We work in a lot of established neighborhoods around Orlando, Winter Park, and Casselberry where homes still have their original electrical panel. In many of those homes, the panel itself is the single biggest safety liability, and the homeowner has no idea. Two brands in particular show up again and again, and both have a documented history of failing in the one moment they are supposed to protect you.
Federal Pacific Stab Lok Panels
Federal Pacific Electric panels, often labeled Stab Lok, are the biggest panel liability in older Central Florida homes. The breakers in these panels have been documented to fail to trip under an overload, which means the safety device that is supposed to cut power simply does not. You will usually see the Stab Lok name on the breakers and on the panel door. Many insurance companies now refuse to cover homes that still have one, and that refusal is rooted in a real failure history, not paperwork.
Zinsco and GTE Sylvania Panels
Zinsco and GTE Sylvania panels tell the same story in a different way. Over time the breakers can fuse to the bus bar, so they cannot trip at all even when there is a clear fault on the circuit. The aluminum bus bar inside also tends to corrode and arc internally. From the outside the panel can look completely fine, which is exactly what makes it dangerous.
Other Panel Red Flags We Look For
Even outside of those two brands, a panel can hide several hazards that a trained eye catches quickly.
- Double tapped breakers, where two wires are landed under a single breaker terminal that is not rated for two. This overheats slowly at the connection point and stays invisible until it fails.
- Oversized breakers used to stop nuisance tripping, such as a 20 amp breaker protecting 14 gauge wire. Someone solved a tripping problem by removing the protection that keeps the wire from overheating.
- Signs of past do it yourself work inside the panel, including mismatched wire gauges on one breaker, non standard wire colors, painted over labels, or wires simply twisted together inside the enclosure.
- A panel that has been maxed out and extended with a sub panel hidden in a closet, often without a permit and with improper wire sizing.
Why This Matters for Your Insurance
Beyond the fire and shock risk, an outdated panel is increasingly a coverage problem. More carriers are requiring these panels to be replaced before they will write or renew a policy on a home. If you are buying or selling a home in the Orlando area, the panel is one of the first things a serious inspection flags, and addressing it ahead of time keeps the deal moving.
What a Proper Panel Replacement Looks Like
A correct panel upgrade replaces the hazardous equipment with modern, properly rated breakers, brings the service up to a capacity that fits how your home is actually used, and is fully permitted and inspected. In many older homes this is also the right moment to add whole home surge protection and arc fault protection, since the panel is already open. If you are unsure what you have, an electrical inspection gives you a clear written answer.
Get Your Panel Checked by a Licensed Electrician
If your home was built before 1990 and still has its original panel, it is worth a look. Spectrum Electric is a Florida State Certified Electrical Contractor serving Apopka, Orlando, Casselberry, Winter Park, and the surrounding cities, and every panel replacement is backed by our seven year installation coverage. Call 407.880.8977 or book a free estimate.