Basics · 4 min watch

Identify your electrical panel brand

Federal Pacific and Zinsco panels have a documented history of breakers that may not trip. Identify the brand on the door label, then ask a licensed electrician to inspect. Challenger is a different product line.

What you'll learn

  • Which panel brands some insurers ask about
  • Where to find the manufacturer label on the outer door
  • Why Federal Pacific and Zinsco belong in an inspection, not a web diagnosis
  • Why Challenger is not grouped here as the same defect

Step by step

  1. Open the outer door of your main electrical panel.
  2. Look on the inside of the outer door for a manufacturer label. Do not remove the deadfront.
  3. If you see Federal Pacific, FPE, Stab-Lok, or Zinsco, photograph the label and hire an inspection.
  4. Challenger is a different product line. Do not treat it as the same documented trip defect as FPE or Zinsco.
Safety note

Panel replacement is typically a half-day job at $3,800-$6,500 for most homes. That parked range is not a Bright Pro quote. A Square D, Eaton, or Siemens label does not prove the panel is safe. Ask a licensed electrician to inspect.

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