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Guide to Federal Pacific Electric Internal Bus Designs FPEaPedia © Enter your search terms Submit search form   Search This Website - InspectAPedia.com

• Federal Pacific Electric Stab-Lok equipment identification by examination of the panel internal
• Photo Guide to FPE Stab-Lok Bus designs: E-bus, F-bus, punched bus, Z-clip, screw connections.
• 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 by providing details of the different but unique internal bus designs in this equipment. This is an FPE Stab-Lok panel identification aid 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 the links at page left to navigate this document or to go to Other Website Topics. Green links at left show where you are in our document & website. Readers of this article should also see Federal Pacific Electric Panels: Fires Waiting to Happen and The Federal Pacific Electric FPE Panel/Breaker Hazard Summary - the main FPE Hazard Website.

To identify the circuit breaker panels and breakers discussed at the FPE information website you should look for the product name "Federal Pacific Stab Lok" or "Federal Pioneer Stab Lok" on the equipment.

Photo Guide to FPE Stab-Lok Circuit Breaker Bus Designs

Safety warning: while opening the hinged door provided for consumer use to access and reset the breakers is permitted, because there is risk of dangerous or even fatal electric shock in any electrical panel interior, only an expert should actually remove the front cover.

Since there is risk of dangerous or even fatal electric shock, only an expert such as a licensed electrician, electrical engineer, or home inspector should physically remove the front cover to permit inspection of the panel bus and other interior features.

Three Stab-Lok bus designs were used in these panels and can be identified by an electrician on disassembly of some panel components.

Photo of a punched opening copper FPE Stab-Lok bus bar

Photo of a "Z" clip clamped to the bus bar with a 10-32 screw

Photo of a "Stab socket" on a post attached with an 8-32 steel screw

Here is a weird bus from a Federal Electric panel.

More FPE Electrical Panel Bus design identifying photos are at "2004 FPE Update: St. Louis ASHI Seminar including: Hazard Summary & Independent Tests confirms Stab-Lok failures"

If all product identification labels have been removed, look at the various photos of FPE panels which you can find in this article below, at the Federal Pacific Electric Stab Lok Panel website, and at several of the articles at that website, such as Hazardous FPE Circuit Breakers and Panels.

See HOW TO ID FPE IF NO LABELS for detailed guidance on identifying painted-over or un-labeled electrical panels as Federal Pacific Electric Stab Lok equipment.

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

Technical Reviewers

Particular thanks are due to experts and also consumers who read these articles and suggest corrections, changes, and additions to the material. Content suggestions, technical corrections and content critique are invited for any of the content at our website.

• Daniel Friedman - principal author/editor of the InspectAPedia ^TM Website
• Critique, contributions wanted: Contact Us to suggest text changes and additions and, if you wish, to receive online listing and credit for that contribution.
• 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 this page were made by the web author

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

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.
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