|
|
 Guide to Federal Pacific Electric Internal Bus Designs
- FPE PANEL BUS DESIGNS - CONTENTS
- Federal Pacific Electric Stab-Lok® equipment identification by examination of the panel internal bus connections, shape, and opening types
- Photo Guide to FPE Stab-Lok® Bus designs: E-bus, F-bus, punched bus, Z-clip, screw connections.
- Photographs of FPE Stab Lok electric panel bus connections and connectors aid in identifying this equipment even if no labels or markings are visible
- FPE & FP IDENTIFICATION, HOW TO - home
- Questions & Answers about the FPE Stab Lok Federal Pacific Electric bus design, openings, and shapes including the E shaped holes, F shaped holes, rectangular bus punchouts, and Z-clip screw connectors
- References
|
InspectAPedia tolerates no conflicts of interest. We have no relationship with advertisers, products, or services discussed at this website.
This document describes how to identify Federal Pacific Stab-Lok® Electric Panels in buildings by providing details of the different but unique internal bus designs in this equipment. This is an FPE Stab-Lok® panel identification aid 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.
To identify the circuit breaker panels and breakers discussed here at the FPE information website you should also look for the product name "Federal Pacific Stab Lok" or "Federal Pioneer Stab Lok" on the equipment.
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.
Green links show where you are. © Copyright 2013 InspectAPedia.com, All Rights Reserved. Author Daniel Friedman.
Photo Guide to FPE Stab-Lok® Circuit Breaker Bus Designs: the E, F and Z-clip FPE bus openings can identify this equipment
Watch out: 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. 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.
Three Stab-Lok® bus designs were used in these panels and can be identified by an electrician on disassembly of some panel components.
|
Here is an unusual bus from a Federal Electric panel.
See FEDERAL ELECTRIC PANELS for better examples of the Federal Electric panel with a copper Stab-Lok® bus design. |
More FPE Electrical Panel Bus design identifying photos are at "2004 FPE Update: St. Louis ASHI Seminar including: Hazard Summary & Independent Tests confirms Stab-Lok® failures"
If all product identification labels have been removed, look at the various photos of FPE panels which you can find in this article below, at the Federal Pacific Electric Stab Lok Panel website, and at several of the articles at that website, such as Hazardous FPE Circuit Breakers and Panels.
See HOW TO ID FPE IF NO LABELS for detailed guidance on identifying painted-over or un-labeled electrical panels as Federal Pacific Electric Stab Lok equipment.
WHAT IF THERE ARE LABELS but NO VIEW of the PANEL BUS - Can I Identify a FPE Stab-Lok® ?
Federal Electric Panels of the Stab-Lok® design may be identified by the panel bus (photos above) or by the panel label (photo at left, coutersy of Michigan home inspector John Spencer.
Here is the interior label of a Federal Electric panel 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.
More photos of this electrical panel can be seen at FEDERAL ELECTRIC PANELS. |
...
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about FPE panel breaker bus connections & designs
...
Ask a Question or Search InspectApedia
Questions & answers or comments about the FPE Stab Lok Federal Pacific Electric bus design, openings, and shapes including the E shaped holes, F shaped holes, rectangular bus punchouts, and Z-clip screw connectors.
Ask a Question or Enter Search Terms in the InspectApedia search box just below.
Technical Reviewers & References
Related Topics, found near the top of this page suggest articles closely related to this one.
- 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
- 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
- The remaining photographs on this page were made by the web author
Books & Articles on Building & Environmental Inspection, Testing, Diagnosis, & Repair
 The Home Reference Book - the Encyclopedia of Homes, Carson Dunlop & Associates, Toronto, Ontario, 25th Ed., 2012, is a bound volume of more than 450 illustrated pages that assist home inspectors and home owners in the inspection and detection of problems on buildings. The text is intended as a reference guide to help building owners operate and maintain their home effectively. Field inspection worksheets are included at the back of the volume. Special Offer: For a 10% discount on any number of copies of the Home Reference Book purchased as a single order. Enter INSPECTAHRB in the order payment page "Promo/Redemption" space. InspectAPedia.com editor Daniel Friedman is a contributing author.
Or choose the The Home Reference eBook for PCs, Macs, Kindle, iPad, iPhone, or Android Smart Phones. Special Offer: For a 5% discount on any number of copies of the Home Reference eBook purchased as a single order. Enter INSPECTAEHRB in the order payment page "Promo/Redemption" space.
|
- Aluminum Wiring Information Website Aluminum Electrical Wiring Hazards and Repairs: in-depth authoritative info, photos, documents including selection of proper vs. ineffective repair methods. E.g.: Ideal 65 "Twister" purple connector fails in field and lab testing with aluminum wire.
- Ampacity of an Electrical Service: How to determine the electrical service size or ampacity entering a building
- Circuit Breaker, a bad one fails to trip failure at aluminum bus-to-circuit breaker connection - field report and photographs
- Electrical System & Wiring Hazard Inspection, Detection, Cause, Remedy, Prevention - Main Electrical Page
- Electrical Panels, How to Inspect in buildings, safety for electrical inspectors, electrical panel, fusing, wiring defects, defective products. Inspection Class Presentation
|
