Do I Need a Panel Upgrade? Free CT Quiz
Four questions, one honest verdict. This quiz uses the same logic and the same published prices as our panel upgrade cost guide — including the Federal Pacific / Zinsco insurance flag and the 100A vs 200A decision. Built by Tyler Faye, CT-licensed master electrician, serving Tolland County and all of Eastern Connecticut.
1. What kind of panel do you have?
2. What size is your service?
3. Any of these symptoms? (select all that apply)
4. Planning to add any of these? (select all that apply)
Answer all four questions to get your verdict — including the published CT installed price range.
Panel Upgrade Quiz FAQ
How do I know if I need a 100 amp or 200 amp panel?+
Most older CT homes have 100A service. Modern homes with central AC, EV chargers, electric dryers, and other high-load appliances need 200A. Check the number on your main breaker — if it reads 100 and you are adding an EV charger, heat pump, hot tub, or finishing a basement, plan the upgrade before the new load. A free on-site assessment confirms exactly what you need.
Do insurance companies flag Federal Pacific and Zinsco panels in CT?+
Yes. Federal Pacific Stab-Lok and Zinsco panels have documented breaker-failure issues and are routinely flagged by insurance underwriters and home inspectors, and fuse boxes simply cannot carry modern loads safely. Swapping them for a permitted, inspected 200-amp panel is one of the most common jobs we do across Tolland and Hartford counties.
How much does a panel upgrade cost in Connecticut?+
A 200A panel upgrade in CT runs $1,800–$4,500 installed. A like-for-like panel swap is at the lower end ($1,800–$3,000); a 100A-to-200A heavy-up that also replaces the meter, mast, and service entrance runs $2,800–$4,500. Every figure includes the town permit and inspection, and most panel upgrades are a one-day job.
Is this quiz a substitute for an electrician looking at my panel?+
No — it tells you which direction you are headed and what the published CT price range looks like. The exact answer comes from a free on-site assessment: Tyler Faye, CT-licensed master electrician (license E1-0209943), checks the panel, service, and load, pulls the permit, and meets the inspector himself. Every job carries a 10-year written workmanship guarantee.
Want the full breakdown? Read the complete CT panel upgrade cost guide, see the panel upgrade service, or — if you still have screw-in fuses — start with fuse box upgrades.
Want the real answer, not a quiz answer?
Tyler visits your home, assesses the panel and load, and quotes the exact scope before any work starts — permit pulled, inspector met, 10-year written workmanship guarantee. Free and same-day across Tolland County and Eastern CT.
(860) 847-8047