Electrical Panel Upgrade & Replacement in Hialeah
Solid Power Inc. is a licensed Florida electrical contractor (license EC13008432) based in Hialeah. We upgrade and replace electrical panels from 100 to 600 amp for homes and businesses in Hialeah, Miami-Dade and Broward, and we pull the permit and coordinate the inspections. Call 305-305-3619 and we will set up a look at your panel.
- Phone: 305-305-3619
- Email: office@solidpowerfl.com
- Hours: Monday to Friday, 7:00 AM to 3:30 PM. After-hours work is by appointment only.
Do you need a panel upgrade?
These are signs that your panel may be too old, too small or worn out. You can see or notice them without opening anything:
- Breakers trip often, or the same breaker trips again and again.
- The panel is warm, buzzing or discolored.
- You smell something burning near the panel.
- Lights flicker or dim when the A/C, dryer or oven starts.
- You see rust, water stains or scorch marks on the outside of the panel.
- The label says Federal Pacific or Zinsco.
- A fuse box still runs the house.
- You are adding an EV charger, a tankless water heater, a new A/C or a generator, and the panel was not built for it.
- An electrician finds double-tapped breakers (two wires under one breaker) or no open spaces left for new circuits.
Many older panels were not sized for a whole-house electric tankless water heater, which can need several dedicated 240-volt circuits.
Never take off the inner cover of the panel (the dead front) yourself. The service wires feeding the main stay live even when the main breaker is off. Leave the cover on and call a licensed electrician. If you see smoke or flames, get everyone out and call 911.
Panel upgrade, replacement or repair: what is the difference?
An electrical panel (the breaker box) takes the power coming from the meter and splits it into circuits. Each circuit is protected by a breaker. Older homes may still have fuses instead.
People use these words loosely. Here is how we use them.
- Panel upgrade: the panel goes to a bigger amperage, for example 100 amp to 200 amp. This often includes a new meter base and new service wires. This is service work: the service conductors and the main service disconnect fall under NEC Article 230 (Services).
- Panel replacement: a new panel at the same size, because the old one is worn, damaged, out of space, or on a brand with widely reported problems. Panelboards are covered by NEC Article 408.
- Repair: one bad breaker or one loose connection is fixed and the panel stays. Repair makes sense when the panel is in good shape. It does not fix a panel that is undersized or on a brand with widely reported problems.
An electrician has to look at the panel to tell you which one you need. For breaker-only problems, see circuit breaker repair. For the long version, read electric panel repair vs replacement.
What does a panel upgrade cost in Hialeah?
A typical 200-amp residential panel upgrade runs about $1,800–$4,500, depending on conditions.
Here is what moves the price:
- Amperage. Going from 100 amp to 200 amp costs more than replacing a panel at the same size.
- Meter and service change. Some jobs only touch the panel. Others need a new meter base, new service conductors or a new mast.
- Permit. The permit and inspection are part of the job.
- FPL coordination. When the service changes, the power company (FPL in most of Miami-Dade and Broward) has to disconnect and reconnect it. That visit has to be scheduled.
- Wall and drywall. If the panel moves, or the wall is tight, there is more cutting and patching.
- Grounding and bonding. When the service is replaced, the grounding and bonding at the service have to meet NEC Article 250. Older homes often need new ground rods or bonding work.
- Surge protection. When a home's service equipment is new or replaced, NEC 230.67 calls for a Type 1 or Type 2 surge protective device at the service.
What can change the scope after the first visit
Some things only show up once an electrician has looked closely. They can change the work and the price:
- Damaged or undersized conductors.
- Unsafe grounding or bonding.
- Rust or corrosion on the panel, meter base or conduit.
- Equipment that is blocked or hard to reach.
- A meter change the power company requires.
- Earlier work with no record or no permit.
- On a new or replaced service for a house or duplex, NEC 230.85 can require an outdoor emergency disconnect.
- AFCI or GFCI protection may be required on circuits that are changed or added.
- Outdoor panels and meter equipment have to be rated for wet locations and installed the way the manufacturer and the inspector require.
Whoever is on site tells you before the scope changes, and you see it in writing.
We give you a written, itemized quote after we look at the property. Commercial panels are priced from the job itself after a site visit. For a longer breakdown, see what affects panel upgrade cost in Hialeah.
How a panel upgrade works, step by step
- Site visit. We look at the panel, the meter, the grounding and the load you plan to add.
- Quote. You get a written quote with the scope spelled out.
- Permit. We pull the permit with the building department for your property: the City of Hialeah, your city's building department if it has one, or Miami-Dade County or Broward County for unincorporated areas.
- Power company coordination. For a service change, the power company (FPL in most of Miami-Dade and Broward) disconnects the service before we work and reconnects it after the work passes inspection. We schedule both visits.
- Install. We set the new panel, the breakers, the grounding and bonding, and the surge protection if required. Power is off for part of the day.
- Inspection. The building inspector checks the work.
- Power restored. After the work passes inspection, the building department releases the job and the power company reconnects the power. Then the panel is labeled.
Typical timeline: the install itself often takes one working day. The power stays off until the work passes inspection and the power company reconnects, so we schedule those together. A new meter base, a long wire run or a utility visit can add time.
How to get ready for install day:
- Confirm the power-off window with us.
- Clear the way to the panel, inside and outside.
- Unplug or protect sensitive equipment.
- Commercial owners: tell your tenants and staff ahead of time.
Panels we replace
- Federal Pacific: this brand has widely reported breaker problems, and an electrician can check the label and tell you if it should come out. See Federal Pacific panel replacement in Miami.
- Zinsco: this brand has widely reported problems with breakers and connections, so we recommend replacing it.
- Split-bus panels: older panels with no single main breaker, where it takes several throws to kill the power. An electrician can tell you if yours should be replaced.
- Fuse boxes: they were built for much smaller loads, and many have no room for modern circuits. Ask your insurance company what it requires.
- Undersized 100-amp panels: they run out of capacity when you add an EV charger, a tankless water heater or a new A/C. Compare sizes in 100 amp vs 200 amp panel.
- Rusted or damaged panels: Hialeah humidity and storms wear on panels, especially outdoors.
- How old is too old? Read why old electrical panels are a fire risk.
Other panel work we do
- Subpanels for garages, workshops and pool equipment.
- Panel relocation during a kitchen or other remodel. A moved panel needs working clearance under NEC 110.26.
- The electrical circuits for the loads you are adding: EV chargers, generators with interlock or ATS, tankless water heaters and new A/C.
Commercial panels and service upgrades
We replace and upgrade commercial panels and service equipment from 100 to 600 amp, including 3-phase. We work with tenants and property managers in Hialeah, Miami-Dade and Broward.
- Tenant improvement panels and new tenant services (see commercial build-outs).
- 3-phase panels and service upgrades for warehouses, shops and offices.
- Switchgear and larger service work (see switchgear replacement).
- Apartment meter stacks and multi-family service replacement: we document each unit's circuits, coordinate engineered drawings when the job needs them, and schedule the changeover with the power company.
- Permit and inspection for every job.
- Work planned around your business hours. After-hours work is by appointment only.
More on commercial electrician services in Hialeah.
Why Solid Power Inc.
- Licensed Florida electrical contractor, license EC13008432.
- Based in Hialeah. We work in Hialeah, Miami-Dade and Broward.
- We pull the permit and coordinate the inspection on every panel job.
- Residential and commercial panels from 100 to 600 amp.
- We also install generators, interlocks and standby systems with ATS, and EV chargers, so the panel can be sized for them the first time. See storm and backup generator, commercial generator installation and the Level 2 EV charger guide.
Panel upgrade questions
How much does a panel upgrade cost in Hialeah?
A typical 200-amp residential panel upgrade runs about $1,800–$4,500, depending on conditions. The price changes with the amperage, whether the meter or service wires change, the permit, FPL coordination, wall and drywall work, grounding and bonding, and surge protection. We give a written, itemized quote after we look at the property.
How do I know if I need a panel upgrade?
Watch for breakers that trip often, a warm or buzzing panel, a burning smell, flickering lights, rust, or a Federal Pacific or Zinsco label. You may also need one if you are adding an EV charger, a tankless water heater or a new A/C. Do not take the cover off the panel. A licensed electrician should inspect it and tell you what the load needs.
What is the difference between a panel upgrade and a panel replacement?
An upgrade raises the size of the service, for example 100 amp to 200 amp, and often includes a new meter base and service wires. A replacement puts in a new panel at the same size because the old one is worn, damaged or out of space. An electrician has to look at your panel to say which one fits.
Do I need a permit to replace an electrical panel in Miami-Dade?
Yes. Panel replacement and service upgrades need a permit and an inspection from the building department that covers your property. The work falls under the Florida Building Code and the NEC. When you hire a contractor, the licensed electrical contractor pulls the permit. Solid Power Inc., license EC13008432, handles the permit and the inspection for you.
How long does a panel upgrade take?
The install itself often takes one working day. Power stays off until the work passes inspection and the power company reconnects. A new meter base, a long wire run or a utility visit can add time. We tell you the plan before we start and we do not promise dates we cannot hold.
Who disconnects the power, and is FPL involved?
When the service changes, the power company (FPL in most of Miami-Dade and Broward) has to disconnect the service and reconnect it after the work passes inspection. Those visits have to be scheduled. We coordinate them for you. Do not touch the meter or the service wires yourself. They stay live until the utility removes the power.
Can I replace my own electrical panel?
Florida allows an owner to pull a permit for their own home, but we strongly advise against it. The wires feeding the panel stay live, only the power company can reconnect the service, and the work needs a permit and an inspection under the Florida Building Code. Hire a licensed electrical contractor. Solid Power Inc., license EC13008432, does the work and handles the permit.
Is a Federal Pacific panel dangerous?
Federal Pacific panels have widely reported breaker problems, so an electrician should look at yours. You can often see the brand on the panel door or its label. Do not take off the inner cover. If the brand is Federal Pacific, we suggest replacing it. Solid Power Inc. can confirm the brand and quote the replacement.
Do I need 100 amp or 200 amp service?
Many older Hialeah homes have 100 amp service. That can be enough for a small home with few big loads. A 200 amp panel gives room for an EV charger, a tankless water heater or a new A/C. An electrician sizes the service from a load calculation under NEC Article 220.
Does a new panel need a new meter or service change?
Sometimes. A panel at the same size often keeps the existing meter base. A bigger service, or a meter base that is rusted, damaged or not up to current rules, may need new equipment. If the meter or service wires change, FPL has to be scheduled. We check this at the first visit.
What is an electrical panel?
An electrical panel, or breaker box, takes the power coming from the meter and splits it into circuits for the lights, outlets and appliances. Each circuit is protected by a breaker that trips when the circuit is overloaded or faulted. Older homes may still have fuses instead. An electrician can tell you what your panel is and whether it is still safe to use.
Can I stay home during the panel upgrade?
Yes, in most cases. The power is off for part of the day, so charge your phones, plan your meals and keep children and pets away from the work area. We tell you the power-off window ahead of time. If you run medical equipment that needs power, tell us when you call so we can plan around it.
Do I need a panel upgrade for an EV charger?
It depends on the load calculation for your home. Some homes have the room, and some need a larger service. Sometimes a listed EV load-management system avoids the upgrade. NEC 625.42 lets the load calculation use the limit the system enforces, and the building department has to approve it. An electrician has to run the numbers. See our Level 2 EV charger guide.
My insurance 4-point inspection flagged my panel. What now?
Insurers may ask about the type and age of your panel. The inspector or your insurer tells you what they need. Solid Power Inc. confirms the brand and condition of the panel, quotes the replacement and handles the permit. We cannot promise what an insurer will decide, so ask your insurer what it requires.
Do I need to rewire my house when I replace the panel?
Usually not. Your existing circuits move into the new panel. If the electrician finds damaged or undersized wire, we quote that separately and show it in writing. Subpanels for a garage, workshop or pool equipment are separate work and are quoted on their own. Panel work does not automatically mean rewiring the whole house.
Do you upgrade commercial panels?
Yes. Solid Power Inc. upgrades and replaces commercial panels and service equipment from 100 to 600 amp, including 3-phase, for tenant improvements and existing buildings in Hialeah, Miami-Dade and Broward. The work is permitted and inspected. Call 305-305-3619 and tell us the building, the current panel and what you need to add.
Who replaces outdated electrical panels in Miami-Dade County?
A licensed Florida electrical contractor, working under a permit and an inspection from the city or county building department. Solid Power Inc., license EC13008432, is based in Hialeah and replaces panels from 100 to 600 amp for homes and businesses in Miami-Dade and Broward. You can look up any Florida license before you hire.
Cambio de panel eléctrico en Hialeah
Solid Power Inc. cambia y mejora paneles eléctricos en Hialeah, Miami-Dade y Broward. Somos contratistas eléctricos con licencia de la Florida, licencia EC13008432. Trabajamos casas y negocios, desde 100 hasta 600 amperios. Un cambio de panel de 200 amperios en una casa normalmente cuesta entre $1,800 y $4,500, según las condiciones. Sacamos el permiso con el departamento de construcción y coordinamos la inspección. Cuando cambia el servicio, coordinamos con FPL el corte y la reconexión. FPL reconecta la luz después de que la inspección aprueba el trabajo. Nunca quite la tapa interior del panel usted mismo; llame a un electricista con licencia. Llámenos al 305-305-3619, de lunes a viernes, de 7:00 AM a 3:30 PM. Trabajos fuera de horario solo con cita.
¿Cuánto cuesta cambiar el panel eléctrico en Hialeah?
Un cambio de panel de 200 amperios en una casa normalmente cuesta entre $1,800 y $4,500, según las condiciones. El precio depende de los amperios, si cambia el medidor o los cables de entrada, el permiso, FPL, la pared, la tierra del sistema y la protección contra sobrevoltaje. Le damos un presupuesto por escrito después de ver la propiedad.
¿Cómo sé si mi casa necesita un panel nuevo?
Fíjese si los breakers se botan seguido, si la tapa del panel está caliente, si huele a quemado o si las luces parpadean. También si el panel dice Federal Pacific o Zinsco, o si va a poner un cargador de carro eléctrico. No quite la tapa del panel. Un electricista con licencia debe revisarlo y decirle qué necesita.
¿Necesito un permiso para cambiar el panel en Miami-Dade?
Sí. El cambio de panel y la mejora del servicio necesitan permiso e inspección del departamento de construcción de su ciudad o condado. El trabajo sigue el Código de Construcción de la Florida y el NEC. Solid Power Inc., licencia EC13008432, saca el permiso y coordina la inspección.
Call Solid Power Inc. about your panel
Tell us what the panel looks like, what you want to add, and the address of the property when you call. We will set up a time to look at it.
- Phone: 305-305-3619
- Email: office@solidpowerfl.com
- Hours: Monday to Friday, 7:00 AM to 3:30 PM. After-hours work is by appointment only.
- Solid Power Inc. | Licensed Florida Electrical Contractor EC13008432 | Hialeah | Serving Miami-Dade and Broward
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