Another huge issue with these panels is the lack of a "main" breaker to protect the busbar and overall loading of the panel & feeder conductors. As an electrician (40+ years, retired but still doing "side work") I've come across these panels in several older homes, over the years. I've replaced a few, but sometimes the homeowner can't (or doesn't want to) afford the replacement, despite the potential danger. Thankfully, with the many videos on CZcams, which document the problems & dangers of these FPE panels, people are starting to wise-up. I just recently replaced an FPE panel in a home built in the early 70's. The panel & breakers looked great. But a home inspector flagged it, and it resulted in the prospective buyers backing out of the purchase (that's when I got the call to replace). Thanks for posting (yes, I know it's a 9 year old video! But still...)
My Dad was an electrician from the late 1930’s till the 1980’s,he was NEVER a fan of any type of circuit breakers! He liked fuses best! NEC and insurance companies have everything backwards!!
This news clip says it started in the 80's. That is majorly wrong. I have seen them from the 60's and 70's do the same thing. What they need to show is a short circuit. Unlike an overload, which will most the time eventually trip. A short will not and you have a welder. This is more dangerous than an overload. I have found many FPE breakers that actually trip at lower amps than rated. Found several 20 amp bkrs tripping at 16 and 17 amps.
I wish he had compared a newer Stab Lok , after the deception had been found and corrected. The Challenger ,American , or Federal Pioneer might have shown positive results. If you think other brands do not melt and cause fires , just Google a few other brands. Yes , the brown ones and the orange handle ones without the little white dot might have been tested deceptively , but after that , was there rally anything wrong with them?
Just remember....the FPE did end up tripping well before a fire started or the breakdown of the insulation. Very important facts to remember. I will let you decide.....but as stated their are many options like listed replacement circuit breakers that do work in the FPE panel and have been tested. This allows for just the replacement of the circuit breakers (not the main). This is viable if the total # of CB's are 20 or less. If more than 20 cheaper to simply replace if that is your option...Just some FYI
There are at least 2 problems with these panels. 1. The bussbar contacts (stab-lok) tend to fail and heat up. (Using an incorrect or cheap chinese replacement breaker can also cause this.) 2. The circuitbreakers have an approximate fail-to-trip rate of about 70% to 80%, according to one study (sorry lol I don't have the source, but I'm pretty confident it is at least 70%). This is due to a defect in the construction of the breaker which causes them to jam mechanically.
According to the report, they tripped way too slowly. The delay was far longer than the normal start-up surge of so many devices. There is no excuse to have a trip delay that is so long, that the wires could overheat faster.
There are multiple failure modes with these. Double pole FPEs tend not to trip both poles. Both double and single are often wildly out of spec - quality control was variable over their run. They also have problems with the lugs. And the larger size breakers have had problems "welding" contacts due to the design. They are absolutely a hazard and none of the manufacturing runs are any good. They are a fire hazard and should be replaced.
Fft $1500 for a $5 standard 20A single-pole breaker is absolute bullshit. For a whole panel? $140 in parts. So where in the hell did the rest of the $1,360 go? Mhm. This is why I never trust handymen. Some HVAC technicians lie & charge 1 grand to replace a part that didn't need replacing when all that was needed was a simple 24v wire to be secured.
Another huge issue with these panels is the lack of a "main" breaker to protect the busbar and overall loading of the panel & feeder conductors.
As an electrician (40+ years, retired but still doing "side work") I've come across these panels in several older homes, over the years.
I've replaced a few, but sometimes the homeowner can't (or doesn't want to) afford the replacement, despite the potential danger.
Thankfully, with the many videos on CZcams, which document the problems & dangers of these FPE panels, people are starting to wise-up.
I just recently replaced an FPE panel in a home built in the early 70's. The panel & breakers looked great. But a home inspector flagged it, and it resulted in the prospective buyers backing out of the purchase (that's when I got the call to replace).
Thanks for posting (yes, I know it's a 9 year old video! But still...)
Stab Lok are well known for this and have been for 30 yrs
Replace with Square D QO end of story.
You got that right , Whenever I change out a breaker panel , I only use the Square D QO panel , Nothing else
Exactomundo QO is the only panel I will use. 66 yrs of being around proves that the QO is the best.
My Dad was an electrician from the late 1930’s till the 1980’s,he was NEVER a fan of any type of circuit breakers! He liked fuses best! NEC and insurance companies have everything backwards!!
This news clip says it started in the 80's. That is majorly wrong. I have seen them from the 60's and 70's do the same thing. What they need to show is a short circuit. Unlike an overload, which will most the time eventually trip. A short will not and you have a welder. This is more dangerous than an overload. I have found many FPE breakers that actually trip at lower amps than rated. Found several 20 amp bkrs tripping at 16 and 17 amps.
I have heard that any circuit breakers will trip when 80% ampacity has been reached.
Yes a short circuit has several thousand amps flowing. I too have seen failure to trip with a short. Not just FPE but also Zinsco and GE.
@@yomomma9070Read my latest comment about my Dad being an electrician and hating circuit breakers!!
wish i known this before my house fire in 2016
I wish he had compared a newer Stab Lok , after the deception had been found and corrected. The Challenger ,American , or Federal Pioneer might have shown positive results. If you think other brands do not melt and cause fires , just Google a few other brands. Yes , the brown ones and the orange handle ones without the little white dot might have been tested deceptively , but after that , was there rally anything wrong with them?
Just remember....the FPE did end up tripping well before a fire started or the breakdown of the insulation. Very important facts to remember. I will let you decide.....but as stated their are many options like listed replacement circuit breakers that do work in the FPE panel and have been tested. This allows for just the replacement of the circuit breakers (not the main). This is viable if the total # of CB's are 20 or less. If more than 20 cheaper to simply replace if that is your option...Just some FYI
There are at least 2 problems with these panels.
1. The bussbar contacts (stab-lok) tend to fail and heat up. (Using an incorrect or cheap chinese replacement breaker can also cause this.)
2. The circuitbreakers have an approximate fail-to-trip rate of about 70% to 80%, according to one study (sorry lol I don't have the source, but I'm pretty confident it is at least 70%). This is due to a defect in the construction of the breaker which causes them to jam mechanically.
Benjamin Esposti I am sorry....i do no concur with your limited analysis.
According to the report, they tripped way too slowly. The delay was far longer than the normal start-up surge of so many devices. There is no excuse to have a trip delay that is so long, that the wires could overheat faster.
I don't understand your devil's advocate position. Just replace the panel and move on.
There are multiple failure modes with these. Double pole FPEs tend not to trip both poles. Both double and single are often wildly out of spec - quality control was variable over their run. They also have problems with the lugs. And the larger size breakers have had problems "welding" contacts due to the design. They are absolutely a hazard and none of the manufacturing runs are any good. They are a fire hazard and should be replaced.
They had one job, make electric boxes
That's y I still use a fuse at the power entry from the meter...
Even worse with those stupid Edison fuses. You might as well light your house on fire.
Fft $1500 for a $5 standard 20A single-pole breaker is absolute bullshit. For a whole panel? $140 in parts. So where in the hell did the rest of the $1,360 go? Mhm. This is why I never trust handymen. Some HVAC technicians lie & charge 1 grand to replace a part that didn't need replacing when all that was needed was a simple 24v wire to be secured.
Welp they gotta make a living doing this...
The rest of the cost is for labor, licensing, tax, etc... lol
Aaron Lowe that's the cost for the entire panel change over I believe.
Aaron Lowe 1500 replaces with permits and labor included plus the parts that actual company only gets $500 usually