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.

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.

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.

To identify the circuit breaker panels and breakers discussed 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.

Three Stab-Lok® bus designs were used in these panels and can be identified by an electrician on disassembly of some panel components.

[Click to enlarge any image]

Photo of a punched opening copper FPE Stab-Lok® bus bar

Note: Type NB Stab-Lock breakers are screw-fastened to the busbar.

Photo of a "Z" clip clamped to the bus bar with a 10-32 screw

Photo of a "Stab socket" on a post attached with an 8-32 steel screw

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.

...

Continue reading at FPE PANEL COVERS Stab-Lok® or select a topic from the closely-related articles below, or see the complete ARTICLE INDEX.

Or see these

Recommended Articles

• FPE Stab-Lok® : FIRES WAITING TO HAPPEN

Suggested citation for this web page

FPE PANEL BUS DESIGNS at InspectApedia.com - online encyclopedia of building & environmental inspection, testing, diagnosis, repair, & problem prevention advice.

Or see this

INDEX to RELATED ARTICLES: ARTICLE INDEX to FPE STAB-LOK BREAKERS & PANELS

Or use the SEARCH BOX found below to Ask a Question or Search InspectApedia

Ask a Question or Search InspectApedia

Try the search box just below, or if you prefer, post a question or comment in the Comments box below and we will respond promptly.

Note: appearance of your Comment below may be delayed: if your comment contains an image, photograph, web link, or text that looks to the software as if it might be a web link, your posting will appear after it has been approved by a moderator. Apologies for the delay.

Only one image can be added per comment but you can post as many comments, and therefore images, as you like.
You will not receive a notification when a response to your question has been posted.
Please bookmark this page to make it easy for you to check back for our response.
Our Comment Box is provided by Countable Web Productions countable.ca

Citations & References

In addition to any citations in the article above, a full list is available on request.

---

ADVERTISEMENT

---