Pushmatic panel

[plesieur (Paul Lesieur, CMI)]

Don’t see these often but the home I inspected Saturday had 200 Amps coming in with a Bulldog switch. Pushmatic panel in the kitchen.

Also, the thermostat only calls for heat and the fan control is 10’ away on another wall.

Don’t know what that black knob is, I turned it but nothing happened. Don’t know if its for the interior grill but maybe. Anyone have a guess?

I was doing a work plan inspection to cost out future remodeling plans. Short and visual only inspection.

[wwilson3 (Wayne Wilson, TN 439)]

Breaker may be hard to get , ( Bulldog ) but i had a lot up in Canada in commercial , never had any problems with them

[rcooke (Roy D. Cooke, Sr)]

http://www.ebay.ca/itm/like/231757477939?limghlpsr=true&hlpht=true&ul_noapp=true&hlpv=2&chn=ps&lpid=116&ops=true&viphx=1
Do a google search lots there from $7.00 up

[wwilson3 (Wayne Wilson, TN 439)]

Good info Roy , I had boxes of them before i moved gave them to a local electrician

[plesieur (Paul Lesieur, CMI)]

I am keeping silent with the buyer as far as installing a new panel. I will tell him Ebay has Pushmatic breakers.

My recommendation would be get a new panel if your planning a lot of work as I doubt AFCI protection will be easy with his present arrangement.

This is a 50 year old 600K home.
Also had this…

[mgoldenberg (Marc Goldenberg, Inspector # HI1365)]

My daughter had one but had a problem having the breakers turn on/off properly. House circa 1974.
Changed it out to a GE Powermark panel.

[ccurrins (Christopher Currins, CMI)]

Here’s what I include when home is equipped with a Pushmatic.

Recommended Upgrade: The main service panel, and installed circuit breakers, located in xxxxx appeared as original service equipment when house was constructed. The panel manufacturer (Pushmatic) is no longer in business. Replacement breakers for this panel are hard to find, and can be expensive. The design of the breaker is such that, over time, they become very stiff and difficult to operate or reset.
United States Consumer Product Safety Commission says regular circuit breakers, have a average lifetime of 30 to 40 years. - And if nothing else observed - No safety issues were noted at time of inspection. Recommend to budget for future replacement of electrical service panel and breakers.

[plesieur (Paul Lesieur, CMI)]

Thanks for the help guys. Good comment Chris, if I use that I’ll sound smarter, so I think I will.