400 A Overhead Service & Sub-Panel Upgrade – 8-Unit Apartment, Van Nuys, CA

400-Amp Overhead Service & Sub-Panel Replacement – 8-Unit Apartment • Van Nuys, CA

Project Snapshot

Property Type: 8-unit apartment building + house meter
Existing Condition: Federal Pacific 200 A main & nine recalled FPE sub-panels
Driver: Insurance carrier required full replacement of FPE equipment
Scope: Replace main service, meters, and 9 sub-panels • Manage all LADWP / LADBS approvals
New Equipment: 9-gang 400 A Square D overhead service • (9) 8/16-circuit Square D sub-panels
Authority Coordination: LADWP Service Planning & Crew • LADBS Inspection

1. Background & Challenge

The owner risked losing insurance coverage unless every Federal Pacific component—the main switch and nine sub-panels—was eliminated.
Space constraints and tenant occupancy made same-day energization a must.

• Limit power-off window to within daytime hours.
• Secure LADWP meter-spot and shutdown scheduling.
• Fit a 400 A, 9-gang stack in a tight exterior alcove.

2. Solution Overview

Branover Contractors engineered and installed a 400 A Square D overhead service—one meter per apartment plus a house meter—along with nine 8/16-circuit Square D sub-panels.

Key design steps:

1. Load Calculation & Single-Line Diagram – NEC 220 demand calc; plans to LADWP.
2. Utility Coordination – Meter-spot approval.
3. Permit & Inspection – Electrical permit with LADBS; rough & final passed.
4. Installation Highlights – 3″ riser, new weatherhead, 500 MCM copper conductors; upgraded grounding.

Phase Key Activities

1. Site Assessment & Engineering — Load calc • Single-line • Material take-off
2. Utility & Permit Approvals — Submit to LADWP • Pull LADBS permit
3. Pre-Construction Coordination — Book shutdown • Notify tenants
4. Demolition & Temporary Power — Remove FPE gear • Provide temp feeds
5. Main Service Installation — Set 400 A 9-gang Square D stack • Ground/bond
6. Sub-Panel Replacements — Swap 9 units sequentially • Label circuits
7. Inspection & Re-Energization — Pass LADBS • LADWP sets meters

4. Results & Benefits

• Safety & Compliance — All recalled gear removed; NEC-2023 compliant.
• Future Capacity — 400 A service ready for EV chargers or HVAC upgrades.
• Insurance Savings — Renewal secured; surcharge avoided.
• Tenant Experience — Outages pre-scheduled and communicated; zero complaints.

5. Final Installation

6. Key Takeaways

1. One-Stop Service — We streamline utility and city approvals.
2. First-Time Inspection Passes — Thorough pre-inspection checklists.
3. Minimal Downtime — Phased swaps keep tenants powered and happy.
4. Future-Ready Designs — Sized for tomorrow’s loads, not yesterday’s.