Electrical Panel Upgrades For Homes & Multi-Unit Buildings
Whether you're a homeowner with a tripping breaker, a landlord with an overloaded building, or a property manager handling a compliance notice — Branover Contractors delivers fast, permitted, inspection-ready panel upgrades across Los Angeles since 1985.
Did your insurance company send you a notice? Many insurers now require proof of a panel upgrade before renewal — especially for older panels. We handle these every week and know exactly what your insurer needs to reinstate your policy.
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Panel Upgrades For Every Property Type
From a single-family home in Sherman Oaks to a 20-unit apartment building in Hollywood, we handle upgrades of every scale — permitted, inspected, and done right the first time.
Residential Home Upgrades
Modern appliances, EV chargers, home offices, and solar systems all demand more power than older panels were built to handle. We upgrade your panel to 200-amp service — permitted, inspected, and built to last.
- 100-amp to 200-amp upgrades
- EV charger and solar panel prep
- Old, tripping, or unsafe panel replacement
- Insurance compliance upgrades
- Pre-sale / home listing upgrades
- Code correction & compliance
Multi-Unit & Apartment Buildings
We coordinate tenant access, minimize power outage time, handle all LADWP paperwork, and satisfy the city inspector — every time. You approve the quote; we handle the rest.
- 200-amp to 400-amp+ service upgrades
- Separate metering for individual units
- Tenant-minimized outage scheduling
- City compliance & notice-to-comply work
- LADWP & SCE utility coordination
- Ongoing property management contracts
Does Your Building Have an Outdated Panel?
Millions of LA-area homes and apartment buildings still have panels that are decades past their safe service life. Some are fire hazards. Others simply can't handle modern electrical loads. Here are the most common ones we replace.
Zinsco Panels
Zinsco breakers are prone to melting and fusing to the bus bar — meaning they can fail to trip during an overload, allowing dangerous current to flow unchecked. Insurers routinely deny coverage or require immediate replacement.
- Breakers that fail to trip during overloads
- Breaker components that melt and fuse in place
- Aluminum bus bars prone to corrosion
- Insurance companies often refuse coverage
- Cannot be repaired — full replacement required
Federal Pacific (Stab-Lok) Panels
Independent studies found FPE Stab-Lok breakers fail to trip in up to 25% of tests — far above code limits. Linked to tens of thousands of residential fires nationally. No repair is possible; full replacement is required.
- Breakers fail to trip in up to 25% of tests
- Linked to tens of thousands of house fires
- Recognized as unsafe by industry experts
- Cannot be repaired — replacement only
- Many insurers now require replacement before renewal
Pushmatic Panels
Pushmatic panels use push-button breakers that become stiff and unreliable over time. They have no main breaker shutoff, making them difficult to de-energize in an emergency. Parts are no longer available.
- No main breaker — difficult to shut off in emergencies
- Breaker mechanisms fail and stick over time
- Replacement parts no longer manufactured
- Cannot support modern electrical loads
- Often flagged by insurers and home inspectors
Sylvania / Challenger Panels
Sylvania (which acquired Zinsco) and Challenger panels share many of the same design flaws. Breakers are prone to overheating and failing to trip, and do not meet modern safety standards.
- Defective breakers that overheat and fail to trip
- Do not meet current NEC safety standards
- Linked to electrical failures and fires
- Often flagged on home inspection reports
- Insurers increasingly refusing coverage
60-Amp & 100-Amp Panels
Homes built before 1980 often have 60-amp or 100-amp service — designed for a fraction of today's electrical demand. Running an EV charger, central AC, or modern appliances on these panels is unsafe and will cause constant tripping.
- Cannot support EV chargers or solar systems
- Constant breaker tripping under normal loads
- Lenders often require upgrade before closing
- Not eligible for permits on remodels or additions
- Significantly reduces home value and insurability
Fuse Boxes
Older properties may still have fuse-based systems rather than modern circuit breakers. Fuses are frequently bypassed with the wrong amperage — a leading cause of electrical fires — and cannot support today's loads.
- Easy to bypass with incorrect fuse sizes
- No overload protection if bypassed
- Cannot support modern circuits or appliances
- Rejected by most insurance carriers
- Immediate upgrade required for code compliance
We'll review your panel at no charge. If it needs to be replaced or upgraded, we'll give you a clear, written quote. Most LA homes and buildings built before 1990 have at least one of these panels.
Get Free Estimate6 Signs It's Time for a New Panel
Breakers That Keep Tripping
If you're resetting breakers regularly — or running extension cords to avoid tripping them — your panel can't keep up. That may be a fire risk, not a minor inconvenience.
You're Adding an EV Charger
Level 2 EV chargers require a dedicated 40–50 amp circuit. Most older panels don't have the capacity. A panel upgrade is almost always required before installation.
Insurance or Code Notice
Received a notice to comply or an insurer letter? We deal with these every week. We know exactly what's needed and how to document it for your carrier.
Buying or Selling a Property
Inspectors flag outdated panels on every report. Buyers' lenders often require replacement before closing. Upgrade first and protect your sale price.
Adding Solar Panels
Almost every solar installation requires a panel upgrade or sub-panel. We work with your solar installer to coordinate timing and avoid delays.
Remodeling or Adding an ADU
Room additions, kitchen remodels, and ADUs all require dedicated circuits. The right time to upgrade your panel is before the remodel begins — not after.
What's Included in Every Upgrade
Get Free Estimate
We assess your panel and give you a clear, written quote before any work begins. No surprises.
Permits Pulled & Managed
We handle the permit application with the Department of Building and Safety.
Utility Coordination
We coordinate power shutoff and reconnect directly with LADWP or Southern California Edison.
Inspection — Guaranteed Pass
We guarantee our work passes the city inspection. Any required corrections are handled.
Which Panel Size Do You Need?
The right amperage depends on your property type, current appliances, and future plans. We'll confirm the exact right size during your free inspection.
Smaller Homes
- Homes under 1,000 sq ft
- No EV charger or solar planned
- Standard appliances only
- Minimal electrical load
Most LA Homes & Small Buildings
- Homes 1,000–4,000 sq ft
- EV charger or solar ready
- Modern kitchen & HVAC
- Duplex & triplex buildings
Large Homes & Apartment Buildings
- Properties over 4,000 sq ft
- Multiple EV chargers
- 4+ unit apartment buildings
- Commercial & mixed-use
Not sure which size you need? Schedule a free call and we'll tell you exactly what your property requires.
How a Panel Upgrade Works
Most single-family homes are completed within 1–2 days. Multi-unit buildings are timelines are based on size and coordinated to minimize tenant disruption.
Free Quote
We assess your current panel and give you a written estimate.
Permit & Scheduling
We pull the permit and coordinate with the utility. We schedule around your tenants or your timeline.
Professional Installation
Power is safely shut off, new panel installed, all circuits tested before power is restored.
Inspection & Sign-Off
We manage the city inspection and provide all required documentation.
Real Reviews From Property Owners
We hired Branover when our usual electrician was not available. Michael was wonderful from the start, giving us the bid price that we had turned down and making recommendations that were helpful as well. Branover installed an upgraded electrical panel and an EV hookup in our garage. The work was done fast, accurately and neatly. They then came back to help us with electrical connections for our new dishwasher. Sorry, former electrician. We are Branover customers from here on out!
Branover Contractors, Inc. changed all circuit breakers and the main electrical system on my two apartment houses located in Los Angeles. They were very accommodating working with the tenants in the buildings. Their workers were excellent, friendly and cleaned up each day. I highly recommend them for your electrical needs.
Thank you for getting this project through to completion. Branover was very easy to work with. We appreciate your professionalism and clear and prompt communication with us at all times. We will consider Branover for any future electrical projects!
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does a panel upgrade take?
Single-family homes typically take 1–2 days. Multi-unit buildings vary depending on their size and scope. We coordinate with LADWP or SCE to schedule the shutoff and reconnect.
Do I need a permit for a panel upgrade in LA?
Yes — a permit is required for all panel upgrades in Los Angeles. We handle the full permit process with LADBS and manage the final city inspection. Our work is guaranteed to pass.
Can you upgrade panels in occupied apartment buildings?
Absolutely — we do this regularly. We coordinate with you on timing to minimize tenant impact. We handle all LADWP/SCE utility coordination.
Will a panel upgrade let me add an EV charger or solar?
In most cases, yes. A 200-amp upgrade creates the capacity needed for a Level 2 EV charger. We can also install the dedicated 240V circuit at the same time, and we coordinate with solar installers directly.
My insurance is requiring an upgrade — how fast can you help?
We handle insurance-required upgrades every week. Share your notice deadline and we'll prioritize your scheduling. After the upgrade we provide all documentation and photos your insurer needs to reinstate or continue coverage.