Citizens just insured our rental property…with a Zinsco panel.
I have never had a GE breaker fall out. A few were burnt though…
I think you have to take into consideration where everyone is located.
I understand your point and agree with it.
One website does not make a mandate.
I’ve opened quite a few of these, and never had a problem.
I did have a whole row of GE breakers trip when they got caught on the center support of the dead front (my fault-I knocked into them).
All I can say is you must be careful removing the cover so as not to trip the breakers accidentally, but this is not unique to any panel, including FPE.
I agree with the Pope, the media has ballooned this hogwash and frightened mis informed consumers, home inspectors, insurance companies, and electricians alike.
And that’s what I comment on in my report…
I do not know what could be unique, but it is a true experience for me. The trailer burnt down (manufactured home I guess I should be calling it).
These are some of the pics I took on 02-19-2014. I was contracted by a national engineering firm to do a foundation certification.
When I got there, I called the engineer & told him what I was seeing. He told me he knew about it, the order was to check if any of the main components underneath could be used for a rebuild.
The fire inspector listed the cause was the Stab-Lok circuit breaker panel.
I know, I know, perhaps the panel was heavily double tapped or something. Coincidentally is happened to be the evil suspect Stab-Lok.
As you know Jeff, I consider myself brutally honest, so here goes.
I’ve never owned or personally have ever had a problem with any of these panels.
But then again I’ve never had a problem AL single strand wiring (I know), polybutylene plumbing, certain square D AFCI breakers, a hot tub that was not GFCI protected, carbon monoxide poisoning from lack of detectors being installed, a fire death from lack of smoke detectors, etc etc., yet I call all these out in my reports as defects whenever I see them.
IMO there is too much documentation from too many different sources readily available, whether from the CPSC or the local fire department to not call these out.
I hope you guys who think these panels are fine never find yourselves in front of a judge because you failed to call out one of these panels in an inspection report.
Not again!
Wesley, before you make your 6th post, try using this. It pisses Nick off when there aren’t 867 posts on the same old issues though!
I asked 2 masters the same question and both said we as Home Inspectors should have them evaluated by a Electrician. No need to go into any details. You cannot determine they are Ok on an Inspection.
While you are at it. …have an electrician evaluate the entire electrical system! :roll:
Nice post Kevin.
Sure if people could have them pull every plug and check the connections, find every junction box inside the wall and sign off that everything is a OK.
Unfortunately, all of the information stems from the same source. If you investigate the information provided, it ALL has the same root, which is the same site posted over and over again on this board.
Even the news stories quote the same stuff. There has been no new information since the initial investigation other than accusations made based on old (tired) information.
And to repeat - I don’t think these panels are “just fine.” I just don’t believe they’re nearly as bad as purported by these scare-sites.
As I said, one website doesn’t make a mandate.
From InterNACHI Inspection Forum - Reply to Topic http://www.nachi.org/forum/newreply.php?do=newreply&p=1191538#ixzz33Q2dsxcf
Do you know anyone that this has happened to?
That is why I ask Marc this question.
Marc, do you have a link to these “recent test”?
see post #13
Sorry it is not from yesterday. 2 1/2 years ago.
I do not consider the opinion that it is old tired info.
So is that opposing opinion.
Kevin,
So what if a electrician evaluated? He cannot tell if a breaker will fail in the future, as Jeff says, it may never fail.
You can tell if there’s been any damage to the bus or contacts at the present, but no crystal ball allowed.
I believe 2 1/2 years ago is when the article was updated.
The only recent test I could find in the pdf you provided were from 2/22/11, more than three years ago, which I agree is not ancient. Just thought you may have had something more recent.
Page 7.
TABLE 2A - SUMMARY OF RECENT TEST RESULTS ON 671 FPE STAB-LOK® CIRCUIT BREAKERS FROM 38 HOMES (results as of 2/22/11)
I will chime in.
I have looked at my share of stab locks. The ones that were in good shape were taken care of. The bad ones were a mess, from past ametuer wiring, being outside, etc.
I have never looked at one in good shape that was full of visible issues. I did have one once, with a wire so burnt, it was bare and bonded to the panel box. Glad it was grounded.
With that siad, I have also seen other panels in far worse shape. Some so bad I wondered why I took the covers off. Some of the old fuse panels are a disaster after the home owner get done with them.
Seems to be a lot of old houses with stablocks that are doing just fine. I think any panel over 40 years old should be considered for replacement.
Seems odd that a panel with a known history of fire issues, is still in so many houses.
Now zinsco panels, those things are special. I like the breakers that stick togheather and wont turn off. Thats a fire hazard.
No I don’t, and I hope I never do.
Does this work ?
There is a Federal Pacific Electric service panel in the home. There are studies that show that some FPE circuit breakers are prone to problems that can lead to failures, lack of proper protection of circuits and other serious issues, including fire and electrocution. Although the Consumer Products Safety Commission has not issued a formal product recall, the panel is old and the company is now out of business. We cannot definitively call this panel defective, but recommend, for your peace of mind, to consult a qualified electrical contractor to get their opinion on this matter.
It’s a start.
So then the client calls you and asks, “You cannot definitively call this panel defective, so can you definitively call this panel safe?”
If your answer is no, then IMO it’s defective.
You can’t or shouldn’t ever call anything definitively safe.
Not our job.
And just because you can’t call it such does not mean it’s definitively defective either.
This is and always will be a gray area.
Get used to it.
PB pipe … gray area.
Cripes, single strand aluminum wiring is in a ton of of homes with no problems.
Report what you see and know ( not speculate ) and let the client decide.
Wow,
Maybe a gray area for you, but not for me.