Take Control of Your Home’s Power

Breakers that keep tripping, flickering lights, or a panel with no spare circuits may point to limited electrical capacity. For an electrical panel upgrade in San Jose, homeowners can trust IRBIS to complete the C-10-licensed work and manage the city permit through final inspection. We can also prepare your home for an EV charger or heat pump.

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Note: The estimate provided is preliminary. A licensed technician will perform measurements to finalize your installation quote.

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Note: The estimate provided is preliminary. A licensed technician will perform measurements to finalize your installation quote.

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Signs Your Panel Needs Upgrading

Older equipment and added household loads can reveal when your panel no longer meets the home's electrical needs.

Breakers trip often
The panel may be unable to carry the home’s present electrical load.
Lights flicker with appliances
Startup demand may exceed amperage available on that circuit or service. 
Panel feels warm or smells burnt
A possible fire hazard needs urgent professional attention. 
Fuse box remains in use
Have an electrician check an older fuse box for limited capacity or incorrectly sized fuses. 
New EV charger or heat pump
The current panel may not have enough power left for a circuit of that size. 
Original panel in a pre-1980 home
The equipment is now at least 46 years old.

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Electrical Panel Services We Provide

RBIS assesses the service and identifies whether your home needs an electrical box upgrade, repair, or added circuit capacity.

Panel Upgrade & Amperage Increase

Before fitting a heat pump or EV charger, we check whether a San Jose home needs 200 or 400 amps instead of 100 amps.

Breaker Box Replacement

An electrical panel replacement may be needed when the old box is damaged, outdated, or no longer has room for the circuits the home requires.

Panel Repair

Not every fault calls for a new box. An electrical panel repair may involve changing a worn breaker, tightening a loose connection or dealing with bus-bar damage.

Subpanel Installation

A correctly sized subpanel can serve a garage, ADU, or addition, providing circuit space without replacing the main panel when existing service capacity is sufficient.

Panel Upgrade for EV or Heat Pump

For a common San Jose project, IRBIS adds the dedicated high-amperage circuit required for a Level 2 EV charger or heat pump water heater.

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Panel Upgrade Problems We Fix

Trouble at the panel often appears elsewhere in the home, so IRBIS tests the load before recommending work.

Problem: Breaker Trips When Running Multiple Appliances

What causes it: Several high-draw appliances may share circuits, or the service may be undersized for the home’s present load.

‍What we do: We find the circuits causing the trips and check how much power the house is using. That tells us whether it needs a breaker, new circuit, subpanel or service change.

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Problem: Lights Dim When AC or Dryer Runs

What causes it: An AC unit or dryer draws a lot of power when it starts, and lights may dim if wiring is undersized, a connection is loose, or the service is too small.

‍What we do: We measure voltage under load, inspect connections and conductors, and correct the fault rather than assuming the panel must be replaced.

Problem: Burning Smell From Panel

What causes it: A loose wire, corroded connection, worn breaker or overloaded part can cause heat inside the panel and should be checked straight away.

‍What we do: We find what is overheating, replace the damaged part, and keep the circuit switched off until our checks show it is safe to use again.

Problem: No Room for New Circuits

What causes it: Every breaker position may be occupied even when the overall electrical service still has spare capacity.

‍What we do: We work out the extra power needed, then see whether another breaker, a subpanel or a larger main service will meet code.

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Why Pre-1980 San Jose Homes Need Panel Upgrades

Some older San Jose homes still use the panel installed when the house was built. That is not unusual in Willow Glen, Rose Garden, Cambrian or Campbell, where 100-amp service remains common. Federal Pacific and Zinsco equipment also turns up. Neither brand was covered by a blanket federal recall, but an electrician should still check its condition. Bay Area zero-NOx rules begin in 2027 for some new water heaters, making panel capacity worth reviewing before a heat pump is added.

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How Panel Upgrade Works

IRBIS deals with the panel work, San Jose permit, utility company and final inspection from start to finish.

Step 1

Load assessment

We inspect the existing service, map planned equipment, and calculate the home's expected electrical demand.

Step 2

Permit

We fill out the permit forms, add the information the city asks for and send the completed application to San Jose’s permit office.

Step 3

Upgrade

A C-10 electrician removes the old equipment, installs the approved service, and completes required grounding and labeling.

Step 4

Inspection

We coordinate the city inspection, address any corrections, and close the permit once approval is granted.

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Alert

You Got 10% Off Your First Service!

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Why Homeowners Choose IRBIS

IRBIS is BBB Accredited, Google Guaranteed, and rated 5 stars on Yelp — verify us before you book.

Licensed C-20 Contractor
California license 1048009 covers residential electrical work.
Permit Management Included
One coordinator handles filing, inspection, and closeout — manager on call if anything comes up.
Utility Coordination
We arrange the shutoff, reconnection, and any meter work with PG&E.
EV and Heat Pump Ready
One team plans panel capacity for EV charging or heat-pump upgrades.

Brands We Install

Our Mission: Comfortable And Energy Efficient Homes

At IRBIS HVAC, our mission is to ensure that every home has an HVAC and plumbing system that provides maximum comfort and energy efficiency.

Service Areas

Our crews work in:

Santa Clara

Sunnyvale

Campbell

Mountain View

Palo Alto

Fremont

With appointments available in Santa Clara, San Mateo and Alameda counties.

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Questions & Answers

Frequently
Asked Questions

How much does an electrical panel upgrade cost in San Jose?

There isn't one price that fits every electrical panel replacement in San Jose. IRBIS inspects the panel and planned load, then gives one flat, written price — never an hourly rate or line-item parts markup.

Do I need a permit to upgrade my electrical panel in San Jose?

Yes. The City of San Jose requires an electrical permit for a residential main service panel upgrade. Our Project Management team handles the application, inspection, corrections, and closeout.

How long does a panel upgrade take?

The panel itself can usually be installed in one day. Permit approval, utility appointments, inspection, meter relocation, or other service work may add time before the job is closed out.

Do I need a panel upgrade to install an EV charger?

Not always. A load calculation may show enough spare capacity, or load management may be possible. An undersized or full panel may need upgrading.

What size panel does my San Jose home need?

Many homes use 200-amp service, but the right size depends on existing loads, planned appliances, solar, batteries, EV charging, and possible future electrification.

Is my old Federal Pacific or Zinsco panel a safety risk?

Both are older lines that deserve professional assessment. CPSC testing found some FPE breakers failed calibration tests, although it did not determine that they posed a serious injury risk.

Can you upgrade the panel and install an EV charger at the same time?

Yes. IRBIS can assess the service, secure permits, complete the required panel work, and install the Level 2 EV charging circuit within one coordinated project.

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Connect with Our Support Team – We're Always Happy to Help!

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Book a Free Panel Assessment in San Jose

Homeowners searching for electrical panel replacement services in San Jose can book a free assessment with IRBIS before deciding whether the entire panel needs changing.

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(669) COOLING

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Take Control of Your Home’s Power

Signs Your Panel Needs Upgrading

Electrical Panel Services We Provide

Panel Upgrade Problems We Fix

Why Pre-1980 San Jose Homes Need Panel Upgrades

How Panel Upgrade Works

Load assessment

Permit

Upgrade

Inspection

You Got 10% Off Your First Service!

Why Homeowners Choose IRBIS

Brands We Install

Service Areas

Frequently Asked Questions

Need more help?

Book a Free Panel Assessment in San Jose

Frequently
Asked Questions