Identify FPE Stab Lok when there are no labels:

This document describes how to identify Federal Pacific Stab-Lok® Electric Panels when there are no markings or labels visible on the panel or its cover, and when you do not see labels on the equipment. .

IF NO LABELS - What if there are no labels on my FPE Electric panel? How can I tell if it is a "Stab-Lok® " or Federal Pacific Electric or Federal Pioneer model panel?

Pictures of the FPE Stab-Lok® E-Bus Design

If no electrical panel or circuit breaker labels are visible, the circuit breakers themselves are pretty distinctive as you saw in the photos listed above.

[Click to enlarge any image]

The design of the FPE panel bus to which the circuit breakers connect will be unique (of a couple of designs in an "E" or "F" shaped opening - they look similar).

So if more investigation is warranted, a visual inspection of other panel internal details can confirm that it is one of several FPE Stab-Lok® designs, the "F" shaped bus (photo at page top and below) or the "E" shaped buss (photo at left).

• Photo of the interior of an FPE Stab-Lok® panel - note the "E" shaped opening on the "Stab-Lok® " buss.
• Close up photo of the interior of an FPE Stab-Lok® panel - note the "E" shaped opening on the "Stab-Lok® " buss

This step requires use of a licensed electrician, as it is necessary to remove the panel cover, and possibly to remove one or two circuit breakers to look at the buss connectors on the bottom of the breaker or at the bus itself in the panel.

Watch out: SAFETY WARNING - FATAL SHOCK HAZARD - If it is necessary to remove an electric panel cover to inspect the panel interior, buses, or other components, you should hire a licensed electrician for that purpose. Unless you are a licensed electrician, DO NOT REMOVE ELECTRIC PANEL COVERS, DO NOT INSERT TOOLS INTO ELECTRIC PANELS, DO NOT TOUCH LIVE ELECTRICAL PARTS such as screws, buses, bare wires, or anything that is inside of the electric panel.

Federal Pacific Stab-Lok® Electrical Panel Breaker Bus Designs Can Identify FPE Equipment

Photographs of the FPE Stab-Lok® "F" Bus Design

The shock hazard warning issued above does not prohibit unlatching and swinging open the normal hinged panel covers provided for use by the homeowner to permit access to circuit breaker switches themselves.

The warning refers to disassembling, unscrewing, or otherwise modifying or operating on an electric panel.

Live wires and contacts inside of an electric panel can, if touched, cause fatal shock - death. If you are uncertain of what is safe to touch, do not touch any part of the equipment.

Our photograph at left (and also the one at page top) illustrate the "F" shaped cutout or opening in FPE Stab-Lok® electrical panels or in other words, the "F-bus" design.

 

More Details of how to recognize FPE Stab-Lok® panel bus designs are given at FPE PANEL BUS DESIGNS

Canadian FP (Federal Pioneer) electrical panels were made to the same design and specifications and look the same, have an identical bus design (not visible without disassembly), but are labeled "Federal Pioneer" instead of Federal Pacific Electric.

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.

Our FPE Stab-Lok® breaker photo (left) illustrates the circuit breaker connector that "stabs" into the electrical panel power bus openings illustrated above.Hazard Website.

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Continue reading at OTHER FPE DEFECTS or select a topic from the closely-related articles below, or see the complete ARTICLE INDEX.

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HOW TO ID FPE IF NO LABELS at InspectApedia.com - online encyclopedia of building & environmental inspection, testing, diagnosis, repair, & problem prevention advice.

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

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