C-10 Licensed · License #1108682
Electrical Panel Upgrades and Subpanel Installation in North County San Diego
A panel upgrade is not glamorous work, but it is the foundation for everything else. Solar, EV chargers, home additions, and insurance compliance all start at the electrical panel. RCH Renewables holds a C-10 electrical contractor license and completes panel upgrades, subpanel installations, Federal Pacific and Zinsco replacements, remodels, and general electrical work across North County San Diego.
Why homeowners call us
Most electrical panel calls come from one of three situations
Your insurer is threatening non-renewal.
Federal Pacific (Stab-Lok) and Zinsco panels have documented failure rates. Insurance companies in California are increasingly refusing to renew policies on homes that still have them. If your insurer has flagged your panel, you are not looking at an upgrade. You are looking at a deadline.
You want solar or an EV charger, and your panel can't support it.
A 100-amp panel that was fine for 1990 is not fine for a 6kW solar system, an EV charger, and central AC running at the same time. Adding circuits to an overloaded panel is a safety issue. We size the upgrade to handle your current load plus what you are adding.
You are doing a remodel or addition and need more capacity.
Kitchen remodels, ADUs, home offices with server racks, and pool/spa additions all add load. We size and permit the panel work as part of the larger project.
Fire risk
Federal Pacific and Zinsco panels: what you need to know
Federal Pacific Electric (FPE) made Stab-Lok breaker panels from the 1950s through the 1980s. Zinsco made similar products through the 1970s. Both have well-documented failure modes: breakers that do not trip under overload conditions, which is the condition the breaker exists to prevent.
Homes in North County San Diego built between 1950 and 1985 may still have these panels.
Signs your panel might be Federal Pacific or Zinsco:
- Breakers labeled "Stab-Lok" or with a red stripe
- Zinsco branded breakers (teal or turquoise-colored)
- A panel that feels warm to the touch
- Breakers that trip but cannot be reset, or that fail to trip when expected
What replacement looks like:
We remove the old panel and install a modern, properly rated panel, typically 200 amps for most North County homes. The work is permitted with your city, inspected by the AHJ, and done in one day in most cases. You will lose power for 4-6 hours during the cutover. If your insurer is requiring this, we can provide documentation of the completed work.
One permit, one crew
Upgrading your panel to handle solar, an EV charger, and the rest
Most solar installations require a 200-amp panel. If you have a 100-amp panel and you want solar, an EV charger, and central AC, you are almost certainly upgrading the panel as part of the project.
We scope the panel upgrade and the solar or EV charger installation together: one permit process, one crew, one project. That is typically faster and cheaper than treating them as separate jobs.
What we size for:
- Current household load (AC, appliances, HVAC)
- Solar system size (kW)
- EV charger circuit (typically 50 amps)
- Any additional planned loads (ADU, pool, future EV)
The bundle advantage:
Every permit has a flat fee from the AHJ. Combine panel upgrade + solar + EV charger into one permitted project and you pay one permit fee and one coordination overhead instead of three.
What to expect
How much does a panel upgrade cost in San Diego?
Every panel project is different. These are the most common situations we see in North County San Diego, with typical cost ranges and timelines.
| Scenario | Typical Cost | Timeline | Why You Need It |
|---|---|---|---|
| Service upgrade (100A to 200A) | From $5,500 | 1 day + permit | Homes built before 2000, near-capacity panels |
| Solar installation prep | From $5,000 (bundled) | 1 day + permit | Older panels; bundled with solar install saves on permit costs |
| Home addition or remodel | From $5,500 | 2-3 days + permit | New square footage requires additional capacity |
| Insurance compliance | From $5,500 | 1-2 days + permit | Insurers require upgraded panel for policy renewal |
| Detached garage subpanel | From $2,500 | 1 day + permit | Required by code for detached structures with EV or multiple circuits |
Costs are estimates for North County San Diego. Your actual price depends on your existing panel, service size, and scope of work. We provide a fixed price after assessing your setup.
Detached structures
Subpanel installation: when your main panel is fine but your garage is not
Detached garages now require their own subpanel by code. You cannot run a separate circuit for lights, a separate circuit for outlets, and another for an EV on a detached structure. Everything must feed through one circuit to a subpanel at the structure. We handle the full scope: permit, subpanel installation, and any EV or workshop circuits off of it.
Efficient circuit routing
Your main panel has capacity, but the circuits you need are too far away to run efficiently. A subpanel at the point of use is the cleaner solution.
EV charger or workshop in a detached structure
Adding an EV charger, workshop circuits, or 240V outlets in a detached garage or ADU. One subpanel feed handles the full load.
Additions without overloading your main
Building an addition and need dedicated circuits? A subpanel keeps the new load off your existing main and makes future changes easier.
Full scope electrical
Remodels, new construction, troubleshooting, and general electrical
Panel upgrades are our most common residential job, but they are not the only electrical work we do. If you need a licensed C-10 electrician, we handle it.
Remodels and additions
Kitchen remodels, bathroom updates, garage conversions, and home additions. We pull the permit, do the rough-in, and complete the finish work. One licensed electrician handles the whole job.
New construction
We wire new builds from rough-in through final inspection, including panel sizing for solar, EV chargers, HVAC, and appliances. Getting the panel right at rough-in is significantly cheaper than upgrading it later.
Troubleshooting and diagnostics
Breakers that keep tripping, outlets that stopped working, lights that flicker, circuits that hum. We diagnose the problem, explain what we found, and fix it. No upselling work that does not need to be done.
Outlet and circuit additions
Dedicated circuits for home offices, workshop equipment, hot tubs, EV chargers, and high-draw appliances. We run the circuit from your panel to where you need it, permitted where required.
Ceiling fan and fixture installs
Ceiling fans, recessed lighting, exterior fixtures, and under-cabinet lighting. Straightforward work, done clean.
If it needs a C-10 license, we can do it
If you are not sure whether we handle your specific job, call us. If it requires a C-10 license, we can do it.
Talk to usLicense matters
C-10 electrical contractor, not C-46
There are two relevant California contractor licenses for solar and electrical work. The distinction matters more than most homeowners realize.
Covers all electrical work including panels, subpanels, service upgrades, and solar wiring. RCH holds a C-10 license (#1108682).
Covers solar panel installation and associated electrical. A C-46 holder can wire a solar system but cannot perform general electrical work.
For homeowners combining solar + panel upgrade + EV charger into one project: a C-46-only installer cannot legally perform the panel work. They need to bring in a separate C-10 electrician, which creates a subcontractor situation. We handle the full scope under one license.
Proof
50 completed electrical jobs across North County San Diego
"I 100% give my top recommendation for RCH Renewables. Running a small business can get hectic, and having an honest electrician that makes sure the job gets done, and gets done well is so crucial."
Danielle Mcclelland5-star Google review
Panel upgrade scenarios: which one fits your home
Not every home needs the same panel. We assess your existing service during every quote at no charge. Here is what the options look like and when each one applies.
| Scenario | Typical cost | Timeline | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Keep existing 100A panel | $0 | Same day | EV charger with load management; panel under 20 years old, capacity available |
| Upgrade to 200A standard | From $5,500 | 1 day + permit (2-4 wks) | Older panels (25+ yrs), Zinsco/FPE replacement, pre-solar prep |
| 200A solar-ready upgrade | From $5,500 | 1 day + permit (2-4 wks) | Planning solar within 2 years; our standard approach — adds dedicated solar interconnection breaker, avoids a second permit pull |
| SPAN Panel (200A smart panel) | From $8,000 | 1 day + permit (2-4 wks) | Adding solar + battery; circuit-level control; EV + battery + solar in one system |
Cost ranges are installed, permit-included. Actual price depends on panel location, service entrance condition, and local utility requirements. RCH provides exact pricing on every quote.
Common questions
Electrical panel questions we hear from North County homeowners
Whether it is an insurance deadline, a solar plan, or an EV charger, the panel is where we start.
RCH Renewables holds a C-10 electrical contractor license. We replace Federal Pacific and Zinsco panels, upgrade 100-amp services to 200-amp, install subpanels for detached garages and ADUs, wire remodels and new construction, and handle general electrical work across North County San Diego. One permit, one crew, one point of contact.
Get a Panel Assessment
Tell us what you have and what you are trying to do. We will get back to you with a clear answer.
Ian Crilly
Residential Manager, RCH Renewables — C-10 Licensed (#1108682)
Last updated: April 2026