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Photograph of a typical Federal Pacific Electric Stab-Lok® electric circuit breakers showing characteristic identification color and markingsFPE TOGGLE SWITCHES & Breakers
Photographs Identify Federal Pacific Electric FPE Stab Lok circuit breakers

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.

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Photo Guide to Electrical Panel TOGGLE SWITCHES - photos of Characteristic FPE Stab-Lok® circuit breaker toggle switch handles

Photograph of a typical Federal Pacific Electric Stab-Lok® electric circuit breakers showing characteristic identification color and markingsHow to identify FPE Equipment: this article series describes how to identify Federal Pacific Stab-Lok® Electric Panels and circuit breakers in buildings

 

It is information for building inspectors, home buyers, home owners, electricians exploring the background of possible hazards associated with Federal Pacific Electric Stab-Lok® circuit breakers and service panels.

Look for FPE characteristic circuit breaker toggle switch markings, shape, colors.

 

More examples are in the photos below as well as in some of the other Federal Pacific Electric and Federal Pioneer circuit breaker and panel photos on this page.

[Click to enlarge any image]


FPE main breaker photo

Here is a photo of the 100-Amp main breaker from an FPE Stab-Lok® electrical panel. Notice that this breaker does not have the characteristic orange-red paint on the face of the toggle switches.


Pre 1970 FPE Breaker (C) D Friedman D Carrier

At left notice the "hexagonal" cross section of the toggle switch on this pre-1970 FPE Stab-Lok® circuit breaker. This hexagonal detail is characteristic of earlier FPE Stab-Lok® equipment.

Photo courtesy of electrical panel researcher David Carrier.


FPE Circuit breaker ID photo

Photo of a Stab-Lok® panel apparent bus overheating or corrosion. This California FPE Panel shows characteristic FPE Stab-Lok® circuit breakers that can be recognized even from a distance.

Federal Pacific molded case camouflage circuit breaker

Interesting Camouflaged FPE Stab-Lok® breaker (of unknown vintage) used alone in a 1950's house in Florida, note the clearly-legible name on the paper label.

This circuit breaker is probably a "one-off" experimental unit which, in that case, would never have been intended for sale, but which might have been brought out of the factory by a worker.

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 - thanks to J. Bolton, the Inspectigator or select a topic from the closely-related articles below, or see the complete ARTICLE INDEX.


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Continue reading at FEDERAL NOARK PANELS or select a topic from the closely-related articles below, or see the complete ARTICLE INDEX.

Suggested citation for this web page

FPE TOGGLE SWITCH at InspectApedia.com - online encyclopedia of building & environmental inspection, testing, diagnosis, repair, & problem prevention advice.


Or see this

INDEX to RELATED ARTICLES: ARTICLE INDEX to FPE STAB-LOK BREAKERS & PANELS

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