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 Mobile ViewELECTRICAL INSPECTION, DIAGNOSIS, REPAIR AFCIs ARC FAULT CIRCUIT INTERRUPTERS ALUMINUM SECs & WIRING ALUMINUM WIRING HAZARDS AMPS & VOLTS DETERMINATION AMPACITY - the LIMITING FACTOR APPLIANCE EFFICIENCY RATINGS BACKUP ELECTRICAL GENERATORS Cadet & Encore Heater Recall CIRCUIT BREAKER FAILURE CIRCUIT BREAKER SIZE for A/C or HEAT PUMP CIRCUIT BREAKER SIZE for A/C or HEAT PUMP Classified CIRCUIT BREAKER WARNING CUTLER HAMMER PANEL FIRE CONDUIT, ELECTRICAL CORROSION in ELECTRICAL PANELS CORROSION & MOISTURE SOURCES in PANELS DEFINITIONS of ELECTRICAL TERMS DIRECTORY OF ELECTRICIANS DIRECTORY OF ELECTRICIANS - Aluminum Wiring DIRECTORY OF ELECTRICIANS - FPE Zinsco ELECTRIC HEAT ELECTRIC METERS & METER BASES ELECTRIC MOTOR DIAGNOSTIC GUIDE ELECTRIC MOTOR OVERLOAD RESET SWITCH ELECTRIC PANEL AMPACITY ELECTRIC PANEL INSPECTION ELECTRIC PANEL MOISTURE Electric Power Frequency Table ELECTRICAL BASICS EMF RF FIELD & FREQUENCY DEFINITIONS ENERGY SAVINGS in buildings ELECTRICAL GENERATORS ELECTRICAL GROUND SYSTEM INSPECTION FEDERAL PACIFIC FPE HAZARDS FEDERAL PACIFIC FPE HAZARD SUMMARY FPE FAILURE REPORTS FPE FIRE & FAILURE PHOTOS FPE FAILURE FIELD REPORTS FPE HAZARD ARTICLES, STUDIES Summary of the FPE Stab-Lok Hazard FPE Fraud - Press Release FPE Fraud Stab-Lok SEC report FPE Exxon Scandal Article How to Repair FPE Stab-Lok FPE- Fires Waiting to Happen, Debate Waiting to End FPE Technical Report - Independent Research 2007 FPE Technical Report - Independent Research 2011 New Jersey FPE Class Action 2005 FPE St Louis Seminar 2004 Federal Pioneer Recall 1997 EXXON Buys a Scandal 1980 FPE HISTORIC DATES 1950-Present FPE Pre-1970 STAB-LOKS OK? FPE HISTORY FPE & FP IDENTIFICATION, HOW TO FPE STAB-LOK PANEL COVERS FEDERAL NOARK PANELS FEDERAL ELECTRIC PANELS FEDERAL PIONEER PANELS FPE PANEL DOOR LABELS FPE TOGGLE SWITCH FPE BREAKER ID PHOTOS FPE BREAKER LABELS HOW TO ID FPE IF NO LABELS FPE PANEL BUS DESIGNS FPE PANEL AGE MATTERS? OTHER FPE DEFECTS FPE INCIDENTS, HOW TO REPORT FPE INVESTIGATION CPSC Revised FPE INVESTIGATION CPSC 1982 FPE INVESTIGATION CPSC 1983 FPE IAEI LETTER INACCURATE FPE INVESTIGATION CPSC Revised FPE INVESTIGATION CPSC 1982 FPE INVESTIGATION CPSC 1983 FPE HAZARD IAEI LETTER INACCURATE FPE PANEL ADVICE for HOME BUYERS FPE PANEL INSPECTION REPORTS FP FEDERAL PIONEER in CANADA What Are Federal Pioneer Panel Concerns? Federal Pioneer Warranty Alert Federal Pioneer Electrical Circuit Breaker Recall Field Reports of Federal Pioneer Problems Other Federal Pioneer Concerns Are Recent Federal Pioneer Stab-Loks Safe? FEDERAL PIONEER PANELS FPE REPAIR ELECTRICIANS FPE REPLACEMENT BREAKERS FPE REPLACEMENT PANELS FPE REPLACEMENT PANEL COSTS CAN'T AFFORD A NEW ELECTRIC PANEL? FPE Stab-Lok Panel Test Report FPE PANEL Test Performed FPE PANEL Test Results Photos of FPE Stab-Lok Panel FPE SUB PANELS, RISK ASSESSMENT FPE STAB-LOK: FIRES WAITING TO HAPPEN How Many Stab-Loks Stab-Lok Failure Rate Proper Repair Proving the Hazard Multiwire Circuits Single Pole Breakers Latent Safety Hazard Failure Reports Technical Reports FPE Stab-Lok TECHNICAL REPORT FPE Stab-Lok Circuit Breaker Test Results CPSC Tests FPE Test Results Southwest Research Incorporated Underwriters Laboratories Inc. Recent Testing of Field Samples FPE Stab-Lok Combination Breaker/GFI Non-FPE Stab-Lok Breakers FPE Main Breakers FPE Stab-Lok Panels FPE Stab-Lok Panels with "Rule of Six" Configuration Hazardous Failure - an Example History of the FPE Problem Should FPE Panels be Replaced? FPE Stab-Lok TECHNICAL REPORT-2004 FPE Stab-Lok Panel Test Report FPE PANEL Test Performed FPE PANEL Test Results Photos of FPE Stab-Lok Panel FPE Stab-Lok Hazard Summary Page for Public Use GENERATORS, ELECTRICAL GFCI PROTECTION,Testing GFCIs AFCIs HEATING COST FUEL & BTU Cost Table HEAT, ELECTRIC HEAT TAPE USAGE GUIDE Hertz - Definitions of KHz MHz GHz THz KNOB & TUBE WIRING LIGHTING, EXTERIOR GUIDE LIGHTING, INTERIOR GUIDE LIGHTNING PROTECTION SYSTEMS LOW VOLTAGE BUILDING WIRING MAIN DISCONNECT MAIN DISCONNECT AMPACITY MOISTURE SOURCES in PANELS MULTI-WIRE CIRCUITS MURRAY SIEMENS Recall PHOTOVOLTAIC POWER SYSTEMS PUSHMATIC - BULLDOG PANELS REMOTE ELECTRIC POWER, PHOTOVOLTAIC RUST in ELECTRICAL PANELS SAFETY for ELECTRICAL INSPECTORS SE CABLE SIZES vs AMPS SIEMENS MURRAY Recall SQUARE-D RECALLS UNDERGROUND SERVICE LATERALS VOLTAGE MEASUREMENT EQUIPMENT WIND ENERGY SYSTEMS WIND TURBINES & LIGHTNING ZINSCO / SYLVANIA HAZARDS More Information |
This article explains the burden of proof that FPE Stab-lok circuit breaker and electrical panels is a real hazard not just a theoretical one. This document explains the latent electric shock and fire hazards associated with Federal Pacific Electric Stab-Lok electric panels and circuit breakers. Federal Pacific Electric "Stab-Lok" service panels and breakers are dangerous and can fail, leading to electrical fires. 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. InspectAPedia tolerates no conflicts of interest. We have no relationship with advertisers nor with topics or services discussed at this website.© Copyright 2012 InspectAPedia.com, All Rights Reserved. Information Accuracy & Bias Pledge is at below-left. Use page top links to major topics or use links at the left of each page to navigate within topics and documents at this website. Green links show where you are in a document series or at this website. FPE Stab-lok Hazards - Proving Your CaseReaders of this document should also see FPE FIRES: Failure Reports and The Federal Pacific Stab-Lok Electric Panel Hazard Website. The problem is that some 240-Volt FPE circuit breakers and possibly also some 120-Volt units simply may not work. That is the breaker may fail to trip or even when physically switched "off" manually some breakers may remain "on" internally, continuing to conduct current! These serious failures have been tested and shown to occur at very high rates - much higher than other circuit breaker failures in general. But identifying one of these defects can lead to an argument and in some cases, even lawsuits! For example, a knowledgeable inspector or contractor observes one of these panels and recommends replacement. An owner or another inspector, unaware of the background, refuses to cooperate, and insists there is "no problem." Who's right? There is indeed "a problem." FPE panels and circuit breakers are a "safety-related defect." In some conditions the equipment may not provide the safety protection (against fire) that was intended. This defect is associated with FPE panels and circuit breakers manufactured in the 1970's and possibly extending to current equipment. Testing was performed in 1982-3 by Wright Malta Corporation for the US Consumer Product Safety Commission. What actually happens to cause unsafe conditions? Testing performed on FPE 2-pole (240V) circuit breakers indicated that in some overload conditions, particularly when one pole of the breaker is overloaded, the circuit breaker will not trip. Some tests showed that as many as 65% of the circuit breakers would malfunction. Once this malfunction has occurred the breaker is "locked" and it will not trip under any circumstances, creating an even more serious fire hazard. Are there real-world instances in which a current overload occurs on just a single "leg" of a 240-Volt circuit? Sure. At least some clothes dryers, air conditioning circuits, and electric ranges split the 240-V delivered to the appliance to run individual components such as a dryer drum motor or individual heater elements. Multiwire branch circuits which share a common neutral wire also serve different loads in a building. Main breakers in the panel split power to the two panel buses. We have received many field reports with examples of failures to trip for such equipment. To get technical depth and citations for proving your case, see:
2004 FPE Update: St. Louis ASHI Seminar including: Hazard Summary & Independent Tests confirms Stab-Lok failures See See Federal Pacific Electric Panels: Fires Waiting to Happen, Debate Waiting to Be Ended Questions & Answers regarding this articleQuestions & answers about the performance & relative safety of Federal Pacific Electric Stab-Lok circuit breakers & electrical panels. Ask a Question or Search InspectAPediaHTML Comment Box is loading comments...
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Use links just below or at the left of each page to navigate this document or to view other topics at this website. Green links show where you are in our document or website. FPE Stab-Lok HAZARDS & REPAIRS WEBSITE - See detailed links at page left More Reading:
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