FPE Stab-Lok electrical panel & circuit breaker questions & answers:

These FAQs address the most-common questions that arise concerning FPE Federal Pacific Electric Stab-Lok® Electrical Panel & Circuit Breaker Hazards.

This article seriies discusses and details FPE Federal Pacific Electric Stab-Lok® Electrical Panel & Circuit Breaker Hazards & the fire and shock hazards associated with Federal Pacific Electric Stab-Lok® circuit breakers and service panels, provides a complete history of the FPE Hazard, and we provide and cite independent, unbiased research on FPE failures, and recommends replacement of the panels. Page top photo of burned electrical wire and burned FPE circuit breaker case, courtesy of Minnesota home inspector Roger Hankey.

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. 

Federal Pacific Electric Stab-Lok® Circuit Breaker Hazard FAQs

Question: I can't afford to pay for a new electrical panel - where can the money come from?

Thanks alot! 71 yrs old, on social security, everything went up, especially Taxes, food etc. Now I can't sleep worried my house is going to burn down. Where does the money come for this!! I'm sure it's not cheap to replace circuit boards electricians are expensive. Thanks my money was right there for you when we put in Federal Pacific.... - Joann Novotny - 6/23/11

Reply: cost-benefit analysis of replacing an FPE Stab-Lok electrical panel

Joann, please don't blame InspectAPedia for the installation of an unsafe electrical panel in your home. If you are unable to promptly replace the panel, take a look at the advice in the articles listed just above this FAQs section and also linked-to at the ARTICLE INDEX the bottom of this article titled:

CAN'T AFFORD A NEW ELECTRIC PANEL?

Be sure you have working smoke detectors properly installed and at least you will be able to sleep at night.

Replacing an electrical panel is basically cost of labor plus the new panel. You or an electrician can buy a new electrical panel complete with circuit breakers for a few hundred dollars at most building supply stores. The cost of panel installation/replacement varies widely depending on where you live.

Also there may be financial relief for seniors in your area; check with your local senior citizens state, town, or county agencies.

Finally, in my opinion, considering the significant contribution of FPE Stab-Lok® equipment to house fires, replacing the equipment is likely to be less costly than the cost of a fire. Details are at >Cost-benefit analysis of replacing an FPE Stab-Lok® electrical panel.

Reader Comment:

A lot of Home Insurance company's are helping with paying for the replacement of these panels, especially now that most companies will not insure a home with these panels in them. I would suggest to anyone to contact your insurance company to see what they are or are not helping with. - Gator 7/14/11

Question: are the FPE hazards the same in both main panel and sub panels?

I have my service panel and a main panel. Are the issues the same with both? Do they both need to be replaced? - Don E. 8/11/11

Reply:

Yes Don E. - the FPE breakers don't know if they are in a main panel or a sub panel. Their performance doesn't vary by that criterion.

Question: Is there a retrofit kit available for FPE Panels?

Is there a retrofit kit available for FPE panels? - David W. Nies 9/19/11

It is my understanding there is a retro fit kit for FPE panels??? If so how do I get one? - Budd 9/4/12

Reply:

David and Budd

Eaton - Cutler Hammer make replacement bus and breaker assemblies that can fit in some FPE panel steel enclosures. See FPE REPLACEMENT PANELS for details.

Question: is there a similar risk with FPE panels that use fuses

What are the risk associated with domestic cut out fuse - Ajiroghene sunny 1/1/12

Reply:

No A.S. Fuses are completely different devices. However if your electrical panel uses fuses it may be under-sized and obsolete for modern home usage levels. You should review that question with your electrician.

Question: Electrician Report on FPE Failure - breaker didn't shut off

I’m a licensed 309A electrician in Stoney Creek Ontario with 30 yrs exp.
Last year did a service call on an a/c unit ,shut off breaker went outside began to service unit, was electrically thrown back ,did a volt test and there was power, went inside and tested breaker and it was hot, this was my first experience with a defective breaker.
-I purchased a double pole 30 amp Stab-lok to install a heater in my garage, wired it up turned on breaker , heater is working good. Decided to install longer cable so I could place heater in another location, shut off breaker and began to unwire unit, I was almost electrocuted because I was grounded, my heart felt like base drum…..
Tested the breaker ,,hot on one pole,, removed breaker did an ohm test, one side does not shut off…. - Pete Vann 1/5/12

Reply:

Pete, thanks so much for the comment. Thank goodness you were not killed by that failing FPE Stab-Lok unit. Indeed it has been shown by independent testing that a scary feature of FPE's is that the breaker toggle may be switched to the OFF position but one or more breaker poles may remain "on" or energized internally. Very dangerous.

Please see the HOW TO REPORT FPE INCIDENTS link (page bottom ARTICLE INDEX ) - you would be doing a service to also report this incident to the US CPSC.

Also see SAFETY for ELECTRICAL INSPECTORS

Daniel

Reader comment from Anonymous:

Pete, sounds like you should start using a voltage tester every time!

Reader comment from George Campbell 1/17/2012

Pete Vann - An experienced 309A electrician should be smart enough to us a volt meter to make sure the line does not have a voltage potential EVERY TIME. Not just for Stab Lok breakers. I've been an electronics tech and engineer for 28 years and I know enough to test an AC or DC line at work or at home before I trust there is on voltage. I also have a breaker panel full of STAB LOK. I have done extensive work in my house (AC, Water Heater, additional outlets, etc.). So far I have found that they do turn off. And in a few cases I know they do trip. Guess I am lucky so far but I'll be changing the panel out soon.

Reply from DF:

George,

The failure of FPE breakers to switch off internally when the toggle is moved to the "off" position has been well documented and occurs at a stunningly high rate - let's not risk killing someone or burning a building by asserting otherwise in one person's experience.

I agree that using a VOM or other voltage tester is good safe practice; but after following electricians and electrical work for nearly 50 years I have the opinion that very often fellows perform extensive work without taking that precaution. In any event, blaming the victim for a very dangerous electrical device is not a sufficient solution to the problem any more than blaming a passenger injured when the seat belt breaks during an accident.

Question: Electrician Report on FPE failures to trip

Being an electrician a few years now have ran into a few of these panels. They were common in trailers from the smaller 100amp mini trailer version to the industrial 40 space commercial which uses challenger style breakers. I've seen many times the breakers do not shut off entirely causing electrocution risk. As a man of safety you always check for voltage even if the panel is well known QO ,homeline, ge, etc. I've seen I-line breakers on 480 not kill a pole causing an electrocution risk. Although very rare it does happen.

I can't stress enough to get the dangerous fpe's replaced. Once the breakers trip, they do not shut off or trip again due to arching welding the trip mechanism. I've seen outlets burned clean out of the wall causing fires many times. They had a huge run of these failed products here in the late 60's and 70's.

Also, do not think buying an aftermarket fpe replacement is going to magically fix the problem as the whole design was flawed. These panels buss system uses the stab-lok interface which doesn't make good enough contact(although used copper buss) and causes deterioration of the insulator board behind the buss making a serious arch condition to the panels enclosure.

I've been called out after the utility co pulled the meter out of an FPE firework show and the main never tripped. - Eric 1/26/2012

Reply:

Thank you Eric for this field report on FPE - I invite you to also report your experience to the US CPSC.

See ELECTRICAL PANEL / BREAKER INCIDENTS, HOW TO REPORT

Question: Electrician in Hospital questions FPE Hazard in non-residential installations

I am an electrician in a hospital. The hospital was originally built in 1974 and alot of the branch circuit panels are FPE. These panels use type NA,NC,or NAGF breakers. Should I have the same concerns as a home owner? Are the panels I have the same as the residential panels? - Brett 3/8/12

Reply:

Brett,

Please take a look at HOW TO IDENTIFY FPE & FP (article link at the ARTICLE INDEX the bottom of this article ) - if your breakers and panel bus are the same FPE Stab-Lok design, as I imagine they are, then the same FPE hazard concerns apply to your building.

Certainly FPE Stab-Lok equipment was installed in both residential and many non-residential buildings. Aronstein/Lowry (2002) report that the product defects extended across the product line and across its manufacturing history, including the product's use in both residential and non-residential installations.

Keep in mind that this is a "latent" fire hazard - the equipment itself does not initiate the problem - but it fails to protect against overheating or fire should an overcurrent or short circuit occur.

And there is a particular hazard to you as an electrician: switching the breaker to "OFF" does not necessarily turn it off internally - the circuit you thought you'd turned off may still be life.

Testing" or "inspecting" an FPE Stab-Lok® panel on-site by an electrician is very dangerous and not recommended.

This discussion has moved. See details

at DO NOT PERFORM In-Home Testing of FPE Stab-Lok®

Question: I want to add two circuits to my StabLOK panel - can I do it myself?

I have a Stab Lok panel and want to add two 240 V 20A and 2 110V 20A circuits. Should i consider replacing the panel? Can i do it myself? - @John, 4/26/12

Reply:

From Tom 4/30/12

@ John (four days ago) - YES - change the panel out. The Federal Pacific panels are defective and dangerous.

As for whether you can do it yourself - My thought is this - if you have to ask this question, you probably cannot do it. It is not hard to install or change out a panel, but if you do it wrong, you risk your life and the lives of anyone who comes into the house. Hire an electrician who can do it right if you have ANY question as to your abilities. He will have insurance to cover you in case he does it wrong - do you have that kind of coverage? I doubt it. Likewise, he has the skills needed to do the job quickly and safely.

Comment:

Tom, very well said. Thank you for your comments. 4/30/12 Daniel Friedman

Question: FPE Stab-Lok failure leads to apartment fire

We had a Federal Pacific panel in an apartment we were renting. On Friday, a bathroom fan jammed and failed to run. The fan got very hot and melted the motor. As the motor melted, the plastic fan cover melted into the melting metal motor, and the wall caught fire. After the wall caught fire the entire apartment caught fire, burning us out of our home.

Had the Federal Pacific circuit breaker reacted correctly, as the metal fan motor melted the resistance would have gone down, causing more and more amperage to flow. Once the flow got to 15 amps - which is the limit of the circuit breaker for that appliance - the circuit breaker should have tripped, cutting off electricity to the circuit. Instead, it did not trip, causing a serious fire. Everything in our apartment is destroyed, all due to deferred maintenance by our landlord, and by the Federal Pacific circuit breaker that failed to trip.

Jimmy Jo said he thought it was a a scam that an electrician would offer to replace his Federal Pacific panel. All I can say is replacing those breakers may save your life and the lives of those you love. Whether you hire the ambitious electrician who is trying to build business by replacing these super dangerous panels or another electrician, HIRE SOMEONE AND FIX IT. My family is living (Thank GOD!) proof that these breakers are dangerous, plain and simple. - Tom 4/30/12

Reply:

Tom, thank you for this important FPE fire report. We are of course so sorry to read that the fire occurred and that you had a serious house fire. I encourage you to report the fire to the U.S. CPSC - ELECTRICAL PANEL / BREAKER INCIDENTS, HOW TO REPORT. And help me out as topic editor -

1. Were you aware of the FPE Stab-Lok panel fire hazard before your fire occurred?
2. Were you aware of the US CPSC position on this hazard?
3. Had you read information about FPE Stab-Lok at this website? If so, is there something we could have said here, or some information we could have provided that would have prompted you to have the panel replaced before the fire occurred?

Question: Electronics Engineer opted to replace FPE equipment, expresses hazard opinion

I'm a well experienced electronics engineer for over 40 yrs. After seeing a report in February 2012 by WFTV 9 (a local central Florida TV station) about these panels, I knew (by sheer luck of the draw) my 1985 built home just had to have one of these "defunct" FPE Stab-Lock panels---of course IT DID! I just replaced the entire panel with a Square-D. I checked my next door neighbor's panel and they also have the FPE Stab-Lock. I advised them of replacing it---they haven't! After follow-up investigating on many web sites about these FPE panels---ANYBODY who has one in their home is at HIGH risk of fire hazard! Take my well intended advice: DEFINITELY replace the panel whether it currently works and /or has never had a problem! This is a VERY insidious problem and VERY high risk! - Kurt 5/16/12

Reply:

Kurt,

thank you for your helpful comments. Part of the difficulty of the FPE hazard is that although the hazard has been demonstrated as real by compelling independent evidence, both research and actual field reports, the company successfully stopped the CPSC investigation, money held out for a product recall was never used for that purpose, the company is now gone except for a remains left for protection against litigation, and in the absence of an "official U.S. Government recall" some folks who have conflicting interests (including a real estate agent who contacted us today) simply deny the hazard. You are right in your respect for the hazards involved.

Question: Did FPE Pay for Panel Replacements?

Did FPE pay for the change out? - Alton 6/18/12

Reply:

Alton, what a great question to bring out a little bit of not-easy-to-find FPE history. When FPE was sold, the buyer, on discovering they'd bought a liability, negotiated a multimillion dollar allowance that was to be used to pay for a panel recall. But no recall was ever issued, they pocketed the money instead. All of that information is in public documents; see FPE Exxon Scandal Article for an example.

In sum, I'm repeating the explanation I gave below for Kurt.

Question: Hospital Electrician Asks if he should be concerned about FPE panels in the hospital

I am an electrician in a hospital. The hospital was originally built in 1974 and alot of the branch circuit panels are FPE. These panels use type NA,NC,or NAGF breakers. Should I have the same concerns as a home owner? Are the panels I have the same as the residential panels?

Is there a answer to this question. I have read alot about this topic and it clear that they are referring to residential home. What about the stab lok in commercial buildings, motels or apartments - Harvey 7/28/12

Reply:

Harvey, thanks for the important question. Indeed FPE made an extensive range of equipment, both residential and commercial. In some instances breakers and parts were reported to have been swapped between the two, as well as swapping breakers among amperage ratings.

I have two suggestions:

1. take a look at our FPE Stab-Lok design identification photos and text beginning at

FPE & FP IDENTIFICATION, HOW TO (links at the ARTICLE INDEX the bottom of this article )

and if you see the same breaker and bus design in the equipment in the hospital it would be prudent to presume it's the same equipment and that it has the same hazards.

2. I'd welcome any sharp photos you can send along of the panels, panel labels, bus and breaker details that you have installed.

Also, in the event that your hospital does have FPE Stab-Lok design equipment installed, its important to understand how to approach the risk and to understand what all the risks are. In addition to the "no-trip" problem (most severe on 2-pole breakers), there are frequent reports of breakers that remain "on" internally even though the physical breaker toggle or handle has been moved to the "OFF" position - this could pose a very serious risk to you personally when working on such equipment.

Do not assume that power has been turned off - use safety procedures, test equipment &c accordingly.

Question: Where can I find an electrician qualified to work on FPE Panels ?

Looking for electricians qualified to work on Federal Pacific Panels in the Anderson, SC area. - Terrie Mann 9/10/2012

Reply:

Terrie:

I may not have understood clearly your use of the words "work on Federal Pacific Panels" but to be clear, "working on" the panel is not a safe approach. The panel should be replaced.

Any licensed electrician should be fully capable of properly replacing any electrical panel of any brand. No special knowledge about FPE Stab-Lok® equipment is necessary simply to replace one of those electrical panels. But ...

Watch out: if you have the bad luck of running into an electrician who is not familiar with the FPE Hazard, s/he could put you and your family and home at extra risk by expressing the opinion that "there is nothing wrong with the FPE panel you have installed so no action is needed". It is in part to avoid that risk that we recommend electricians who are familiar with FPE hazards, just as similarly we do so for aluminum electrical wiring repairs.

At DIRECTORY OF ELECTRICIANS we list licensed electricians who assert that they are familiar with the equipment and the hazards. If you find a local electrician whose work satisfies you and who is familiar with the issue, encourage him/her to contact us to be listed in the directory if s/he does not already appear there. There are no costs or fees involved. InspectApedia has no financial relationship with companies offering products or services that may be discussed at this website.

Question: FPE panel Y95003A-514 in a 20 year old house "does not look like an FPE panel"

We saw a FPE panel Y95003A-514 in a newer home. Are those bad too. It did not look like FPE panel. The house is 20 years old. - Sam Sain 9/14/12

Reply:

Sam,

We have no data and no field reports indicating that late model FPE Stab-Lok equipment is safer than earlier made devices. If you're not sure what is installed see the article titled

FPE & FP IDENTIFICATION, HOW TO

(links at the ARTICLE INDEX the bottom of this article )

Question: Where is there recently-published data updating findings on the FPE Stab-Lok® ® Hazard?

This Q&A were moved to RECENTLY-PUBLISHED DATA UPDATING FINDINGS ON THE FPE STAB-LOK® ® HAZARD

Question/Comment: what does "hire a professional mean?"

The common used phrase is "hire an experienced professional".  I work for a company that requires two years experience, drug testing, four weeks on the job training, etc., etc. and these guys screw up all the time. Anon, 4/5/13

Reply:

Anon you make a good point, that it can be tough for people to figure out if their "professional" is one. On the job conduct, workmanship, licensing, are all clues. If you have specific additional tips we'd be happy to publish them here. _ Daniel

Question: Kevin Adams thinks modern FPE breakers are perfectly fine

(Sept 18, 2015) Kevin Adams said:
it is important to acknowledge the breakers in question were manufactured 1979 and earlier. Many home inspectors incorrectly think all Stab-Loc breakers could be a fire hazard. Electricians are glad to confirm this myth because they make $1,000 for a quick half day job of swapping out the panel.

Reply: Wrong

Sorry, Kevin, you are mistaken. Just take a look at both independent testing of FPE breakers, including modern "replacement" FPE Stab-Lok breakers, as well as at field reports as recently as 2016 (see FPE FAILURE FIELD REPORTS) and you'll find that your opinion is not supported by the facts.

InspectAPedia is an independent publisher of building, environmental, and forensic inspection, diagnosis, and repair information provided free to the public - we have no business nor financial connection with any manufacturer or service provider discussed at our website.

We are dedicated to making our information as accurate, complete, useful, and unbiased as possible: we very much welcome critique, questions, or content suggestions for our web articles. Working together and exchanging information makes us better informed than any individual can be working alone.

Question: are FPE breakes in a 1985 house also a concern?

(Nov 21, 2015) David McQu said:
My house was built in 1986 and has the federal pacific panel. Is there a risk that there are defective breakers in it?

Reply:

Yes. See the field report for 2016 found at

see FPE FAILURE FIELD REPORTS

Question: Bolen agrees that FPE panels should be changed-out

(Jan 14, 2016) Max Bolen said:
I recommend people change out FPE panels, inform them of the risks. The customer can make a decision to spend money or not. This contractor doesn't net "1,000.00" for a "quick half day job", but I am interested in reducing the likelihood of a customer's house "potentially" catching fire. There is no "good" FPE panel or breaker, any available brand is safer. FPE has no equal in regards to it's problem, and a lot of homes still have them.

Reply:an FPE Stab Lok panel in a home is is a serious hazard but hardly the only one

Thanks for the comment, Max. Actually there are other problem-brands or individual problem breaker models made by other manufacturers, as you will find here at InspectApedia.

see CIRCUIT BREAKER FAILURE RATES

For information on FPE Stab-Lok® equipment that can be copied to any website,
see FPE Stab-Lok® Hazard Summary Page for Public Use

Federal Pacific Electric "Stab-Lok® " service panels and breakers are a latent hazard and FPE circuit breakers can fail to trip in response to overcurrent, leading to electrical fires. The breakers may also fail to shut off internally even if the toggle is switched to "off." Some double-pole (240-Volt) FPE circuit breakers and single-pole FPE Stab-Lok® circuit breakers simply do not work safely.

There are other FPE panel-defects independent of the breaker problems, panel and panel-bus fires and arcing failures in some equipment. The failure rates for these circuit breakers were and still are significant. In some cases failure to trip occurs 60% of the time - a serious fire and electrical shock hazard.

Failures are documented in the CPSC study and by independent research. Additional independent testing and research are on-going and are reported here. FPE Stab-Lok® electrical panels should be replaced. Do not simply swap in some replacement breakers. (Details are

at FPE REPLACEMENT BREAKERS).

...

Continue reading at FEDERAL PACIFIC FPE HAZARDS - topic home, or select a topic from the closely-related articles below, or see the complete ARTICLE INDEX.

Or see these

Recommended Articles

• FPE HAZARD SUMMARY
• FPE & FP IDENTIFICATION, HOW TO
• FPE HAZARD REPORT - 2017 [PDF] independent research article by Jess Aronstein, supercedes older FPE hazard reports by this author.
• This FPE information Website hosted by Dr. Jess Aronstein also provides copies of his research reports: FPE-INFO.ORG

Suggested citation for this web page

FEDERAL PACIFIC FPE Stab-LOK FAQs 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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