Reddit users pushed back when a homeowner floated replacing his electrical panel himself. Several people recognized the equipment as an old panel with a reputation for breaker failures and said the right move was replacement, not repair.
Here's what to know
In the r/AskElectricians community, a homeowner asked for "candid advice" after a home inspector said the panel needed to be replaced as soon as possible.
He said he had bought the house, had gotten an estimate of $2,000 to $3,000, and was considering doing the replacement himself with a friend.
People in the replies identified the equipment as an old panel known for safety concerns. One commenter said the breakers were "notorious for not tripping when they should" and identified it as a "Federal Pacific panel, or a 'Fire' Pacific panel."
A user added: "This company was caught fabricating their safety tests. Thousands upon thousands of breakers were sent out that do not function at ALL."
More background
The commenter expounded on the perils of the breakers.
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"They'll let it burn up until fire starts," they warned. "Home insurance will not insure you or pass any claims if they discover you have this panel."
The homeowner posted a written estimate of $4,707.91 for an indoor 200-amp load center and grounding work and then said, "This is the initial quote I didn't go with because it was almost five grand and the electrician that came out just gave me a bad vibe."
A commenter explained the formatting and noted, "Unfortunately the language has a tendency to be watered down and specifications are sparse."
What can be done?
Across the discussion, the advice was consistent to hire a licensed electrician instead of attempting a DIY replacement. Users also preached urgency, as they suspected the situation was an accident waiting to happen.
"Get multiple quotes and go with the middle guy," the commenter who referred to safety tests advised.
Other users suggested adding specifics to the conversation, including preferences for the new panel.
"When the next person comes, ask questions, and tell him what you want," they wrote. "... There's pros and cons with every product line."
In the short term, the original poster asked if there were steps to take to minimize risk.
"Don't run multiple appliances at once, like coffee maker, toaster, microwave in the kitchen," a user advised. "Avoid window air conditioners and space heaters. It didn't catch fire under normal use of prior owners, but that does not at all mean there is not a significant risk."
Where can I learn more?
For more on panel and breaker problems, check out these stories.
• After an electrician signed off, a homeowner found two breakers wired to nothing inside a smart panel.
• A new homeowner traced a breaker labeled "camper" and discovered the generator hookup lacked an interlock.
• A generator inlet quote ballooned when an electrician proposed a $6,000 panel swap that others questioned.
• While adding a garage subpanel, an electrician found a generator install so bad an inspector got called.
• One homeowner said a buzzing panel fix came with a battery upsell and warranty fears.
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