The Federal Pacific Panel in Older NB Homes
"It works fine" is not a panel safety assessment.A Federal Pacific or Zinsco panel can test functional on a Tuesday and start an arc fire on a Wednesday — they're documented to fail to trip under overload, arcing instead of cutting power.
New Braunfels has plenty of housing built in the 1950s–1970s, and a meaningful share still has these panels. Justin finds one or two a year in Comal County. He explains what it is, gives a flat-rate replacement quote, and doesn't push. Most people replace it — and insurance carriers are increasingly refusing to renew coverage on homes that still have one. That's not a scare; it's a fact worth knowing before your policy comes up for renewal.
What a 200-Amp Upgrade Includes
- New 200A panel and breakers — the modern standard, with headroom for EV and HVAC
- Meter base and service entrance work, coordinated with the utility
- Ground rod and bonding upgrades to current code
- Panel labeling and circuit documentation — so the next person isn't guessing
- Permit pulled with the City of New Braunfels or Comal County, inspection coordinated
The Combo Advantage
We're licensed for HVAC and electrical both. When your panel upgrade is really about adding an EV charger or a new A/C, we size the whole system together — the panel, the circuit, and the equipment load — instead of an electrician guessing at your A/C draw. One company, one flat-rate, no finger-pointing between trades.
Pricing
| Service | What's Included | Price |
|---|
| 200A panel upgrade | New panel, breakers, service entrance, permit, inspection | $1,800–$2,800 |
| 100A panel replacement | New panel, breakers, permit, inspection | $1,200–$1,800 |
| Fuse box to breaker box | Full conversion, rewire to new panel, permit | $2,000–$3,200 |
| EV-ready panel upgrade | 200A panel + dedicated 50A EV circuit | $2,200–$3,500 |
| FPE / Zinsco evaluation | Safety report + replacement quote | $100–$150 |
Flat-rate, all-in, written and approved before work starts — permit and inspection included. Most NB electricians won't publish these; we do. Financing available through GoodLeap.
Neighborhoods We Serve in NB
Gruene, Solms Landing, Hunter's Crossing, Vintage Oaks, Creekside, the Landa Park area, the Loop 337 corridor, Canyon Lake, Garden Ridge, Spring Branch, Bulverde, and all of New Braunfels and Comal County.
Licensed & permitted