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Federal Pacific Electric FPE Stab Lok Panel Cover Markings &
Index to FPE Catalog Numbers
- POST a QUESTION or COMMENT about the markings and labels on FPE Stab-Lok® electrical panel covers, translation of FPE Electric Panel catalog numbers - does the label, year, or catalog number make a difference in the safety of the equipment?
This document describes how to identify Federal Pacific Stab-Lok® Electric Panels in buildings by examining readily available markings and names on the exterior of the electrical panel or just inside the hinged door intended to be opened by the consumer.
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, products, or services discussed at this website.
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Photo Guide to Federal Pacific Electric Stab-Lok® EQUIPMENT COVER LABELS & MARKINGS
Photos of Federal Pacific Electric FPE Stab-Lok® Electric Panel/Circuit Breaker Identifying Labels and Markings How can you it is a "Stab-Lok® " model?
FPE PANEL COVERS - Photos of FPE panel cover and exposed circuit breaker markings
On panels of this vintage you may need to look not at the paper label on the FPE panel door, but rather on the panel face or cover itself for the words "Stab-Lok® " to identify Federal Pacific Electric Stab Lok panels. These identifying words may appear at the top or bottom of the panel face.
[Click to enlarge any image]
- Photo of a bank of Stab-Lok® Electric panels nicely labeled on the panel front face -- Arlene Puentes
- Typical Stab-Lok® Panel with the consumer-access door open, close ups are in the next two photos.
- Typical Stab-Lok® Panel with the labeling visible, notice the words "Stab-Lok® Load Center" in white ink visible at the upper left in this photo - this is what a homeowner might see on opening the hinged panel door
- Typical Stab-Lok® Panel, lower half of panel in above photo, notice the words "Federal Pacific Electric Company, Newark NJ" at the bottom of the photo - this is what a homeowner might see on opening the hinged panel door
- Photos of a Federal Electric Catalong No. 116 "Stab-Lok® " panel that does not include the words "Stab-Lok® " on the panel labeling but shows the stab-loc design on the panel label as well as on direct examination of the copper panel bus
are at FEDERAL ELECTRIC PANELS
- Photo of a Stab-Lok® sub-panel with label visible, Stab-Lok® model#108-16, notice the words "Stab-Lok® visible in the center between the two rows of breakers when the hinged cover door is open.
- Photo of a Stab-Lok® Electric panel, with a 100A breaker on the heater circuit - this breaker failed to trip, discussed
at FPE FIRE PHOTOGRAPHGS
More FPE panel cover examples are at these links:
- Photo of a FPE Stab Lok 125A Electric Panel Model RBX108-16D 125A
- Photo of a 125A Stab-Lok® Electric panel (partial view)
- Photo of a Red-Center Stab-Lok® Electric panel - California Federal Pacific Panel photos by Tim Hemm
Horizontal-Mount FPE Panel Covers
- Horizontal-Mount Stab-Lok® Electric panel - California, White Painted-On ID - photo above
- Horizontal-Mount Stab-Lok® Electric panel interior view - California
- Horizontal-Mount Stab-Lok® Electric panel - California, Black Metal Plate ID
- Horizontal-Mount Stab-Lok® Electric panel interior view - California
More FPE Covers: Arkansas, California, Texas
- Stab-Lok® Sub-panel - California
- Stab-Lok® 200-Amp electrical panel Catalog No. C124-40N1 - Searcy, Arkansas - the face of this panel is plainly labeled "Stab-Lok® " at the top center in white print, and the FPE panel label indicates the model number as well as the manufacturer as Federal Pacific (L McIntire).
- Stab-Lok® 200-A panel FPE Model# L120-40 - Texas - This panel was labeled at its top "Stab-Lok® Load Center" and at its "bottom front as "Federal Pacific Electric Company Newark NJ". Texas FPE Stab-Lok® Load Center Electric Panel photos are by M. DeMuth
- Stab-Lok® 200-A panel main switch - Texas - This panel was labeled at its top "Stab-Lok® Load Center"
- Stab-Lok® 200-A panel center printing - Texas - At its bottom this FPE Electric Panel is marked at its "bottom front as "Federal Pacific Electric Company Newark NJ". Incidentally, notice that 50-A double pole breaker just up from bottom left? FPE Model# L120-40 was labeled (as you can see in the Texas FPE panel door label photo below) as accepting a maximum 40A breakers.
- Stab-Lok® 100-A panel- FPE Catalog Number 108-16NI - Texas, circuit breaker panel in a Texas condominium (as you can see in this close up of the door label) - photos are by Thomas M. Pino
Federal Pacific Electric Meter Covers, Main Switch FPE Meter Base
This topic has moved to its own page now
at FPE ELECTRIC METER BASE & BREAKERS
Below: an FPE electric meter and breakers at a residential property:
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Reader Comments, Questions & Answers About The Article Above
Below you will find questions and answers previously posted on this page at its page bottom reader comment box.
Reader Q&A - also see RECOMMENDED ARTICLES & FAQs
On 2019-11-05 by (mod) -
Tim
Thank you for asking why FPE panels are a concern - your question points out that I need to link to that information on this page..
FPE panels have several hazards that make them unsafe, risking fire or shock well beyond normal risk levels for electrical panels.
For example FPE double pole breakers fail to trip in response to an overcurrent roughly 60% of the time; there are other unreliable breaker brands as well, but most breakers fail to trip at a miniscule fraction, roughly 0.01 % of the time.
A circuit breaker is a cricitical electrical system safety device. But breaker that doesn't trip when it should is failing to protect the building and its occupants from a fire or shock.
See this summary at FPE HAZARD SUMMARY for a quick overview.
A comparison showing both good performing and several bad performing circuit breakers is
at CIRCUIT BREAKER FAILURE RATES
On 2019-11-05 by Tim Dippel
Why are these panels a Concern. This house was probably built in 61 or 63. We’ve been here for 33 years no major problems that I’m aware of. Just had a 200 amp main panel installed Outside a few years ago after Limb pulled off service line from house. So I guess this federal is now a sub panel.
Why are these panels [photo above by Mr. Dippel] a Concern?
This house was probably built in 61 or 63
On 2018-04-03 by (mod) -
We have little data on commercial FPE equipment IF, in fact, it actually differs in design. If the breakers connect to an E- or F-type bus and use a similar internal design or if they were in fact residential breakers re-labelled (as FPE did from time to time) the same concerns would apply.
On 2018-04-02 by bobhackel21
I have an FPE circuit breaker model 318-36 with a Stab-Lok panel installed in a commercial building. Is this panel a safety issue and/or included in the recommendation for replacement?
Thanks,
On 2017-09-29 by (mod) -
Thank you for the comment WU
On 2017-09-29 by WebUser
Concerning the below information, the L120-40, is NOT labeled saying MAX breaker size is 40A. The label says MAX NUMBER OF BREAKERS is 40
"Stab-Lok® 200-A panel center printing - Texas - At its bottom this FPE Electric Panel is marked at its "bottom front as "Federal Pacific Electric Company Newark NJ". Incidentally, notice that 50-A double pole breaker just up from bottom left? FPE Model# L120-40 was labeled (as you can see in the Texas FPE panel door label photo below) as accepting a maximum 40A breakers"
On 2016-02-22 by (mod) -
Nancy not all FPE Stab-Lok panels bear a clear identification with that name. In the links just above you 'll see an ARTICLE INDEX for FPE topics and there you will see articles on HOW TO IDENTIFY AN FPE STAB-LOK PANEL (or search InspectApedia for that term)
If your panel is an FPE Stab-Lok design, there are: ample research, product history, legal proceedings, field failure reports, records of cheating on testing, class action litigation (New Jersey only), and other evidence that all form compelling argument that the panel should be replaced. It does not initiate a fire, but the panel has an abnormally high probability of failing to offer the overcurrent, or fire protection that is expected and required of an electrical panel. Its performance was far worse than most in the industry.
On 2015-09-12 by Nancy
Nowhere on my electrical panel does it say the words "Stab-Lok." Is it still a fire hazard?
...
Continue reading at FPE PANEL DOOR LABELS or select a topic from the closely-related articles below, or see the complete ARTICLE INDEX.
Or see these
Recommended Articles
- FEDERAL PACIFIC FPE HAZARDS - home
- FPE & FP IDENTIFICATION, HOW TO
- EMI & PRIVATE BRAND FPE PANELS
- FPE BREAKER ID PHOTOS
- FPE BREAKER LABELS
- FPE PANEL BUS DESIGNS
- FPE COMMERCIAL PANELS
- FPE ELECTRIC METER BASE & BREAKERS
- FPE/ FP PANEL AGE
- FPE PANEL COVERS Stab-Lok®
- FPE PANEL DOOR LABELS
- FPE TOGGLE SWITCH
- FEDERAL NOARK PANELS
- FEDERAL NOARK GE GENERAL ELECTRIC
- FPE ELECTRIC METER BASE & BREAKERS
- FEDERAL ELECTRIC PANELS
- FEDERAL ELECTRIC PANELS UK Stab-Lok
- FEDERAL PIONEER ELECTRIC PANELS
- HOW TO ID FPE IF NO LABELS
- PRIVATE BRAND/ EMI FPE PANELS
Suggested citation for this web page
FPE PANEL COVERS Stab-Lok® 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
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Citations & References
In addition to any citations in the article above, a full list is available on request.
- 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
- 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
- 2007 FPE Stab-Lok® TECHNICAL REPORT - an updated test report of independent testing (a large 1.2MB PDF file) using a larger pool of FPE Stab-Lok® circuit breakers than the older CPSC and Wright Malta tests found significantly higher failure rates of FPE Stab-Lok® circuit breakers, including a look at critical safety failures (breaker failed to trip at 200% of rated current or jammed) which found up to 80% failure rate for FPE Stab-Lok® GFCI circuit breakers (n=4), 12% failure rate for double pole FPE Stab-Lok® circuit breakers (n=120), and a 1% failure rate for FPE Stab-Lok® single pole circuit breakers (n=345).
- In addition to citations & references found in this article, see the research citations given at the end of the related articles found at our suggested
CONTINUE READING or RECOMMENDED ARTICLES.
- Carson, Dunlop & Associates Ltd., 120 Carlton Street Suite 407, Toronto ON M5A 4K2. Tel: (416) 964-9415 1-800-268-7070 Email: info@carsondunlop.com. Alan Carson is a past president of ASHI, the American Society of Home Inspectors.
Thanks to Alan Carson and Bob Dunlop, for permission for InspectAPedia to use text excerpts from The HOME REFERENCE BOOK - the Encyclopedia of Homes and to use illustrations from The ILLUSTRATED HOME .
Carson Dunlop Associates provides extensive home inspection education and report writing material. In gratitude we provide links to tsome Carson Dunlop Associates products and services.
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