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Federal Pacific and Zinsco are both manufacturers of electrical panels that were recalled in a class action law suit from 2002.
Do Zinsco panels need to be replaced?
This needs to be done by a licensed electrician. Based on the history of Zinsco, home inspectors can only recommend that an electrician evaluate the panel and breakers. If the electrician finds no defects, we cannot enforce a Zinsco panel to be changed.
Are all Zinsco panels unsafe?
But experts warn that these panels may present numerous problems and even hazards if and when they fail. In fact, one expert warns that as many as 25% of all Zinsco circuit breakers could fail to trip in response to an overcurrent or short circuit and create a possible hazardous situation.
Is Zinsco still in business?
Ten years later, Zinsco was sold to GTE Sylvania, which kept the production of the panels going until late 1970s. Even though manufacturing stopped, the panels that were already produced kept being installed in properties for a few more years. Today, a Zinsco panel is considered updated and unsafe.
When were Zinsco panels installed?
Federal Pacific Electrical Panels and Zinsco Electrical Panels (also known as Zinsco Sylvania) were installed in new homes throughout entire neighborhoods from the mid-1950s to the early 1980s.
What is the problem with Zinsco panels?
Zinsco panels may have significant design flaws. This presents an issue because aluminum wiring rusts, which can decrease the effectiveness of the electrical conductor. Additionally, aluminum wiring can lead to overheating and interfere with electricity flow. The bus bars are damaged and destroy easily.
How do I identify my Zinsco panel?
To identify these panels, look for the words “Zinsco,” “Magnetrip” or the characteristic red, green, and blue toggles on circuit breakers. Issues include failure of the circuit breaker to trip on overcurrent, arcing and burn-ups at the breaker-to-panel bus bar connection and circuit breaker burn-ups.
Is Zinsco the same as Sylvania?
The Zinsco company was sold to GTE-Sylvania in 1973, which continued to manufacture the Zinsco panel design under the name of Sylvania-Zinsco. It was also sold under the Kearney brand name. But the design was eventually discontinued, and later Sylvania panels do not have the problematic Zinsco design.
Are Challenger panels safe?
Challenger panels posed safety hazards very similar to that of Zinsco. The biggest concern for Challengers were their issue with overheating. In turn, that can cause many other issues, like fusing and/or melting, corrosion, or actual fires. Occasionally they don’t trip at all, or just may take too long to trip.
What is an FPE electrical panel?
Federal Pacific Electrical panels are a type of electrical panel made by the Federal Pacific Electrical Company. Other names for a Federal Pacific Electrical panel include Federal Pacific Electrical breaker box or FPE Stab-Lok breaker. Between the 1950s and 1980s, home installed millions of these panels.
Who owns Zinsco?
Zinsco was a popular brand of electrical panel installed in many homes throughout the 1970s. Around 1973, Zinsco was purchased by GTE-Sylvania.
When did Sylvania buy Zinsco?
Zinsco was purchased by GTE-Sylvania in 1973.
Are Zinsco panels UL listed?
If any of the labels in it say “Zinsco,” you may have a fire risk. These older electrical panels would not pass today’s UL (Underwriters Laboratories) listing and would not be sold to the general public.
When were Federal Pacific panels outlawed?
Federal Pacific Electric panels were produced from the mid-1950s well into the 1980s. Experts say that FPE panels produced during that time frame would not conform to today’s updated safety codes and would no longer be allowed to be sold to the general public.
What breakers replace federal Pacific?
From Federal Pacific to Stab Lok. Today, FPE circuit breakers have been replaced by Stab Lok circuit breakers which a constructed using a special design that results in a much lighter and smaller breaker.
Is my panel box safe?
The Panels Can Be Dangerous BUT experts warn that if a Federal Pacific Electric panel experiences an overcurrent or short circuit, it may not keep the electrical circuits from overheating and could possibly pose a fire hazard.
Is your GTE Sylvania electrical panel safe?
Yes, all Sylvania, Zinsco, or GTE Sylvania panels are dangerous and pose a significant fire hazard. While a fire in your house is terrible, home insurance covers it. However, if you have an electrical fire caused by a Sylvania electrical panel, most insurance companies will not cover damages.
How much does it cost to install a new 100 amp panel?
The average cost to install a new 100-amp service is $1,200 to $1,600, or between $850 and $1,100 if the service panel needs to be replaced. A 100-amp breaker box may be sufficient for households with minimal use of electricity, but most modern homes require 200 amps.
Are Zinsco panels grounded?
Many Zinsco panels are not grounded, and would likely not pass a modern UL test. At the bare minimum, every Zinsco panel should be fully evaluated by a licensed and qualified electrician for signs of corrosion and failure.
What breakers are interchangeable with Zinsco?
While Zinsco panels support Sylvania breaker replacement and GTE Sylvania circuit breaker replacement, you need to be mindful of vendors that sell purportedly effective replacements under these brand names.
Should I upgrade my electrical panel?
Why do I need to upgrade my electric panel? As a rule of thumb, electric panels need replacing every 25-40 years, so if your home is that age, there’s a likelihood that you will need to upgrade. However, there are other key signs to look out for that will tell you when your existing system is becoming outdated.
