Your electrical panel controls every circuit in your home. When it’s outdated, overloaded, or failing, it limits what you can plug in, and it can become a real fire hazard. Electrical Solutions is a family-owned electrical contractor serving Bonita and South San Diego County for more than 30 years. We repair, replace, and upgrade residential and commercial electrical panels the right way: permitted, inspected, and built to code.

electrical panel repair and installation

We run every job with the same promise we’ve kept for decades: a job you want done right the first time.

Call (619) 754-6987 to schedule a panel inspection.
California License #849278 · Fully insured · Family owned and operated

Signs Your Electrical Panel Needs Repair or Replacement

Panels don’t last forever. Many homes in Bonita, Chula Vista, and National City still have their original panels from the 1960s through the 1980s. Call us if you notice any of these:

Breakers that trip often. This usually means the panel or its circuits can’t keep up with your household’s demand.
Heat, buzzing, or a burning smell at the panel. Treat this as urgent. These are signs of loose connections or failing components.
Scorch marks, rust, or corrosion on the panel cover, breakers, or bus bars.
Flickering or dimming lights when appliances such as the AC, microwave, or dryer switch on.
A fuse box instead of breakers. Fuse panels weren’t designed for modern electrical loads.
A known problem panel brand, such as Zinsco or Federal Pacific (see below).
A home inspection or insurance flag. Many insurers and buyers now require outdated panels to be replaced.
Too few breaker slots, or a panel full of “double-tapped” or tandem breakers squeezed in to add circuits.

If you’re not sure what you’re looking at, don’t open the panel yourself. We’ll inspect it and give you a straight answer.

Zinsco, Federal Pacific & Other Problem Panels

Some panel brands installed in older Southern California homes have well-documented safety problems:

Federal Pacific Electric (FPE) Stab-Lok panels have breakers that, in independent testing, often failed to trip during an overload. A breaker that doesn’t trip can’t protect your home.
Zinsco (and Sylvania-Zinsco) panels are known for breakers that can fuse to the bus bar and overheat, sometimes with no visible warning.

If your home has one of these panels, we recommend replacing it rather than repairing it, because replacement breakers don’t fix the underlying design. We’ll identify your panel, explain your options, and give you a clear quote.

Electrical Panel Upgrades: 100 Amp to 200 Amp Service

Homes use more electricity than ever. Many older Bonita homes have 100-amp (or smaller) service, which was built for a very different era. If you’re adding any of the following, you may need a panel upgrade:

An EV charger (a Level 2 charger alone typically needs a dedicated 40–50 amp circuit)
Solar panels or battery storage
A heat pump, central AC, or a mini-split system
An induction range, electric water heater, or electric dryer
A spa or hot tub. We’ve done spa hookups for years.
A remodel, an addition, an ADU, or a garage workshop

A 200-amp service upgrade gives your home room to grow and keeps each circuit running safely within its limits. We’ll perform a load calculation first, so you get the size of panel you actually need rather than a guess.

Panel Repair vs. Panel Replacement: Which Do You Need?

Not every panel problem means a new panel. We’ll recommend the least expensive option that’s actually safe.

Repair is usually enough when:

A single breaker has failed
A connection is loose but the bus bar isn’t damaged
You need a few circuits added and the panel has open space and capacity

Replacement is usually the better choice when:

The panel is a Zinsco, Federal Pacific, or fuse box
There’s heat damage, arcing, or corrosion on the bus bar
The panel is full, undersized, or 30–40+ years old
You’re adding major loads such as an EV charger, solar, or a heat pump

We’ll show you what we find and explain why. No pressure, and no upselling.

Our Electrical Panel Replacement Process

Here’s what to expect when you work with Electrical Solutions:

Inspection and estimate. We evaluate your current panel, service size, and wiring, and give you a written quote.
Permits. When necessary we pull the required electrical permits.
Installation. We remove the old panel and install the new panel and breakers, making sure every circuit is correctly labeled.
Inspection and sign-off. When necessary A city or county inspector verifies the work before final reconnection.
Walkthrough. We show you your new panel and explain how it’s labeled.

How Much Does Electrical Panel Replacement Cost?

Every home is different, but here’s what affects the price:

Panel size: a same-size replacement costs less than a 100A-to-200A upgrade
Whether the meter, service entrance cable, or grounding needs updating
Location of the panel (exterior, garage, or interior wall)
Number of circuits and any code corrections needed
Permit and inspection fees

We provide a clear written estimate before any work begins, so you won’t get surprises.

Why Bonita Homeowners Trust Electrical Solutions

30+ years of experience serving South San Diego County
Family owned and operated by Steve and Ramona Nuss
California License #849278, with workers’ compensation and liability insurance
Residential and commercial panel work, including restaurants and offices
Honest recommendations: we’ll tell you when a repair will do

Electrical Panel Service Areas

We provide electrical panel repair, replacement, and upgrades throughout South San Diego County, including:

Bonita
Chula Vista
National City
San Diego
Call for other areas

Electrical Panel FAQs

How long does an electrical panel replacement take?
Most residential panel replacements take one day. Your power will be off for part of that time, and we’ll let you know the schedule in advance.

Do I need a permit to replace my electrical panel?
Yes. Panel replacements and service upgrades require an electrical permit and an inspection in San Diego County and its cities. We handle the permit for you.

How long do electrical panels last?
Many panels last 25–40 years, but age isn’t the only factor. Problem brands, corrosion, and increased demand can shorten that. If your panel is original to a home built before the 1990s, it’s worth having it inspected.

Is it safe to keep a Zinsco or Federal Pacific panel?
Both brands have documented histories of breakers failing to protect circuits properly. We recommend replacement, and many insurers and home inspectors flag them.

Do I need a 200 amp panel for an EV charger?
Not always. It depends on your current service size and household loads. We’ll do a load calculation to find out whether your existing panel can handle a charger or whether an upgrade is needed.

Can you replace a fuse box with a breaker panel?
Yes. Fuse box replacement is one of our most common panel jobs in older homes.

Do you work on commercial electrical panels?
Yes. We service panels for offices, retail spaces, and restaurants throughout Southern California. Learn more about our commercial electrical services →

Schedule Your Electrical Panel Inspection

Don’t wait for a tripped breaker, or worse, to find out your panel is outdated. Call Electrical Solutions at (619) 754-6987 or contact us online to schedule a panel inspection and estimate.

We’ve got the Power!