Federal Pacific Electric Panel Tests Indicate Failures InspectAPedia® -
Results of independent testing on an FPE Stab-Lok panel obtained from a homeowner
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. Our site offers impartial, unbiased advice without conflicts of interest.
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Federal Pacific Electric Test Performed on Homeowner's FPE Breaker Panel
The breakers in this Federal Pacific Stab-Lok panel were tested according to the
Underwriters Laboratories UL Standard UL 489 calibration test.
This test, a
subset of the entire UL 489 Standard, is intended to determine
proper electrical circuit breaker function in response to overcurrent.
40-Amp breakers were tested at 135% of rated load and should
trip within an hour. 20-Amp and 15-Amp breakers were tested at 200% of
rated load and should trip within 2 minutes.
Federal Pacific Electric (FPE Panel) Test Results
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We will block advertisements which we discover or readers inform us are associated with bad business practices,
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The panel contains 19 circuit breakers.
4 breakers (green tabs in various photos) performed properly: the breaker opened the circuit within the prescribed time and the toggle switch moved to the "tripped" position.
13 breakers (yellow tabs in various photos) did not work properly, demonstrating mechanical irregularities within the product: while all "opened" the circuit, some moved to the full-off position and others stayed in the full-on position.
2 breakers (red tabs in various photos), nominally "tripped" in that there was partial or full toggle movement. However, they failed to open the circuit on at least one pole.
10% (2 out of 19) of the Federal Pacific Electric stab-lok breakers in the panel tested
failed to perform properly. In the electrical industry, the failure rate for non-trip breakers is virtually zero.
Photographs of Federal Pacific Electric Panel Tested
FPE panel after testing - oblique view - note variations in toggles after every breaker was subjected to overcurrent
FPE breaker mechanical variations - this breaker moved to full "off" position after tripping - mechanically inconsistent with breakers which usually move to a "tripped" position
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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.
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