risk & discontinued equipment
- Insurance cancellation notice tied to FPE gear
- Insufficient service capacity for modern standards
- Tight compliance window from carrier
Scope of Work (as contracted)
- Service Upgrade – Remove 200 A disconnect & riser; install 400 A Eaton overhead service with upsized 2½” EMT riser, new weatherhead, and 350 kcmil CU conductors.
- Metering – Replace obsolete meter stack with two Eaton 4‑socket 125 A meter packs (total six meters) sized for 1 φ 3‑wire 240/120 V.
- House Panel – Install new Eaton BR 100 A 20/40‑circuit load center for common‑area lighting, gate, and laundry.
- Dwelling Sub‑Panels – Swap (6) FPE 40 A 8‑circuit panels with Eaton BR 40 A 12/24‑circuit load centers; label all branch circuits.
- Permitting & Inspections – Acquire City business license, submit detailed load calculations & site plan, secure electrical permit, and coordinate rough/final inspections.
- Utility Interface – Schedule SCE shutdown, provide Rule 16 clearance drawings, and manage same‑day re‑energization.
Engineering & Design Highlights
- Load Calculation (NEC 220.84 optional method) – 68 kVA demand → 285 A calculated; 400 A service selected for growth headroom.
- Grounding Electrode System – Installed dual 5⁄8″ × 8′ CU rods bonded to building steel & water service.
- Added Type 1 SPD at the service disconnect and Type 2 SPD at each sub‑panel.
- All gear Eaton BR/Cutler‑Hammer for warranty uniformity and ready supply of breakers.
Installation Sequence & Tenant Care
- Generator Backup – Portable 7 kW genset kept house loads and one receptacle per unit live during cut‑over.
- Demo Day – Removed FPE disconnect, riser, and meter section before scheduled SCE de‑energize.
- Rough‑In – Set new Eaton 400 A disconnect/meter packs; installed new riser & service entrance conductors.
- Interior Swaps – One unit every 90 minutes; patch & paint around new sub‑panels; AFCI/GFCI combo breakers where required.
- City Inspection – Passed rough & final first attempt; inspector praised neat cable management.
- Re‑energize & Testing – SCE restored power; verified voltage, breaker functionality, and SPD status LEDs.
Results & Impact
| Metric | Before | After |
| Service Capacity | 200 A FPE | 400 A Eaton (+100 %) |
| Breaker Reliability | Avg. 3 nuisance trips/mo | 0 trips in first 6 mos |
| Insurance Status | Cancellation notice | Coverage upheld + 8 % premium drop |
| Future Expansion | No headroom for EV | 40 % spare capacity reserved for (4) Level‑2 EV chargers |
| Tenant Disruption | Frequent resets | < 6 hrs cumulative outage |
Owner Testimonial
“Branover handled permits, SCE, and production with military precision. Tenants barely noticed—and our insurer lifted the deadline the moment Branover’s as‑builts hit their inbox.”
— Carlos R., Property Owner
Why Branover Contractors?
- Dedicated FPE/Zinsco/Pushmatic replacement division
- Eaton‑certified installer – extended factory warranties
- Zero re‑inspection streak (2024‑25)
- Transparent flat‑rate bids & tenant‑friendly scheduling
- 5‑year workmanship warranty on all panel upgrades
Need to Replace Hazardous Panels?
Beat the insurer’s deadline and future‑proof your property.
Request a free on‑site assessment today and get a written compliance report within 48 hours.
