Service
Panel upgrades in Alton, IL
Lights Out Electric replaces panels and upgrades service across Alton and the Metro East, from a 100-amp panel to 200 amps, plus Federal Pacific and fuse-box swaps. Justin Walker does the work himself and sets the price before it starts.
Panel replacement
What does an electrical panel replacement in Alton involve?
Lights Out Electric replaces electrical panels and upgrades service across Alton and the St. Louis Metro East, including 100-amp to 200-amp changes. Justin Walker does the work himself, explains what an inspector or insurance company flagged, and sets the price before it starts.
A panel evaluation may begin with an inspection report, an insurance letter, or repeated breaker trips under load. The work can include:
- 100-amp to 200-amp service upgrades
- Breaker box replacement, including failed and overloaded panels
- Federal Pacific Stab-Lok panel replacement
- Fuse box to breaker box conversion
- Whole house surge protection added at the panel
- EV charger installation after a panel and capacity review
- Panel cleanup and inspection corrections
- Reviewing utility and inspection requirements tied to the project
Dead outlets and breakers that will not stay set can point to a branch-circuit problem instead of the service. Justin can trace the cause in the circuit before the project is scoped.
Federal Pacific Stab-Lok
My home inspection flagged a Federal Pacific panel. Does it need to be replaced?
Inspectors commonly flag Federal Pacific Stab-Lok panels, and replacement is the usual recommendation. Lights Out Electric swaps the panel for a modern breaker panel and reconnects the circuits. Most carriers treat an active Stab-Lok panel as a problem, but the timing depends on the property and policy.
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission investigated Stab-Lok breakers and closed the investigation without ruling on their safety, saying the remaining work would cost more than its budget allowed. A later New Jersey court decision found that the manufacturer had knowingly distributed breakers that were not tested to the UL standard their labels claimed. No recall followed, and the panels still appear on inspection reports.
The concern centers on breakers that may not trip during an overload, leaving the connected wiring exposed to excess current.
Replacement normally changes the panel and reconnects the existing circuits. Justin pulls the Stab-Lok panel, sets a modern breaker panel, moves each circuit over, and labels the door. If the inspection also lists knob and tube wiring behind the plaster, he can evaluate both items during the same visit.
Fuse boxes
Can you convert a fuse box to a breaker box?
Lights Out Electric converts fuse boxes to modern breaker panels across Alton and the Metro East. The replacement is sized for the home's present electrical load and the circuits it needs to serve.
Justin reviews the incoming service, outgoing circuits, available capacity, and any added loads before he prices the conversion. An older Alton house may also need a dedicated dryer or range circuit, and those projects can be scoped with the panel work.
Service size
What does a 100-amp to 200-amp upgrade get you?
A 200-amp service can provide capacity for central air, an electric range, a dryer, a hot tub, workshop equipment, and other added loads. Lights Out Electric handles the 100-amp to 200-amp change in Alton, including the panel, meter base, and grounding.
A service evaluation looks at available breaker spaces, current load, and planned additions. If the existing service is undersized, a 200-amp upgrade may provide capacity for future projects.
Pricing
What moves the price of a panel upgrade?
Panel upgrade pricing in Alton depends on the service size, the condition of the existing wiring and meter base, how far the panel sits from the meter, and the reconnection work the utility requires. Justin reviews the panel, explains the scope, and sets the price before work starts.
No single range covers every house. Describe what is going on and Justin will tell you what he needs to inspect before he prices the work.
Surge protection
Does a whole house surge protector go in the panel?
A whole house surge protector mounts at the panel and can help protect connected equipment from some voltage spikes that enter on the service line. Lights Out Electric can include one while panel work is being scoped in Alton and the Metro East.
Ask whether whole house surge protection fits the service and equipment in your home while Justin reviews the panel.
EV charger installation
Do you install EV chargers at home?
Lights Out Electric installs home EV chargers in Alton and the Metro East. Justin reviews the charger requirements, circuit route, panel capacity, and any panel or service work before pricing the installation. Call (618) 530-1809.
Many home chargers use a dedicated 240-volt circuit. The U.S. Department of Energy's home charging guide explains charging levels and equipment; the circuit still has to be sized for the charger and the conditions at the property.
If the panel lacks capacity, the panel work and charger circuit can be scoped together. Share panel photos, the property address, and the charger information when you ask about other home electrical work.
From a customer
“Checked other numerous electrical issues”
Lights Out Electric LLC. Replaced a 220 wall socket for my dryer. They also checked other numerous electrical issues in my home.
Common questions
Panel & service upgrade questions
How much does a 200 amp panel upgrade cost?
Panel upgrade pricing depends on the service size, the condition of the existing wiring and meter base, and the reconnection work the utility requires. Justin reviews the panel, explains the scope, and sets the price before work starts. Call (618) 530-1809 in Alton or the Metro East.
Can you convert a fuse box to a breaker box?
Fuse box to breaker box conversions are regular work for Lights Out Electric in Alton, Godfrey, Wood River, and the rest of the Metro East. Justin replaces the fuse panel with a modern breaker panel, moves the circuits over, and sizes the new service to what the house uses today.
Will my insurance company write a policy on a house with a Federal Pacific panel?
Insurance carriers commonly refuse to write or renew a policy on a home with an active Federal Pacific Stab-Lok panel, and lenders will not close without hazard coverage, so the panel often carries a deadline. Rules vary by carrier, so ask yours directly, then call Lights Out Electric at (618) 530-1809.
What are the signs my breaker box needs replacing?
Warning signs on an Alton breaker box include breakers that trip over and over, a panel that feels warm or smells hot, scorch marks around the door, lights that dim when a big appliance starts, or fuses instead of breakers. Call (618) 530-1809 and describe what you are seeing.
Is a whole house surge protector worth it?
A whole house surge protector mounts at the panel and can help protect connected equipment from some incoming voltage spikes. Ask whether it is compatible with the service and equipment in your home while the panel work is being scoped.
Do you install EV chargers at home?
Lights Out Electric installs home EV chargers in Alton and the Metro East. Justin reviews the charger requirements, circuit route, panel capacity, and any panel or service work before pricing the installation. Call (618) 530-1809.
Who does the panel work?
Justin Walker. He owns Lights Out Electric, he answers the phone himself, and he does the panel work himself, Monday through Friday from 7 to 3. Alton is home base and he covers the St. Louis Metro East from there.
Federal Pacific history: U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, 1983. Code and permits: Illinois has no statewide building code, and according to the Illinois Capital Development Board local governments adopt the codes of their choice. The state's code directory lists Alton under the NFPA National Electrical Code with local amendments, and electrical permits and inspections here go through the city's Code Enforcement office. Last updated October 14, 2026.
Panel acting up?
Call and describe what is happening. Justin will tell you what he needs to inspect and set the price before the work starts.
Justin answers his own phone Mon-Fri, 7 to 3 Priced before the work starts