Stab Lok Panel
Here we explain 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.
Stab lok panel. Stab lok circuit breakers federal pacific electric panel replacement recalls lawsuits and decades of failed inspections have once again brought federal pacific electric fpe stab lok circuit breakers under intense scrutiny over their inherent fire and safety hazards. Here we also give data on electrical fire occurrences frequency reported causes for australia canada the u s. Federal pacific electric stab lok panels have a long history of problems. The only way to do that is by means of functional and life test procedures that they are not trained to do nor.
This article explains the possible hazards of the federal pioneer stab lok electrical panels circuit breakers in more recently manufactured fp product versions. There is no practical way that a licensed electrician inspector or engineer can determine which breakers in a given electrical panel are seriously defective internally. Check out this recent news clip on fpe stab lok panels. If your home was built between 1950 and 1990 and is equipped with a federal pacific electric fpe circuit breaker panel with stab lok circuit breakers you run a significant risk of breaker malfunction and fire.
The main panel federal pacific sold was the stab lok named after its breaker functionality. Inside you will find the name stab lok printed near the center or side of the panel. The breakers would stab into slots in the bus bar and lock into place. Federal pioneer stab lok breaker panel safety.
The breakers inside the panel are designed to guard your home against serious electrical problems by preventing circuit overload short circuits and outside power surges coming into. Fpe federal pacific electric stab lok electrical panel circuit breaker hazards home page. If you find you a federal pacific panel or stab lok breakers call a licensed electrician in your area for further information about replacing your circuit breaker panel. Federal pacific electric fpe stab lok panels shouldn t be inspected but replaced.
Fpe stab lok field inspection or testing not reliable. However although the panel had benefits issues began to emerge as some officials suspected that the panel was causing house fires. About half of the electricians referenced a web site that has some excellent info on the hazards of these panels. The intact breakers will also possess the signature red strip that runs across the front.
According to the united states consumer product safety commission fpe stab lok residential circuit breakers may fail to trip properly with overload and short circuiting underwriters laboratories inc.