InspectAPedia ^TM

FPE TOGGLE SWITCH - Photographs Identify Federal Pacific Electric FPE Stab Lok circuit breakers FPEaPedia © Enter your search terms Submit search form   Search This Website - InspectAPedia.com

• How to identify Federal Pacific Electric Stab-Lok panels and breakers
• Photo guide to FPE Stab-Lok identification
• Photo guide to Federal NOARC load center identification
• Photographs of FPE circuit breakers, labels, and bus designs provide means to identify this equipment even if labels are missing or painted-over

We recommend against simply buying FPE replacement circuit breakers. The entire electrical panel or at least the entire bus assembly and breakers should be replaced using a new, different electrical product. For more information see FPE REPLACEMENT PANELS and FPE REPLACEMENT BREAKERS. This page assists in identifying Federal Pacific Electric Stab-Lok electrical panels and circuit breakers. More FPE information is in the links at page left.

This document describes how to identify Federal Pacific Stab-Lok Electric Panels in buildings. It is information for building inspectors, home buyers, home owners, electricians exploring the background of possible hazards associated with Federal Pacific Electric Stab-lok circuit breakers and service panels. © Copyright 2008 Daniel Friedman, All Rights Reserved. Information Accuracy & Bias Pledge is at below-left. Use links at the left of each page to navigate this document or to view other topics at this website. Green links show where you are in our document or website.

Photo Guide to Electrical Panel TOGGLE SWITCHES - photos of Characteristic FPE Stab-Lok circuit breaker toggle switch handles

Look for FPE characteristic circuit breaker toggle switch markings, shape, colors.

More examples are in the photos below as well as in some of the other Federal Pacific Electric and Federal Pioneer circuit breaker and panel photos on this page.

Here is a photo of the 100-Amp main breaker from an FPE Stab-Lok electrical panel. Notice that this breaker does not have the characteristic orange-red paint on the face of the toggle switches.

Photo of a Stab-Lok panel apparent bus overheating or corrosion. This California FPE Panel shows characteristic FPE Stab-Lok circuit breakers that can be recognized even from a distance.

Interesting Camouflaged FPE Stab-Lok breaker (of unknown vintage) used alone in a 1950's house in Florida, note the clearly-legible name on the paper label.

This circuit breaker is probably a "one-off" experimental unit which, in that case, would never have been intended for sale, but which might have been brought out of the factory by a worker.

On occasion a Federal Pacific Stab-Lok Electrical Panel or Breaker manufacturing factory worker might experiment with a mix of plastics in the circuit breaker case molding machine - thanks to J. Bolton, the Inspectigator

Contributors and Photographic Credits

• 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
• The remaining photographs on these pages were made by the web author.

Use links just below or at the left of each page to navigate this document or to view other topics at this website. Green links at page left show where you are in our document or website.

FPE Stab Lok IDENTIFICATION
FPE STAB-LOK PANEL COVERS
FEDERAL NOARK PANELS
FEDERAL ELECTRIC PANELS
FEDERAL PIONEER PANELS
FPE PANEL DOOR LABELS
FPE TOGGLE SWITCH
FPE BREAKER LABELS
HOW TO ID FPE IF NO LABELS
FPE PANEL BUS DESIGNS
FPE PANEL AGE MATTERS?
FPE HISTORIC DATES
OTHER FPE DEFECTS

More Information about FPE Federal Pacific Stab Lok Panels and Circuit Breakers - Reference List

• The Federal Pacific Stab-Lok Electric Panel Hazard Website Safety Information for Consumers. 1983
• Home Inspection Reporting Language for FPE Stab-Lok electric panels and circuit breakers
• Schneider Canada Federal Pioneer circuit breaker recall
• How to Identify Federal Pacific Electric Panels Stab Lok Breakers & History of the Federal Pacific Electric Stab Lok Hazard
• FPE FIRES: Failures continue: FPE breaker fails, results in fires: field reports
• Replacement Electric Panels: Federal Pacific Electric Panel Replacements two cost and method options for FPE panel replacement.
• Federal Pacific Electric Fires Waiting to Happen, Debate Waiting to Be Ended, detailed article
• 1983 CPSC Investigation of FPE Circuit Breakers Safety Information for Consumers
• 1982 Reliance Electric Co. SEC Quarterly Report: Note C. reports litigation between Reliance and UV Liquidating Trust and contends that "... improper and deceptive practices were employed for many years to secure UL listings for Federal Pacific's circuit protective products..."
• 1980 Reliance Electric Co. Press Release: improper practices improper practices used to obtain UL Listing for most of FPE's circuit breakers and notes testing which indicates "possible defects." 1980, Reliance Electric Co.
• 1980 FPE - Exxon Buys A Scandal Along With A Company improper practices improper practices used to obtain UL Listing for most of FPE's circuit breakers and notes testing which indicates "possible defects." 1980, Reliance Electric Co.
• FAQ: Website Credibility

InspectAPedia ^TM Home & Site Map - Building Inspection, Diagnosis, & Repair, Environmental Inspection & Testing - Research Website

Home Inspection Construction Consulting Services & advice for home buyers

Contact Daniel Friedman for website content suggestions or for fee-paid consulting

	Enter your search termsSubmit search form
	Search This Website - InspectAPedia.com