Phoenix Home Federal Pacific Stab-Lok Circuit Breakers Dangerous Facts to Know and Your Next Steps to Resolve the Problem

It is possible that Federal Pacific manufactured the circuit breaker panel in your Phoenix house if it was constructed between 1950 and 1980. (Also known as the FPE Stab-Lok breaker panels).

The Federal Pacific panel was quite popular in the construction of suburban communities due to its low price and straightforward installation process. If your home has one of these panels, there is a significant possibility that the breakers will malfunction, which might lead to a fire. Even though Federal Pacific Electric has been out of business for a considerable amount of time, many of its products were installed throughout this period, and they are widespread. These panels have a distinct look from the outside, but they provide a significant risk of fire. It has been estimated that there are as many as 28 million of these breakers in use in the United States, which indicates that there are circumstances in which as many as one million do not provide enough protection against fire.

Where Does the Problem Lie with the Federal Pacific Panels?

-The panel of circuit breakers in your home serves as the nerve center of the electrical system in your home. It is responsible for receiving power and distributing it equitably throughout your home. They safeguard the home from hazards such as overheating, short-circuiting, and circuit overloading, making them one of the essential safety equipment in any residence. If an excessive amount of current begins to flow through the wire, and the circuit breaker cannot stop that current promptly, there is a great probability that an electrical fire will develop.

Add On Electric Phoenix is more than pleased to assist you with upgrading your electrical service panel if this is something that you require.

A significant percentage of times that Federal Pacific Stab-Lok Breakers do not trip when they are supposed to be the primary cause of their failure.

In the 1980s, a court lawsuit unearthed evidence that not only did the circuit breakers fail to meet the standards set by Underwriter’s Laboratories (UL), but that Federal Pacific also engaged in fraudulent activity and attempted to conceal it about their testing. They classified the breakers as fulfilling the UL specifications, although they were not compliant with those standards.

The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) of the United States investigated the functionality of circuit breakers in the 1980s. The CPSC conducted its laboratory testing on representative samples of single-pole and double-pole breakers manufactured by FPE Stab-Lok. They conducted UL tests on these samples and discovered that 85% of the double-pole breakers and 39% of the single-pole breakers did not meet one or more of the requirements for passing the tests. It was found that a significant number of these Stab-Lok breakers did not disengage when the load exceeded their capacity.

Checking the lid of your breaker box is the quickest and easiest way to determine whether you have a Federal Pacific panel. On the panel’s lid, you will find the word Federal Pacific or FPE printed or carved into the metal. If the lid does not have any marks on the exterior, you should open it up and look inside to see if there is any branding from Federal Pacific.

It is not the box that poses a risk; rather, it is the FPE Stab-Lok circuit breakers inside it. The amp rating of the circuit is normally printed in black and surrounded by a red stripe on these breakers, which may be seen on the end of the switch.

If I have a Federal Pacific Panel, what should I do? Should I go ahead and replace it?

-The answer, in a word, is yes.

The extended response: Even while home inspectors won’t make you replace your panel if it’s in good condition, doing so will be in your best interest and will keep you safer. The most effective course of action is to install brand-new circuit breakers and a whole new panel in the electrical system. It is highly doubtful that installing replacement FPE Stab-Lok circuit breakers will lower the likelihood of this equipment failing. We strongly advise the complete replacement of all home FPE Stab-Lok electrical panels, regardless of the FPE model number or the year FPE manufactured the panels.

The service panels installed by our electricians are covered by a 25-year guarantee offered by Add On Electric Phoenix. The enclosure, the bus bar, and the main breaker are all included here. There is no restriction on who can use the warranty on the service panels. Add On Electric Phoenix will fix the product at no further cost to the customer or replace it entirely. The warranty does not apply to any issues brought on by circumstances, malfunctions, or damage not directly attributable to a manufacturing flaw in the product.

We at Add On Electric Phoenix can modify your Federal Pacific panel by replacing it to increase the level of protection provided for you and your family. If you are searching the internet for an “electrician near me” or an “electrician in Phoenix,” please remember to call us at the following number: 602-980-8056.