Electrical Panel Replacement and Upgrades in Sunrise, FL

Your electrical panel decides what your home can safely run. If it's old, full, flagged by your insurance company, or too small for the AC, EV charger or generator you want, it's time to replace it. Watt's Up Electric is a licensed electrical contractor (FL EC13013513) based in Sunrise, and we replace and upgrade panels for homes and businesses across Broward County. We draw the plans and run the permit in house, so you deal with one team from the first visit to the final inspection. Hablamos Español.

Call (954) 868-8341 or book online.

We handle the drawings and permits for you

Most panel jobs stall on paperwork, not wiring. A service change needs a permit, and the permit needs the right documents. At Watt's Up Electric, our own team prepares the electrical drawings in house, and our in-house permit expediting team submits and tracks the permit with the building department. We also coordinate the power shut-off and reconnect with FPL and schedule the final inspection. You don't have to chase anyone.

Electrical drawings prepared in house
Permit submitted and tracked by our in-house expediting team
FPL disconnect and reconnect coordinated for you
Final inspection scheduled and attended

Signs your panel needs to be replaced

Breakers trip often, or trip again right after you reset them
Lights dim or flicker when the AC or a big appliance starts (why lights flicker when the AC kicks on)
Warmth, buzzing, a burning smell, scorch marks or rust at the panel or meter
No open spaces left, or "double-tapped" breakers (two wires on one breaker)
Fuses instead of breakers
A Federal Pacific (Stab-Lok), Zinsco/Sylvania or Challenger panel
A 4-point or home inspection flagged the panel
You're adding central AC, an EV charger, a pool or spa, a generator, solar or a remodel

If you smell burning or see scorching, turn off what you can safely and call us right away.

Federal Pacific, Zinsco and Challenger panels

These names come up on almost every insurance inspection in older Broward homes.

Federal Pacific (FPE) Stab-Lok: in 1980 the manufacturer's parent company reported that many of its breakers didn't fully meet UL requirements, and the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission's own testing confirmed they failed certain UL calibration tests. The CPSC closed its investigation in 1983 without making a safety determination. Many Florida insurers won't write a new policy on a home with one.
Zinsco and Sylvania-Zinsco: named as ineligible in published Florida insurer guidelines.
Challenger: also named in published insurer guidelines, and in 1988 Challenger ran a CPSC replacement program for about 9,000 GFCI breakers whose ground-fault feature could fail.

Not sure what you have? Look at the label inside the panel door, or send us a photo when you book. We'll tell you plainly whether it needs to go.

Panels and Florida homeowners insurance (4-point inspections)

If your home is more than 20 years old, Citizens Property Insurance requires a 4-point inspection (electrical, plumbing, heating/cooling and roof) for new policies, and many private carriers ask for one too. The electrical section records your panel's brand, amperage, age and any hazards, like double taps, scorching or corrosion. Citizens also requires at least 100-amp service on new applications. Each insurer sets its own rules, and published guidelines from Florida carriers have listed Federal Pacific, Zinsco, Sylvania and Challenger panels as ineligible. Ask your agent for your carrier's current rules, then call us. Because we prepare the drawings and run the permit ourselves, we can help you get ready when an insurance deadline is coming.

Upgrading from 100 amps to 200 amps

Many Sunrise and Plantation homes from the 1960s–80s were wired for window units and far fewer appliances. Today the same panel carries central AC, a bigger kitchen, a garage fridge, a home office and, soon, an electric car. A service upgrade (usually 100A to 200A) replaces the panel and, as needed, the meter can, service conductors and grounding, so your home can carry today's load with room to grow.

We start with a load calculation, so you only upgrade if you need to. Sometimes the answer is a new panel at the same size, or a subpanel. Sometimes it's a full service upgrade.

Common reasons Broward homeowners upgrade:

EV charger: a Level 2 charger is one of the biggest loads in a home. See EV charger installation and Is your panel ready for an EV charger?
Standby or portable generator with a transfer switch: FPL warns never to connect a generator to home wiring without a proper transfer switch, because it can backfeed the lines and endanger utility crews.
New or larger central AC, pool and spa equipment, tankless water heaters
Solar or battery storage
Remodels and additions

Hurricane season, surges and your new panel

Summer storms and hurricane season make surge protection and backup power part of every Broward panel job. Florida's current building code (8th Edition, 2023, based on the 2020 National Electrical Code) requires a surge protective device on dwelling services, including when the service equipment is replaced, and an outdoor emergency disconnect for one- and two-family homes. We build those in, and we can set your new panel up for a generator now or later. Read 5 signs your home needs a whole-home surge protector.

What's included in a Watt's Up panel replacement

On-site evaluation and load calculation
Electrical drawings prepared in house
Permit filed and tracked by our in-house expediting team
FPL disconnect and reconnect coordinated
New panel and breakers, with AFCI/GFCI protection where code requires
Surge protective device and outdoor emergency disconnect where required
Meter can, service conductors and grounding updated as needed
Every circuit labeled
Final inspection with the building department
Plain-English (or Spanish) walk-through when we're done

How it works

Book: call (954) 868-8341 or book online. A photo of your panel label helps.
Evaluate: we look at your panel, meter and wiring, run a load calculation and explain your options.
Quote: you get a written quote after we evaluate your panel, before any work starts.
Drawings and permit: we prepare the drawings and our expediting team gets the permit.
Install day: FPL disconnects power, we replace the panel, and power is restored once the work passes inspection, per FPL and the building department.
Final inspection: the building department signs off, and you get the paperwork.

Panel replacement across Broward County

We're based in Sunrise and do most of our panel work close to home:

Sunrise: Welleby, Sunrise Lakes condos, Sunrise Golf Village, Springtree and west to Sawgrass
Plantation
Weston
Davie
Plus the rest of Broward County. We also take jobs in Palm Beach County on request.

Each city has its own building department and permit process. Our in-house permit team handles that for you.

Why Watt's Up Electric

Licensed Florida electrical contractor, EC13013513
Electrical drawings done in house, and an in-house permit expediting team
Based in Sunrise, serving Broward County
Latino-owned; we explain the work in English or Spanish
Straight answers: if your panel doesn't need replacing, we'll tell you

Ready to replace or upgrade your panel? Call (954) 868-8341 or book online. We'll handle the drawings, the permit, FPL and the inspection.

Panel replacement FAQ

How do I know if my panel needs to be replaced?

Frequent tripping, flickering, heat, burning smell, scorching, rust, fuses, a full panel, a Federal Pacific/Zinsco/Challenger brand, or an inspection flag are all signs. We'll check it and tell you plainly.

Do I need a permit to replace an electrical panel in Sunrise?

Yes. The City of Sunrise requires an electrical permit for panel replacements and service upgrades, followed by an inspection. Our in-house permit expediting team files and tracks it, and we prepare the drawings ourselves.

Who prepares the drawings and handles the permit?

We do. Watt's Up Electric prepares electrical drawings in house and has its own permit expediting team, so you don't need to hire anyone else or go to the building department.

Will my insurance company make me replace my panel?

It depends on your carrier. Citizens requires a 4-point inspection on homes over 20 years old and at least 100-amp service for new applications, and published Florida carrier guidelines have listed Federal Pacific, Zinsco, Sylvania and Challenger panels as ineligible. Ask your agent, then call us.

Is a Federal Pacific panel dangerous?

CPSC testing found many FPE Stab-Lok breakers failed certain UL calibration tests; the CPSC closed its investigation in 1983 without a safety finding. Many Florida insurers won't cover homes with one. We recommend having it evaluated.

Do I need 200 amps for an EV charger?

Not always. We run a load calculation first. Some homes can add a charger on their existing service; others need an upgrade.

Do I have to deal with FPL?

No. We coordinate the disconnect and reconnect with FPL.

Will a new panel include surge protection?

Florida's current code requires a surge protective device on dwelling services when service equipment is replaced, and we include it where required.

Can you set my panel up for a generator?

Yes. We can install a transfer switch or prepare the panel for one. Never plug a generator into home wiring without one.

Do you work in Plantation, Weston and Davie?

Yes, plus all of Broward County. Palm Beach County on request.

¿Hablan español?

Sí. Explicamos todo en español o inglés.

Ready to replace or upgrade your panel?

Call (954) 868-8341 or book online. We'll handle the drawings, the permit, FPL and the inspection.