How to tell if you have one
- Federal Pacific (FPE): the label says "Federal Pacific Electric" or "FPE," and breakers are labeled "Stab-Lok," often with a thin red stripe on the handles.
- Zinsco: also sold as Sylvania-Zinsco; breakers are often multicolored (blue, red, brown handles) and thin.
Take a photo of the open panel door and label and text it to us at (512) 965-6789; we'll tell you what you have.
Why they're a concern
The job of a breaker is to trip when a circuit is overloaded or shorted. Testing of Stab-Lok breakers found a meaningful percentage failed to trip under overload conditions, and some double-pole breakers could jam. Zinsco breakers can arc and weld themselves to the bus bar, so they keep conducting even when switched off. Neither problem is visible from the outside.
Where we see them around Austin
They're most common in homes built in the late 1960s through the early 1980s: parts of North Austin, Anderson Mill, Allandale, Crestview, Brentwood, and older Round Rock and Lago Vista neighborhoods. Many were sold to builders by the thousands.
What replacement involves
We replace the panel with a modern 200A load center, new breakers (including AFCI/GFCI protection where required), grounding and bonding to current code, and a labeled directory. The city permit and inspection are included, and power is usually off for only part of one day. Typical cost in Central Texas is $2,800–$5,500.
Will insurance or a buyer require it?
Some insurers won't write a new policy on a home with one of these panels, and they're routinely called out as deficient on Texas TREC inspection reports. Replacing it before you list removes a negotiating point; replacing it after you buy removes a risk.