HOW TO IDENTIFY - Federal Pacific Electric FPE Stab Lok circuit breakers and electrical panels InspectAPedia® -
How to identify Federal Pacific Electric FPE Stab-Lok electrical panels and circuit breakers
Photo guide to identification of Federal Pioneer Stab-lok electrical panels and circuit breakers
Photo guide to Federal NOARC load center identification
Photo guide to identification of Federal Electric panels and circuit breakers
Photographs of FPE circuit breakers, labels, and bus designs provide means to identify this equipment even if labels are missing or painted-over
We recommend that residential FPE Stab-Lok electrical panels be replaced entirely or the entire panel bus assembly be replaced entirely, regardless of model number or year of manufacture. We recommend against replacing individual FPE Stab-lok circuit breakers. We do not sell circuit breakers nor any other products. For more information on FPE replacement options, 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 at page left.Our site offers impartial, unbiased advice without conflicts of interest.
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This document describes how to identify Federal Pacific Stab-Lok Electric Panels 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.
SUMMARY - How to identify Federal Pacific Stab-Lok (FPE) Electric Panels
While this article series includes FPE Stab-Lok equipment part or model numbers (see links at page left), 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. Thanks to Patrick Hedderman for suggesting this clarification.
Because the names, labeling and appearance of FPE Panels varies both by age and by area of the country where the products were distributed, we include photographs of a variety of models from the East Coast of the U.S., the
West Coast (FPE in California), as well as some other areas such FPE Stab-Lok panels in Florida, and FPE in Texas, and Federal Pioneer panels from Canada.
Names and panel labels associated with the Federal Pacific Stab-Lok design include at least
Federal Pacific Electric
FPE
Stab-Lok
FPE-Stab-lok
Federal Electric
Federal NOARC
Federal Pioneer
The following pages of this article provide identification photographs and descriptions of this equipment.
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.
To identify the circuit breaker panels and breakers discussed at the FPE information website you should look for the product name "Federal Pacific Stab Lok" or "Federal Pioneer Stab Lok" on the equipment.
Below we provide a photographic library of various types of Federal Pacific (FPE) Stab Lok equipment, including FPE and Federal Pioneer electrical panel covers and labels which permit a consumer to identify the equipment from its exterior as well as circuit breaker labels and other details.
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.
Our Photo Guides to Identification of Federal Pacific Stab-Lok Electrical Panels and Circuit Breakers Are Presented in the Topics Listed Below
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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.
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.
The remaining photographs on these pages were made by the web author.
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.
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 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 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.
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