Retrofit Load-centers: Upgrade the panel. Not the wall.
Nobody wants to tell a building owner they need to tear into finished walls just to replace an outdated electrical panel.
But here's the reality: old panels get recognized as hazards. Insurance companies are calling them out. And replacement breakers for vintage brands are getting harder to find and more expensive.
The good news? You don't have to rip the whole thing out.
Eaton's Retrofit Loadcenter Interior Kits let you modernize the electrical system while reusing the existing enclosure. Gut it. Install it. Close it up. No drywall repair. No asbestos concerns. No lead paint dust.
The old way vs the Eaton way
The old way: remove the existing enclosure. Tear into finished walls. Patch drywall. Match paint. Worry about hazardous materials if it's an older building. Add 2-3 hours of labor minimum.
The Eaton way: pull the old interior. Slide in the new retrofit kit. Adjust the depth and height to match the existing box. Wire it up. Done.
Most jobs save 2-3 hours compared to a full panel change out. That's real labor you can bill elsewhere.
The big selling point for building owners
Avoiding demolition isn't just about saving money on drywall repair. It's about avoiding environmental headaches.
Older buildings often have lead paint or asbestos. Disturbing those materials means containment protocols, testing, permits, and a much larger invoice. The retrofit approach leaves the enclosure in place. No disturbance, tenants don’t move out for panel upgrades. No environmental rabbit hole.
Building owners understand that math immediately.
What you can retrofit
Eaton covers pretty much anything you'll find in the field:
Single phase or three phase
Main lug or main breaker
Up to 42 circuits
Up to 400 amps
CH breakers (3/4" with copper bus) or BR breakers (1" with aluminum bus)
The CH platform comes with a limited lifetime warranty on breakers and loadcenters. BR comes with a 10-year warranty. Both are solid.
How it works
Measure the existing enclosure
Match dimensions to Eaton's table
Order the kit from CPESI
Adjustable interior lets you set depth and height to fit perfectly
Factory-installed ground and neutral bars are positioned to accept existing wires — no re-routing everything
HERE’S WHAT YOU GET
New interior assembly
Matching trim cover
New circuit directory (because the old one is probably illegible)
Oversized collar that covers any imperfections in the existing wall
What we ORDER at CPESI
We order both CH and BR retrofit interiors in the most common configurations — 8, 12, 20, 24, 32, and 40 circuit options, 100A to 200A.
Need something that doesn't match the standard table? Eaton's Residential Flex Center will custom-build a UL-approved retrofit interior for non-standard enclosures. Call us — we'll help you figure out what you need and get it ordered. It takes 3-5 weeks so plan ahead!
The short version
Older panel. Finished walls. No demolition wanted.
Eaton retrofit kit. Measure. Order. Install. Done.
Stop by any CPESI location. Tell us what you're working on. We'll get you the right kit.