Federal Pacific Electric FPE Stab Lok Circuit Breaker Identification Photos

FPE BREAKER ID PHOTOS - CONTENTS
- How to identify FPE Stab Lok Circuti Breakers - Identification Photos for FPE Stab-Lok® Circuit Breakers

Stab-Lok® Circuit Breaker identification photographs; Pre-1970 FPE Stab-Lok® Circuit breaker identification photographs
Photographs of FPE circuit breakers, labels, and bus designs provide means to identify this equipment even if labels are missing or painted-over

FPE & FP IDENTIFICATION, HOW TO - home
Questions & Answers about FPE & how to identify Federal Pacific Electric Stab Lok or FPE Stab Lok circuit breakers
References

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This document provides photographs and descriptions of FPE Stab-Lok® circuit breakers of various types and ages in order to assist in their identification. Page top photo of an FPE Stab-Lok® circuit breaker is provided courtesy of electrical panel researcher David Carrier.

Replacement FPE Stab-Lok® circuit breakers are unlikely to reduce the failure risk of this equipment. We recommend that residential FPE Stab-Lok® electrical panels be replaced entirely or the entire panel bus assembly be replaced, regardless of FPE model number or FPE year of manufacture. We do not sell circuit breakers nor any other products.

Identification Photos for FPE Stab-Lok® Circuit Breakers

Watch out: Safety warning - while opening the hinged door provided for consumer use to access and reset the breakers is permitted, because there is risk of dangerous or even fatal electric shock in any electrical panel interior, only an expert should actually remove the front cover.

See our complete list of Federal Pacific Electric (and its various name forms) electrical panels and circuit breakers found at FPE Stab Lok IDENTIFICATION. The molded-case FPE Stab-Lok® patent numbers seen on the FEP circuit breaker sides and FPE Stab-Lok® circuit breaker label close ups are at FPE BREAKER LABELS.

Stab-Lok® Circuit Breaker Photographs

Jeff Weissman contributed the photo below-left of a gray FPE Stab-Lok® circuit breaker. While the most common molded case circuit breaker is black in color, FPE Stab-Lok® breakers have been obseved in this gray color, an odd camoflage color mix that may have been a "one-off" fooling around on the production line.

On occasion a Federal Pacific Stab-Lok® Electrical Panel or Breaker manufacturing factory worker might experiment with a mix of plastics in the circuit breaker case molding machine, photo courtesy of J. Bolton. Older FPE Stab-loks may have a brown molded case (see photos further below)..

Pre 1970 FPE Breaker (C) D Friedman J Weissman

Federal Pacific molded case camouflage circuit breaker

Below we show two sides of another "camouflage" multi-colored plastic case FPE Stab-Lok® circuit breaker provided by researcher David Carrier (May 2010). Notice that the two sides of the case were produced in different processes and most likely at different times. This mix-and-match product might be an indicator of frequent adjustments and experiments on the FPE Stab-Lok® equipment production line.

The FPE Stab-Lok® GFCI breaker at above left was for sale on eBay. FPE NB type breakers (above right) use a screw connection at the bus.

Below are photographs of a 40-Amp FPE Stab-Lok® breaker that help identify FPE Stab-Lok® equipment. Provided courtesy of electrical panel researcher David Carrier.

Pre 1970 FPE Breaker (C) D Friedman D Carrier

Pre-1970 FPE Stab-Lok® Circuit Breakers

Below are photographs, courtesy of electrical panel researcher David Carrier, that help identify older pre-1970 FPE Stab-Lok® circuit breakers that have the properties we have described at FPE Pre-1970 STAB-LOKS OK?

Below, two views of a 50-Amp double pole pre-1970 FPE Stab-Lok® circuit breaker. Below-left, the breaker bus-bar connectors; Below right, the FPE Stab-Lok® breaker wire connectors.

You'll notice that these older FPE Stab-Lok® models have copper parts and a hexagonal toggle switch.

At left our photo provides a side view of a similar-vintage 15-Amp single pole FPE Stab-Lok® circuit breaker discussed at FPE Pre-1970 STAB-LOKS OK?

The molded-case FPE Stab-Lok® patent numbers seen on the breaker sides and FPE Stab-Lok® circuit breaker label close ups are at FPE BREAKER LABELS.

At left: internal parts of an older, hexagonal toggle-switch FPE Stab-Lok® circuit breaker, courtesy of researcher David Carrier.

Below left and right, photos of a pre-1970 FPE Stab-Lok® 40-Amp double pole circuit breaker.

FPE Stab Lok breaker with copper parts (C) D Friedman D Carrier

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Questions & answers on how to identify Federal Pacific Electric Stab Lok or FPE Stab Lok circuit breakers.

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Technical Reviewers & References

Related Topics, found near the top of this page suggest articles closely related to this one.

Dr. Jess Aronstein, electrical engineer, Poughkeepsie, NY, forensic engineering services, independent laboratory testing for various agencies protune@aol.com (independent electrical panel testing, including FPE Stab-Lok® panels, to April 2010)
David Carrier, electrical engineer, 53 Henmond Blvd., Poughkeepsie, NY 12603 845-430-7527
Jon Bolton, a home inspector, the Inspectigator, FL, contributed the "camouflage" breaker. Mr. Bolton can be contacted at teamattitude@hotmail.com

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Building inspection education & report writing systems from Carson, Dunlop & Associates Ltd

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The Federal Pacific Stab-Lok® Electric Panel Hazard Website Safety Information for Consumers.
2007 FPE Stab-Lok® TECHNICAL REPORT - an updated test report of independent testing (a large 1.2MB PDF file) using a larger pool of FPE Stab-Lok® circuit breakers than the older CPSC and Wright Malta tests found significantly higher failure rates of FPE Stab-Lok® circuit breakers, including a look at critical safety failures (breaker failed to trip at 200% of rated current or jammed) which found up to 80% failure rate for FPE Stab-Lok® GFCI circuit breakers (n=4), 12% failure rate for double pole FPE Stab-Lok® circuit breakers (n=120), and a 1% failure rate for FPE Stab-Lok® single pole circuit breakers (n=345).
FPE FIRES: Failures continue: FPE breaker fails, results in fires: field reports
Federal Pacific Electric Fires Waiting to Happen, Debate Waiting to Be Ended, detailed article
Home Inspection Reporting Language and discussion for FPE panels
Home Inspection Reporting Language and discussion for FPE panels
How to Identify FPE Federal Pacific Stab-Lok® Electric Panels - is yours one of these? ALSO: A History of the FPE Stab-Lok® Issue.
Federal Pacific Electric Panels: Fires Waiting to Happen, Debate Waiting to Be Ended
How to Identify Federal Pacific Electric Panels Stab Lok Breakers & History of the Federal Pacific Electric Stab Lok Hazard
Replacement Circuit Breakers for FPE Stab-Lok® Electric Panels? are not recommended
Replacement Panels for FPE Stab-Lok® load centers - options include conventional complete panel replacement and a less costly replacement of the panel interior load center/bus assembly
Schneider Canada Federal Pioneer circuit breaker recall
1983 CPSC Investigation of FPE Circuit Breakers Safety Information for Consumers
1982 Reliance Electric Co. SEC Quarterly Report: Note C. reports litigation between Reliance and UV Liquidating Trust and contends that "... improper and deceptive practices were employed for many years to secure UL listings for Federal Pacific's circuit protective products..."
1980 Reliance Electric Co. Press Release: improper practices used to obtain UL Listing for most of FPE's circuit breakers and notes testing which indicates "possible defects." 1980, Reliance Electric Co.
1980 FPE - Exxon Buys A Scandal Along With A Company improper practices used to obtain UL Listing for most of FPE's circuit breakers and notes testing which indicates "possible defects." 1980, Reliance Electric Co.
Safety Hazards and Safe Inspection Procedures for Electrical and Home Inspectors at Residential Electric Panels
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