Yes. Federal Pacific (FPE) Stab-Lok panels and Zinsco panels are known fire hazards because their breakers can fail to trip during an overload. If you have one, you should plan to replace it with a modern panel.
What are Federal Pacific and Zinsco panels?
Federal Pacific and Zinsco are two brands of electrical panels that were installed in millions of homes from the 1950s through the 1980s. Both are no longer made, and both have a serious safety problem.
Federal Pacific Electric (FPE) sold panels under the Stab-Lok name. These were very popular in homes built across New Jersey during that era. Zinsco panels (sometimes labeled GTE-Sylvania) were common in the same years.
The job of an electrical panel is simple. When a circuit pulls too much power, the breaker is supposed to trip and shut off that circuit. That stops the wire from overheating and starting a fire. With these two brands, the breaker often does not do its job.
Why do these breakers fail to trip?
The breakers can fail to shut off the circuit even when there is too much current flowing. That is the whole danger in one sentence.
With Federal Pacific Stab-Lok breakers, the internal mechanism can jam. The breaker handle may even look like it is in the OFF position when the circuit is still live. During an overload, a breaker that does not trip lets the wire keep heating up. That heat is how electrical fires start.
With Zinsco panels, the breakers can melt and fuse to the metal bus bar inside the panel. Once that happens, the breaker cannot trip at all, by hand or on its own. The circuit stays energized no matter what.
In both cases the breaker fails silently. Everything looks normal until the day it matters.
What did the CPSC find about Federal Pacific?
The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) opened an investigation into Federal Pacific Stab-Lok panels back in the early 1980s. The agency looked into reports that the breakers failed to trip during overload conditions.
It is widely reported that a large share of FPE breakers fail to trip when tested. Independent testing over the years has backed this up. The exact failure rate gets debated, but the pattern is clear and well documented: these breakers fail far more often than a normal breaker should.
The investigation did not end in a recall, partly because the company had financial trouble at the time. But the safety concern never went away. Electricians, inspectors, and insurance companies have treated these panels as a hazard for decades.
How do I know if I have one?
You can usually tell by looking at the panel itself. Open the metal door (just the outer door, not the inner cover) and look for a brand name.
Here is what to look for:
- The name Federal Pacific, FPE, or Stab-Lok printed on the panel door or inside label
- The name Zinsco or GTE-Sylvania on the panel
- Breakers with a thin colored stripe across the handle (common on Stab-Lok)
- A panel that looks like it dates to the 1960s or 1970s
Can I just put in new breakers?
No. This is the part homeowners most want to be true, but it is not. You cannot fix a Federal Pacific or Zinsco panel by swapping in new breakers.
The defect is in the panel design itself, not in one bad breaker. The way the breakers connect to the bus bar and the way the trip mechanism is built are the root of the problem. Putting a fresh Stab-Lok breaker into a Stab-Lok panel gives you the same flawed design.
There is no upgrade kit, no repair, and no safe workaround. The only real fix is to replace the whole panel with a modern one.
What does replacement cost in NJ?
Replacing one of these panels with a modern 200-amp panel runs $1,800 to $4,500 in Central New Jersey. The exact price depends on your current setup, the condition of your meter, and how easy the panel is to reach.
That price covers the new panel, breakers, labor, permit, and inspection. You can see the full breakdown on our [panel upgrades](/services/panel-upgrades/) page.
| What you get | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Modern panel with working breakers | Breakers actually trip during an overload |
| Permit and township inspection | Work is verified to meet NJ code |
| More circuit space | Room for an EV charger, AC, or generator later |
Will this affect my insurance or home sale?
Yes, and this catches a lot of people off guard. Many insurance companies in New Jersey will not write a policy on a home with a Federal Pacific or Zinsco panel. Others will cover it but charge more, or they require you to replace the panel within a set time.
The same thing comes up when you sell. A home inspector will flag these panels in the report. Buyers often ask the seller to replace the panel before closing, or they ask for money off the price. Handling it ahead of time keeps the sale moving and takes the issue off the table.
So the panel is not just a fire risk. It can cost you on insurance and slow down a sale. Replacing it solves all three at once.
Should I replace it now or wait?
If you have a confirmed Federal Pacific Stab-Lok or Zinsco panel, the honest answer is do not wait. These panels do not get safer with age. The connections loosen, the parts wear, and the chance of a breaker failing to trip goes up over time.
You do not have to panic. A house fire is not certain. But you are running your home on a panel that the safety experts, inspectors, and insurers all agree is a known hazard. Replacing it is one of the best safety upgrades you can make.
Talk to a NJ master electrician
Bruce Harrelson has been a Master Electrician since 1988, with 38 years of hands-on work across Central New Jersey. He holds NJ License #15918 and is bonded and insured. He does the work himself. No subcontractors, no salespeople.
If you think you might have a Federal Pacific or Zinsco panel, call (800) 732-0585 for a free estimate. Bruce will check the brand, tell you straight whether it needs to go, and give you a clear price. If your panel is fine, he will tell you that too. You can also reach us through our [contact page](/contact/).