The Hidden Dangers of Zinsco & FPE Panels

Kevin here from Pinellas County Electric. Let’s talk about two names in the electrical world that should send a little shiver down your spine: Zinsco and Federal Pacific Electric (FPE) panels.

Now, I know, most people don’t sit around thinking about their electrical panel. It’s that gray box in the garage or on the side of the house that you only notice when the lights go out. But here’s the kicker: if you’ve got a Zinsco or FPE electrical panel, you could be sitting on a hidden fire hazard. No exaggeration.



What’s the Big Deal with Zinsco Panels?

• Zinsco breakers are notorious for fusing to the bus bar, which means they can’t trip when overloaded.
• Translation: instead of shutting down safely, they just keep letting power surge through—wires can overheat, insulation melts, and suddenly you’ve got a fire risk.
• On top of that, replacement parts are almost impossible to find. If you do find them, they’re often old stock and just as unreliable.

Why FPE (Federal Pacific) Panels Are Even Worse

• FPE panels were installed in millions of homes between the 1950s and 1980s. Back then, they were cheap and easy to get.
• But here’s the ugly truth: testing later showed that nearly 1 in 4 breakers failed to trip during an overload or short circuit.
• That means your panel could look fine, hum along quietly, and then when you really need it—boom—it doesn’t shut down. Sparks, smoke, and flames aren’t far behind.
• Federal investigators actually called these panels a “latent fire hazard.” That’s not me being dramatic—that’s a government phrase.

Why This Matters for You

• Both Zinsco and FPE panels fail silently. You can’t look at them and say, “Yep, that one’s safe.” They don’t give you warning signs.
• Insurance companies know this. In fact, some won’t even cover homes that still have these panels installed.

What You Should Do

If you’ve got a Zinsco or FPE panel in your home:

1. Don’t panic—but don’t ignore it either.
2. Have a licensed electrician (hey, that’s us 😎) inspect your panel.
3. Strongly consider replacing it with a modern, safe, code-compliant breaker panel.
4. 
   

Here at Pinellas County Electric, we’ve swapped out more of these old panels than I can count. Every time, the homeowner breathes a sigh of relief knowing their family and home are safer.

So if you’re not sure what kind of panel you’ve got—or you already know you’re rocking one of these dinosaurs—give us a call. We’ll check it out and walk you through your options, no scare tactics, just straight talk.

Because honestly, nothing feels better than flipping a switch and knowing your home is truly safe.