HOW TO IDENTIFY - Federal Pacific Electric FPE Stab Lok circuit breakers and electrical panels
FPEaPedia ^©

Because the names, labeling and appearance of FPE Panels varies both by age and by area of the country where the products were distributed, we include photographs of a variety of models from the East Coast of the U.S., the West Coast (FPE in California), as well as some other areas such FPE Stab-Lok panels in Florida, and FPE in Texas, and Federal Pioneer panels from Canada.

Names and panel labels associated with the Federal Pacific Stab-Lok design include at least

• Federal Pacific Electric
• FPE
• Stab-Lok
• FPE-Stab-lok
• Federal Electric
• Federal NOARC
• Federal Pioneer

The following pages of this article provide identification photographs and descriptions of this equipment.

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.

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.

Below we provide a photographic library of various types of Federal Pacific (FPE) Stab Lok equipment, including FPE and Federal Pioneer electrical panel covers and labels which permit a consumer to identify the equipment from its exterior as well as circuit breaker labels and other details.

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.

Our Photo Guides to Identification of Federal Pacific Stab-Lok Electrical Panels and Circuit Breakers Are Presented in the Topics Listed Below

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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

• 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.

 

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