Guide to Federal Electric Panels - Stab Lok circuit breaker & Panel Identification Photos
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A photo guide to Federal Electric Electrical Panels - Stab-Lok design hazards found in a brand name that is different (in name, not design) from Federal Pacific Electric or Federal Pioneer or Federal Noark.
How to identify Federal Electric Stab-Lok panels and breakers
A photo guide to FE Stab-Lok electric panel identification
Questions & answers about Federal Electric panels and circuit breakers: identification, hazards, remedies

This document describes how to identify Federal Electric Panels in buildings. An examination of this brand of electrical equipment shows that it is similar to but not identical to a version of what is better known as the FPE Stab-Lok or Federal Pacific Stab-lok electrical panel which is a serious latent electrical safety hazard in buildings. We have no performance data on this product. Field reports of readers' experience with Federal Electric panels are invited.

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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Photographic Guide to Federal Electric Electrical Panels

Federal Electric Panel (C) D Friedman J Spencer

In some cases of very early product such as the Federal Electric panels shown on this page, the words "Stab-Lok" or "Federal Pacific Electric" may not be present on the panel labeling.

Fortunately it is still easy to identify this product series by the actual circuit breaker or bus connectors or by the bus sketch on the Federal Electric Panel label if that information is still on the panel cover.

Here we provide a photographic library of various types of Federal Electric, Federal Pacific Electric, FPE Stab-Lok, 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.

Here is the interior of a Federal Electric panel, Federal Electric Catalong No. 116, showing that this early model electrical panel used a copper bus (nice).

However the circuit breakers and bus design are early versions of the problematic FPE Stab-Lok design and should be handled as with any other FPE Stab-Lok equipment - replace the panel.

Photographs of the copper-bus Federal Electric (FPE Stab-Lok) electrical panel and Stab-Lok circuit breaker closeups just below are courtesy of Michigan home inspector John Spencer.

Here is the interior label of a Federal Electric panel catalog No. 116 showing that this early model electrical panel used the "Stab-Lok" "E" bus and "F" bus designs in this product.

Look at the bottom of the label just above our red (C) notice and you will see that the "F" and "E" Stab-Lok bus layout was used.

This is a definitive identification of this electrical panel as a "Stab-Lok" design even without having to physically remove the circuit breaker to inspect the panel bus directly.

Until the electrical panel is replace we recommend that you do not disturb its circuit breakers as doing so might increase the risk of a future failure to trip.

Here is John Spencer's photo of the FPE Stab-Lok circuit breaker labels for the breakers used in this Federal Electric panel.

Betwen the breakers at lower center in the photo you can see a glint of the copper bus to which these circuit breakers are attached.

The following additional photographs depict a different bus design found in other Federal Electric electrical panels.

This is the interior of the Federal Electric panel shown at the top of this page. Note the bus design.

This is a close up of the Federal Electric triple pole circuit breaker used as the mains in this Federal Electric panel.

You can see that the bus design is similar but not identical to the classic FPE Stab-lok panels discussed elsewhere at this website.

We have no field data nor independent test data on the performance of this particular design.

However it is similar in appearance to the Stab-Lok equipment which we have discussed; caution would be appropriate.

Our Photo Guides to Identification of Federal Pioneer and Federal Pacific Stab-Lok Electrical Panels and Circuit Breakers Are Presented in the Topics Listed Below

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Questions & answers about Federal Electric panels and circuit breakers: identification, hazards, remedies.

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FPE Stab-Lok HAZARDS & REPAIRS WEBSITE - See detailed links at page left

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

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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
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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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Photographic Guide to Federal Electric Electrical Panels

Our Photo Guides to Identification of Federal Pioneer and Federal Pacific Stab-Lok Electrical Panels and Circuit Breakers Are Presented in the Topics Listed Below

Questions & Answers regarding this article

Ask a Question or Search InspectAPedia

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