An old Zinsco panel with its original label, before replacement

Zinsco panel replacement

Replacing Zinsco panels across the Sacramento area

Zinsco panels were installed in many Sacramento-area homes built in the 1960s and 1970s. They’re now one of the panels insurers flag most often. Byron replaces them with a new panel with permits and the inspection your insurer wants to see.

Call (916) 752-4303 Text photos of your project

Permits and inspection
Documentation for your insurer
Firm quote from photos
1-year parts and labor guarantee

About Zinsco

Why Zinsco panels get replaced

Zinsco (later sold as Sylvania-Zinsco) panels have a well-known reputation among electricians. Their breakers can fail to trip when they should, and the connection between breaker and bus bar can loosen, arc and overheat over time.

Replacement breakers are no longer made by the original manufacturer, so repairs aren’t a long-term fix. For most homes the right answer is a new panel, and many insurers now require it.

Zinsco replacement with a new 200A panel

from $4,400

Applies to a straightforward, overhead-fed replacement with permits. Byron confirms your price from photos or a short visit before any work starts.

Free estimate, firm quote by the job
Permits handled when required
1-year parts and labor guarantee

Call (916) 752-4303 See all pricing

Not sure what you have?

Text Byron a photo of the panel label

Zinsco panels are often mislabeled or have had breakers swapped over the years. A clear photo of the panel door label and the breakers is usually enough for Byron to tell you what you have and whether insurers flag it.

Text photos

How to tell

Signs you have a Zinsco panel

“Zinsco” or “Sylvania” on the label inside the panel door
Thin breakers with brightly colored handles (often blue, red, green or tan)
A home built roughly between the 1960s and the early 1980s
A home inspector or insurer has already mentioned it

The process

How a Zinsco replacement works

01
Confirm it’s Zinsco
Text a photo of the panel with the door open. Byron confirms the brand and what your home needs.
02
Quote and permit
A firm price by the job. Byron pulls the permit and schedules the utility.
03
New panel installed
Old equipment out, new panel and breakers in, wired to current code.
04
Inspected and documented
Final inspection and the paperwork your insurer needs.

Before the replacement

An original panel, ready to come out

Many Zinsco panels in Sacramento-area homes have been in service for decades. Byron replaces the panel and breakers with new equipment, moves each circuit over and handles the permit and inspection.

The result is a panel your insurer accepts and a breaker box you don’t have to worry about.

An old Zinsco subpanel with its cover off, before replacement — Real WiseCo jobAn old Zinsco subpanel before Byron replaced it.

Questions

Common questions

Don’t see yours? Text Byron. You’ll get a real answer from the person doing the work.

Text a question

Is a Zinsco panel dangerous?

Zinsco panels are widely reported to have breakers that may not trip during an overload or short circuit, and bus connections that can overheat. Not every Zinsco panel will fail, but it’s a known risk, and most insurers now want them replaced.

Can you just replace the Zinsco breakers?

Original Zinsco breakers aren’t manufactured anymore, and replacing breakers doesn’t address the bus bar problems. A new panel is the long-term fix and is what insurers accept.

How much does a Zinsco replacement cost?

Most are standard panel replacements, starting at $4,400 for a 200-amp panel with permits. Byron confirms the exact price before work starts.

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