FPE PANEL DOOR LABELS - Help Identify Federal Pacific Electric FPE Stab Lok circuit breakers and electrical panels InspectAPedia® -
Photo Guide to Federal Pacific Electric FPE Panel Door Labels & FPE Catalog Numbers
How to identify Federal Pacific Electric Stab-Lok panels and breakers
Photo guide to FPE Stab-Lok identification
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 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 FPE Electrical PANEL DOOR LABELS - Photos of FPE electric panel door labels
Look on the panel exterior, or on the inside of the hinged, consumer-operable panel door.
Look for the words "Stab-Lok" However some panel labels such as the one shown here will not, at the label top, contain the words "Federal Pacific" or "Stab-Lok".
On those labels look at the bottom of the label for the words "Federal Pacific".
What if there are no labels on my electrical panel?
If an electrical panel has no exterior markings at all, it still may have labels inside - data that can be discovered by your electrician if the panel cover is removed. See IF NO LABELS for the procedure to follow where no electrical panels are present and there are no other identification marks on the panel.
Additional photographs of FPE Stab-Lok Electrical Panel Identifying Labels
Here is John Spencer's photo of 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.
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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.
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
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
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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