The panel directory
Six labels, and what each one means
Find your panel's name below. Each one says what inspectors usually write and what we do next.
- Stab-Lok
Federal Pacific
The name Federal Pacific, FPE or Stab-Lok on the door or on the breakers. It went into many houses from the 1950s through the 1980s. Inspectors often flag it, and we usually quote a replacement.
- GTE-Sylvania
Zinsco
Zinsco, or GTE-Sylvania on a later label. Its breakers can fuse to the metal bar they plug into, so one may not trip when it should. Inspectors flag it, and we usually quote a replacement.
- Bulldog, ITE
Pushmatic
Square push-button breakers, sold as Bulldog or ITE. Inspectors do not flag it the way they flag the first two, but it is old. We look at it and tell you what we see.
- Screw-in fuses
A fuse box
Round screw-in fuses instead of breakers. Common in Los Angeles houses from before the 1960s, and often the first thing a buyer's inspector writes up.
- Square D, Eaton, Siemens, GE
A name you know
Square D, Eaton, Siemens or GE. A newer panel is a different question: is it big enough for the EV charger or heat pump you want? We run a load check and tell you.
- Send a photo
No label, or you can't read it
Labels fade and doors get painted. Text us a photo of the door and the label inside it, and we will tell you what we see.
Where to look
Find the panel, then find the label
The meter is outside. The panel it feeds is usually inside: in the garage, a hallway, the laundry room or a closet. Photograph what you see without opening anything but the door.
Send us these
The panel door, closed, with the wall around it
The label inside the door
The meter outside, from a few steps back
Anything that looks burnt, rusty or wet
Safety first
Call 911 first if there is fire
If it is safe, turn off the breaker. Then call us in office hours, Monday to Friday, 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. We don't run a night line.
A burning smell or smoke
From the panel, an outlet or a switch.
Sparks or a buzzing panel
Any sound or flash from inside the door.
A hot or scorched panel or outlet
Warm to the back of your hand, or dark around the edges.
Water near wiring
Near the panel, the meter or any outlet.
Not sure what you are looking at?
Send the photos. We write back with what we see, and whether we need a visit before we can quote.