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FPE CIRCUIT BREAKER LABELS
Label Photos Identify Federal Pacific Electric FPE Stab Lok circuit breakers
- FPE BREAKER LABELS - CONTENTS
- Photo Guide to Federal Pacific Electric Circuit Breaker Labels helps identify Stab-Lok® equipment
- How to identify Federal Pacific Electric Stab-Lok® panels and breakers - a Table of & Photo guide to FPE and FP circuit breaker labels
- Photo guide to FPE Stab-Lok® identification using labels on individual circuit breakers or switches
- FPE & FP IDENTIFICATION, HOW TO - home
- Questions & Answers about labeling used on FPE Stab-Lok® , Federal Pioneer, and Federal Noark circuit breakers
- References
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InspectAPedia tolerates no conflicts of interest. We have no relationship with advertisers, products, or services discussed at this website.
FPE Stab-Lok® circuit breaker label guide: this article includes a table and photographs of the different labels used on Federal Pacific Electric, Federal Pioneer, and Federal Noark circuit breakers - to aid in their identification.
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. For more information see FPE REPLACEMENT PANELS and FPE REPLACEMENT BREAKERS. This page assists in identifying Federal Pacific Electric Stab-Lok® electrical panels and circuit breakers. More FPE information is in the links listed at Related Topics .
Green links show where you are. © Copyright 2013 InspectAPedia.com, All Rights Reserved. Author Daniel Friedman.
Photo Guide to Federal Pacific Stab-Lok® Circuit Breakers by Their Labels
 Below we provide a photographic library of various types of Federal Pacific (FPE) Stab Lok equipment, including FPE and Federal Pioneer, or Federal Electric labels which permit a consumer to identify the equipment from its exterior as well as circuit breaker labels and other details.
You usually won't see these FPE Stablok circuit breaker labels unless the breaker has been removed from th electrical panel for inspection.
Watch out: Since there is risk of dangerous or even fatal electric shock, only an expert such as a licensed electrician, electrical engineer, or home inspector should physically remove the front cover to permit inspection of the panel bus and other interior features.
Does the Label or FPE or FP or Federal Pioneer or Federal Noark breaker model or number make a difference in circuit breaker safety?
 No.
While this article series includes FPE Stab-Lok® circuit breaker description and labels, (seelinks listed at Related Topics ), those examples are provided to assist in the identification of this equipment - tests and field reports indicate that all of the FPE Stab-Lok® equipment, electrical panels and circuit breakers sold and installed in the U.S. suffers the no-trip breaker and other problems across all residential equipment models and ages. This includes various FPE Stab-Lok® circuit breaker and bus designs including the "NA" (push-in connection) "E" bus, the "F" bus-connected breakers and the Type "NB" circuit breakers that are screw-fastened to the bus.
The Type NB Stab-Lock breakers are screw-fastened to the busbar, but are identical to the NA (push-in) types in all other respects and came out of the same production lines. There is no reason to consider that they have any different defect profile. - thanks to reader Paul Knor for requesting this clarification.
Table of & Photo guide to FPE and FP circuit breaker labels
Shown (from left to right) are the following FPE circuit breaker labels in five common colors and various text and circuit breaker catalog numbers:
| Red label |
FPE Stab-Lok® Cat. No. 250 on a 2-pole circuit breaker, issue No. BW-34 Type NA, |
| Yellow label |
Stab-Lok® Cat. No. 020 on a 1 pole unit, Issue No. CS-74 type NC |
| White label |
Underwriters Lab Circuit Breaker label for a 1 pole unit, Issue No. CY-5,Type NC, |
| Blue label |
Stab-Lok® Cat. No. 230 2-pole unit Issue No. CY-24, Type NA blue circuit breaker label |
| Green label |
Stab-Lok® Cat. No. 240 2-pole unit Issue No. BV-20, Type NA green circuit breaker label (shown below) |
The FPE Stab-Lok® circuit breaker labels shown just above were provided courtesy of electrical panel researcher David Carrier, and discussed at FPE Pre-1970 STAB-LOKS OK?. At least some of these circuit breaker were typically affixed directly by FPE under UL supervision and form part of the fraudulent labeling history.
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Here is John Spencer's photo of FE Stab-Lok® Catalog No. 20 circuit breaker labels for the breakers used in a Federal Electric panel.
Between the breakers at lower center in the photo you can see a glint of the copper bus to which these circuit breakers are attached.
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FPE Stab-Lok® Circuit Breaker Patent Numbers & Labels - Pre 1970
Below from left: Federal Pacific Electric Co. circuit breaker patent numbers, label on a pre-1970 FPE Stab-Lok® 40-Amp circuit breaker, courtesy of electrical panel researcher David Carrier, and discussed at FPE Pre-1970 STAB-LOKS OK?.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about FPE Stab-Lok circuit breaker labels
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Ask a Question or Search InspectApedia
Questions & answers or comments about labeling used on FPE Stab-Lok® , Federal Pioneer, and Federal Noark circuit breakers.
Ask a Question or Enter Search Terms in the InspectApedia search box just below.
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
- Timothy Hemm, Yucala, CA, contributed the photographs of FPE equipment installed in California buildings. Mr. Hemm can be contacted at TimHemm@yahoo.com
- Arlene Puentes, an ASHI home inspector in Kingston, NY, contributed the page top and example photograph of a bank of FPE adjacent electrical panels. Ms. Puentes can be contacted at ap@octoberhome.com
- Jon Bolton, a home inspector, the Inspectigator, FL, contributed the "camouflage" breaker. Mr. Bolton can be contacted at teamattitude@hotmail.com
- Mary DeMuth, a property owner, contributed the Texas Federal Pacific Electric Load Center photos, May 2006.
- Thomas M. Pino, a professional home inspector, contributed photos of the 100A Texas FPE panel used in a condo. www.sweetwaterhomeinspection.com. Mr. Pino can be contacted at sweetinspect@houston.rr.com or at sweetwaterhomeinspection@yahoo.com
- Thanks to home inspector John Spencer, Sherlock Home Inspectors, Inc. in Millington, MI, for photos and discussion of Federal Electric panel identification and hazards 04/2009. Mr. Spencer can also be reached at Saginaw (989) 777-0235, Millington (989) 871-5458, and by email to sherlockhomeinspectors@charter.net
- The remaining photographs on this page were made by the web author
- Thanks to reader Paul Knor,
Senior R&D Tech.,
The Ex One Company, LLC, for requesting clarification regarding the performance of FPE Stab-Lok® type "NB" circuit breakers that are screw-fastened to the panel bus. According to Dr. Jess Aronstein who has performed extensive research and testing on FPE equipment: (3/3/2010)
The FPE Type NB Stab-Lock breakers are screw-fastened to the busbar, but are identical to the NA (push-in) types in all other respects and came out of the same production lines. There is no reason to consider that they have any different defect profile.
Books & Articles on Building & Environmental Inspection, Testing, Diagnosis, & Repair
 The Home Reference Book - the Encyclopedia of Homes, Carson Dunlop & Associates, Toronto, Ontario, 25th Ed., 2012, is a bound volume of more than 450 illustrated pages that assist home inspectors and home owners in the inspection and detection of problems on buildings. The text is intended as a reference guide to help building owners operate and maintain their home effectively. Field inspection worksheets are included at the back of the volume. Special Offer: For a 10% discount on any number of copies of the Home Reference Book purchased as a single order. Enter INSPECTAHRB in the order payment page "Promo/Redemption" space. InspectAPedia.com editor Daniel Friedman is a contributing author.
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