InspectAPedia ^®

Here we provide text, labels, and equipment photographs used to help identify Zinsco and GTE-Sylvania-Zinsco electrical panels and circuit breakers, and we include photographs of a Zinsco look alike marketed by Kearney. This website discusses the electrical, fire, and shock hazards associated with Zinsco electrical components, circuit breakers, electrical panels, including certain Sylvania electrical panels and breakers which are in fact of the same product design and origin.

© Copyright 2009 Daniel Friedman, All Rights Reserved. Information Accuracy & Bias Pledge is at below-left. Use links at the left of each page to navigate this document or to view other topics at this website. Green links show where you are in our document or website.

IDENTIFY ZINSCO - How to Identify Zinsco & Zinsco-Sylvania & GTE-Sylvania-Zinsco Electrical Panels and Circuit Breakers

Zinsco electrical panels were distributed in the United States, primarily in the Western states. Photo (at left) of a recent GTE Sylvania Zinsco circuit breaker burnup courtesy of Jeff Weissman.

• Zinsco Main Panel, note the embossed "Magnetrip" label at the top of the panel face
• "Magnetrip" closer view of this embossed label
• Zinsco blue/silver label in the panel, and the characteristic green, white, red circuit breaker toggles
• Underwriter's Laboratory Label, closeup of this yellow on black label in a Zinsco electric panel
• A Zinsco Electrical Panel, cover off: note the red and blue breaker toggles and the breaker removed to show evidence of arcing.
• Zinsco circuit breaker labels-1
• Zinsco circuit breaker labels-2
• Zinsco Main Panel Label, closeup of the red print on black "Zinsco Los Angeles label"

IDENTIFY SYLVANIA-ZINSCO - How to Identify Zinsco-like Sylvania Electrical Panels and Circuit Breakers

Some Sylvania brand electrical panels are essentially a "Zinsco in Sylvania's clothing". The panel labels may identify it as "Sylvania", Sylvania-Zinsco, or GTE-Sylvania-Zinsco, but the circuit breaker colors and other external details permit the inspector to identify the problem Zinsco-design electrical panel bus and circuit breaker materials. Photographs of Zinsco Sylvania and GTE Sylvania Zinsco electrical panel labels courtesy of J. P. Simmons. An expert who opens the electrical panel or performs further disassembly (DANGER) can further identify the characteristic circuit breaker details but the circuit breaker toggle switch colors and unique labels should be sufficient for most inspectors and owners to identify this equipment.

• Sylvania Zinsco Main Panel, note the blue and silver foil "Sylvania" label
• Sylvania Zinsco Main Panel, main breaker and Sylvania label
• Sylvania Zinsco Main Panel, closeup of the blue and silver Sylvania label
• Sylvania Zinsco Main Panel, Sylvania label and pale green double pole breaker
• Sylvania Zinsco Main Panel, closeup of the blue and silver Sylvania label
• Sylvania Zinsco Main Panel, double pole green Zinsco circuit breaker in a Sylvania-labeled electric panel
• Sylvania Zinsco Main Panel, interior view

IDENTIFY KEARNEY - How to Identify Kearney Electrical Panels - Zinsco-like Electrical Panels and Circuit Breakers

we have received field reports from electricians and home inspectors who observe that Kearney™ electrical panels look a lot like Zinsco's.

NACHI inspector Joe Funderburk reports from a field inspection that the Kearney panel included an identification label identifying the Kearney Corporation in Tucker, Georgia. (Photo of a Kearney electrical panel circuit breaker set and bus design courtesy of Mr. Funderburk).

Another inspector has reported that the panel s/he examined was identified as B&C Kearney and included in-panel label says to use ZINSCO circuit breakers. Therefore the same Zinsco safety and functional concerns discussed at ZINSCO SYLVANIA ELECTRICAL PANELS should be applied to this Kearney-Zinsco equipment.

Kearney electrical panels have been reported to have "L" shaped bus bars.

From these preliminary reports it sounds as if Kearney Corporation made an electrical panel with a bus intended to accept Zinsco circuit breakers. Kearney made other electrical products including high voltage fuses.

We invite field reports and photographs from owners of buildings containing a Kearney electrical panel and we'd like to hear from electricians and home inspectors who encounter this product.

Photographs of the entire panel, circuit breakers, bus design, panel labels, circuit breaker labels, and any evidence of product failures such as burnt buses, overheated circuit breakers, or other defects would be helpful to the inspection and electrical professions and will be reported here.

Contact Us with field reports and photos. We are pleased to credit and link-to contributors.

Kearney was owned by Cooper Industries, Zinsco was owned by Thomas & Betts.

,electrical panel safety,engineering,fire,hygienist,industrial,

Share this Article      

...

Technical Reviewers & References

Search InspectAPedia

• Daniel Friedman - principal author/editor of the InspectAPedia^® Website
• InspectAPedia Bookstore lists recommended books, organized by topic & available for purchase. Most of our articles also include a list of recommended books for the specific article topic as well as other references, and information sources.
• Critique, contributions wanted: Contact Us to suggest corrections or additions to articles at this website, and if you wish, to receive online listing and credit as a contributor. Particular thanks are due to the many experts and also consumers who read and critique technical articles at InspectAPedia.com.
• Additional technical contributors & reference sources for this article are listed below.

Use links just below or at the left of each page to navigate this document or to view other topics at this website. Green links show where you are in our document or website.

ELECTRICAL INSPECTION, DIAGNOSIS, REPAIR
ZINSCO SYLVANIA ELECTRICAL PANELS
ADVICE FOR ZINSCO OWNERS
  ZINSCO SAFETY PRECAUTIONS
  SIGNS OF ZINSCO GTE SYLVANIA TROUBLE
IDENTIFY ZINSCO ELECTRICAL PANELS
IDENTIFY GTE SYLVANIA-ZINSCO PANELS
IDENTIFY KEARNEY PANELS
GTE-SYLVANIA-ZINSCO FAILURE MECHANISM
ZINSCO FAILURE PHOTOGRAPHS
ZINSCO FAILURE REPORTS
HOW TO REPORT ELECTRICAL FAILURES
  REPORT TO WEB AUTHOR
  REPORT TO THE US CPSC
  ZINSCO INSPECTION REPORT LANGUAGE
REPAIR ELECTRICIANS
REPLACEMENT ELECTRICAL PANELS
REPLACEMENT PANEL COSTS
ZINSCO WARRANTY & CONTACT INFO
REPAIR ELECTRICIANS

• Personal communication, J. Aronstein to D. Friedman, 3/6/2006
• James P. Simmons: Personal communication and photographs used in this article series, J. Simmons to Daniel Friedman, 3/4/2006, 2/19/2008. Photographs contributed to this website by Jim P. Simmons, Mr. Electric, Licensed Master Electrician, 1320 Dayton Street SE, Olympia, WA 98501, 360-705-4225, Fax 360-705-0130 or by email to mrelectricoly@msn.com
• Thanks to various electricians, home owners, and home inspectors for contributing the Zinsco Sylvania-Zinsco electric panel and circuit breaker field failure reports cited above.
• Thanks to David Osborn, an alert home inspector, for helpful critique regarding the need for Zinsco/Sylvania electrical panel replacement, 4/27/06
• Thanks to Joe Funderburk, Alpha & Omega Home Inspections, Hickory Grove, SC for his photos of a Kearney electrical panel. Mr. Funderburk is a NACHI member and home inspector who can be reached at jfunderburk@aohomeinspection.com or at www.aohomeinspection.com
• Thanks to Texas electrician Jeff Weissman for contribution of photographs of burned Zinsco circuit breakers. 03/06/2007. Mr Weissman can be reached at jeffweissman@gmail.com or by telephone at 713-666-6605

Books & Articles on Building & Environmental Inspection, Testing, Diagnosis, & Repair

• Our recommended books about building design, inspection, and repair, and about indoor environment testing, diagnosis, and cleanup are at the InspectAPedia Bookstore.
• ...

More Information on Building Diagnostic Inspections and Repairs

• Electrical System & Wiring Hazard Inspection, Detection, Cause, Remedy, Prevention
• ** Safety Hazards and Safe Electrical Inspection Procedures for Electrical and Home Inspectors at Residential Electric Panels
• Aluminum Wiring Information Website Aluminum Electrical Wiring Hazards and Repairs: in-depth authoritative info, photos, documents including selection of proper vs. ineffective repair methods. E.g.: Ideal 65 "Twister" purple connector fails in field and lab testing with aluminum wire.
• Electrical Panels, How to Inspect in Buildings, safety for electrical inspectors, electrical panel, fusing, wiring defects, defective products. Inspection Class Presentation
• Rust and Corrosion in Electrical Panels, A Study and Report on Frequency and Cause for Electrical and Home Inspectors at Residential Electric Panels

InspectAPedia® Home & Site Map - Building & Environmental Inspection, Testing, Diagnosis, Repair, & Problem Prevention Advice: In-depth research & advice on diagnosing, testing, correcting, & preventing building defects & indoor environmental hazards. Unbiased information, no conflicts of interest.

The Mold Information Center: What to Do About Mold in Buildings, When and How to Inspect for Mold, Clean Up Mold, or Avoid Mold Problems

Use this simple, economical mold test kit by following our instructions on how to collect and mail mold samples to our lab

Environmental Inspection, Testing, & Diagnosis On-Site IAQ, Gas, Air Testing, Mold Investigation, Sick Building Diagnosis, Lab Services, & Remediation Plan Preparation - indoor air quality testing, problem source determination, supporting lab work, written remediation plan addressing removal of environmental and other hazards and prevention of their recurrence.

Building Inspection, Problem Diagnosis, Forensic Investigation & Testing, Repair Consulting

Contact Daniel Friedman for website content suggestions or for fee-paid consulting