Federal Pacific Electric FPE Stab Lok Panel Cover Markings &
Index to FPE Catalog Numbers
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FPE Electric Panel Cover Markings Help Identify FPE Stab-Lok equipment
FPE PANEL Catalog Numbers Index
How to identify Federal Pacific Electric Stab-Lok panels and breakers
Photo guide to FPE Stab-Lok identification
Photographs of FPE circuit breakers, labels, and bus designs provide means to identify this equipment even if labels are missing or painted-over
Questions & answers about the markings and labels on FPE Stab-Lok electrical panel covers, translation of FPE Electric Panel catalog numbers - does the label, year, or catalog number make a difference in the safety of the equipment?

This document describes how to identify Federal Pacific Stab-Lok Electric Panels in buildings by examining readily available markings and names on the exterior of the electrical panel or just inside the hinged door intended to be opened by the consumer.

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 at page left.

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Photo Guide to Federal Pacific Electric Stab-lok EQUIPMENT COVER LABELS & MARKINGS

Photos of Federal Pacific Electric FPE Stab-Lok Electric Panel/Circuit Breaker Identifying Labels and Markings How can you it is a "Stab-Lok" model?

FPE PANEL COVERS - Photos of FPE panel cover and exposed circuit breaker markings

On panels of this vintage you may need to look not at the paper label on the FPE panel door, but rather on the panel face or cover itself for the words "Stab-Lok" to identify Federal Pacific Electric Stab Lok panels. These identifying words may appear at the top or bottom of the panel face.

Photo of a bank of Stab-Lok Electric panels nicely labeled on the panel front face -- Arlene Puentes
Typical Stab-lok Panel with the consumer-access door open, close ups are in the next two photos.
Typical Stab-lok Panel with the labeling visible, notice the words "Stab-Lok Load Center" in white ink visible at the upper left in this photo - this is what a homeowner might see on opening the hinged panel door
Typical Stab-lok Panel, lower half of panel in above photo , notice the words "Federal Pacific Electric Company, Newark NJ" at the bottom of the photo - this is what a homeowner might see on opening the hinged panel door
Photos of a Federal Electric Catalong No. 116 "Stab-Lok" panel that does not include the words "Stab-Lok" on the panel labeling but shows the stab-loc design on the panel label as well as on direct examination of the copper panel bus are at FEDERAL ELECTRIC PANELS

Photo of a Stab-lok sub-panel with label visible, Stab-Lok model#108-16, notice the words "Stab-Lok visible in the center between the two rows of breakers when the hinged cover door is open.
Photo of a Stab-Lok Electric panel, with a 100A breaker on the heater circuit - failed to trip.
Photo of a FPE Stab Lok 125A Electric Panel Model RBX108-16D 125A - photo at left
Photo of a 125A Stab-Lok Electric panel (partial view)
Photo of a Red-Center Stab-Lok Electric panel - California Federal Pacific Panel photos by Tim Hemm
Stab-Lok Meter and Load Center panel - California FPE
Stab-Lok Meter and Load Center panel lower portion with breakers - California

Photo of horizontal mount FPE Stab-Lok electrical panel Horizontal-Mount Stab-Lok Electric panel - California, White Painted-On ID - photo at left

Horizontal-Mount Stab-Lok Electric panel interior view - California
Horizontal-Mount Stab-Lok Electric panel - California, Black Metal Plate ID
Horizontal-Mount Stab-Lok Electric panel interior view - California

Stab-Lok Sub-panel - California
Stab-Lok 200-Amp electrical panel Catalog No. C124-40N1 - Searcy, Arkansas - the face of this panel is plainly labeled "STAB-LOK" at the top center in white print, and the FPE panel label indicates the model number as well as the manufacturer as Federal Pacific (L McIntire).
Stab-Lok 200-A panel FPE Model# L120-40 - Texas - This panel was labeled at its top "STAB-LOK Load Center" and at its "bottom front as "Federal Pacific Electric Company Newark NJ". Texas FPE Stab-Lok Load Center Electric Panel photos are by M. DeMuth
Stab-Lok 200-A panel main switch - Texas - This panel was labeled at its top "STAB-LOK Load Center"
Stab-Lok 200-A panel center printing - Texas - At its bottom this FPE Electric Panel is marked at its "bottom front as "Federal Pacific Electric Company Newark NJ". Incidentally, notice that 50-A double pole breaker just up from bottom left? FPE Model# L120-40 was labeled (as you can see in the Texas FPE panel door label photo below) as accepting a maximum 40A breakers.
Stab-Lok 100-A panel- FPE Catalog Number 108-16NI - Texas, circuit breaker panel in a Texas condominium (as you can see in this close up of the door label) - photos are by Thomas M. Pino

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Questions & answers about the markings and labels on FPE Stab-Lok electrical panel covers, translation of FPE Electric Panel catalog numbers - does the label, year, or catalog number make a difference in the safety of the equipment?.

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FPE Stab-Lok HAZARDS & REPAIRS 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.
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
L McIntire contributed photos of an FPE Stab-Lok 200A Catalog No. C124-40N1, August 2009
The remaining photographs on this page were made by the web author

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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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Photo Guide to Federal Pacific Electric Stab-lok EQUIPMENT COVER LABELS & MARKINGS

Photos of Federal Pacific Electric FPE Stab-Lok Electric Panel/Circuit Breaker Identifying Labels and Markings How can you it is a "Stab-Lok" model?

FPE PANEL COVERS - Photos of FPE panel cover and exposed circuit breaker markings

Questions & Answers regarding this article

Ask a Question or Search InspectAPedia

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