Panel Upgrades & Replacements in Tampa Bay
An outdated or undersized electrical panel is one of the most common — and most overlooked — safety hazards in a home. Third Gen Electric upgrades and replaces electrical panels for homeowners and businesses across Tampa Bay. Whether you're dealing with a recalled panel, tripping breakers, or need more capacity for a renovation or EV charger, we handle it safely, to code, and with permits.
Panel Upgrades & Replacements
Most homes built before the 1990s were designed for far less electrical demand than we put on them today. If your panel is undersized, aging, or one of the recalled brands known to cause fires, replacing it is one of the most important electrical investments you can make. We assess your current system, recommend the right service size, and complete the upgrade with proper permits and inspection.
- 200-amp service upgrades
- 400-amp service upgrades for large homes
- Federal Pacific Stab-Lok panel replacement
- Zinsco and Pushmatic panel replacement
- Main breaker replacement
- Breaker replacement and circuit additions
- Load balancing and circuit labeling
- Permit pulling and inspection coordination
Recalled Panels Are a Fire Risk
Federal Pacific Stab-Lok and Zinsco panels are known to fail silently — breakers that don't trip under overload, leaving circuits energized when they should shut off. If your home still has one of these panels, it's not a matter of inconvenience. It's a documented fire hazard. We replace them regularly and can assess your panel at no charge.
Subpanel Installation & Service Upgrades
Sometimes the main panel isn't the problem — you just need additional capacity in a specific area. A subpanel feeds power to a detached garage, workshop, addition, or outbuilding without overloading the main panel. We size, install, and wire subpanels to handle whatever you're running.
- Subpanel installation — garages, workshops, additions
- Detached structure subpanel wiring
- Dedicated circuits for HVAC, EV chargers, and appliances
- Service entrance upgrades with utility coordination
- Meter base and service weather head replacement
- Ground and bonding upgrades to current code
- Surge protection device installation
- Arc fault and ground fault circuit protection
The Smart Panel Built for the Modern Home
SPAN replaces your traditional breaker panel with a fully connected smart panel that gives you circuit-level control from your phone. Monitor energy use by circuit in real time, manage solar and battery storage, schedule EV charging around your rate plan, and automatically prioritize backup power during an outage — all from the SPAN app. As an authorized SPAN installer, Third Gen Electric handles the complete installation, from panel swap to app commissioning, so you get every capability SPAN offers from day one.
What you get
- Circuit-level control from the SPAN app
- Real-time energy monitoring per circuit
- Solar and battery storage integration
- EV charger load management and scheduling
- Backup power prioritization during outages
- Remote monitoring and alerts
- Compatible with Powerwall, Enphase, and other systems
- Replaces your existing panel — no separate hub required
Why Third Gen Electric?
Licensed electrical contractors with over 30 years serving Tampa Bay homes and businesses. We do the job right the first time.
- Licensed & insured — EC13016137
- 30+ years of electrical experience in Tampa Bay
- Authorized SPAN smart panel installer
- Free assessment of recalled panels (Federal Pacific, Zinsco)
- Permits and inspections handled on every panel job
- Utility coordination for service entrance upgrades
Credentials & Availability
- Licensed & Insured (EC13016137)
- 24/7 Emergency Availability
- Free Estimates
- Family-Owned, 30+ Years Experience
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about panel upgrades & replacements. Don't see yours? Give us a call — we're happy to talk through your project.
How do I know if I need a panel upgrade?
Common signs include frequently tripping breakers, a panel that feels warm to the touch, flickering lights when large appliances run, a Federal Pacific or Zinsco panel, or a 100-amp service that can no longer handle your home's load. If you're adding an EV charger, hot tub, or major appliance, we'll confirm whether your current panel can support the added demand.
What's the difference between a 100-amp and 200-amp service?
Most older homes were built with 100-amp service, which was adequate for the electrical loads of the time. Modern homes — with multiple HVAC systems, EV chargers, electric ranges, and other high-draw appliances — typically require 200-amp service. A 200-amp upgrade gives you more capacity, more circuit slots, and room to grow.
Do I need to be home during a panel upgrade?
We recommend that an adult be available at the start and end of the job. The work requires shutting off power to the home for a period of time, typically a few hours. We'll walk you through what to expect before we start and confirm everything is working before we leave.
Does a panel upgrade require a permit?
Yes. Electrical panel work requires a permit in Florida, and the job must be inspected by the local building authority. We pull all permits and schedule the inspection — you don't need to do anything. Unpermitted panel work can create problems when you sell the home or file an insurance claim.
How long does a panel upgrade take?
A standard 200-amp panel replacement typically takes four to six hours. Service entrance upgrades that require utility coordination may require a second visit after the utility makes their connection. We'll give you a realistic timeline before any work starts.
What is a SPAN panel and is it worth it?
SPAN is a smart electrical panel that replaces your existing breaker box. Instead of rows of dumb breakers, you get a touchscreen panel and a phone app that shows real-time energy use per circuit, lets you turn circuits on or off remotely, and manages how solar, batteries, and EV chargers interact with your home's load. It's especially valuable if you have or plan to add solar, a battery like Powerwall, or an EV charger — SPAN coordinates all of them automatically. As authorized SPAN installers, we can walk you through whether it makes sense for your setup.
Ready to Get Started?
Contact us for a free estimate. No obligation, no pressure — just honest advice from people who know electrical.