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Replacement Circuit Breakers for GTE Sylvania Zinsco & Kearney Electrical Panels Single pole 120 VAC: Black-toggled Sylvania HQGF15 (15-Amp 120VAC), HQGF20 (20-Amp 120VAC), Sylvania Q15 120/240VAC Type Q circuit breaker, Sylvania Q20. Single pole Blue-toggled Sylvania HRGF15, Red?-toggled HRGF20,.
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.
Are Zinsco replacement breakers safe?
One of these electrical panels is known as Zinsco. Zinsco breaker panels are dangerous and no longer considered safe to use. Due to the type of aluminum used, Zinsco breakers can melt and fuse to the bus bar. If this happens, the breakers will not be able to trip and can cause electrical fires.
Can you mix and match circuit breakers?
Never place a different brand circuit breaker in a circuit breaker panel of a different brand. Contrary to the belief that they are all the same and will work in any circuit breaker panel, the fact is just the opposite. Circuit breakers may actually fit, but not properly.
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.
What is a Zinsco breaker?
About 20 years after its foundation, Zinsco began manufacturing a new type of breaker, a 240-volt twin circuit breaker that could connect to both bus cars. It was the only product of the kind, which made them extremely popular.
Are Zinsco panels outlawed?
While Zinsco too was part of a major recall and lawsuit, the company no longer exists. Thousands of homes around the country may still have these malfunctioning and known hazardous electrical panels installed. Zinsco panels were quite popular during the 1970’s.
How do I identify my Zinsco breaker?
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.
What happened to Zinsco?
Currently, Zinsco electrical equipment is considered obsolete due to a design flaw in which the circuit breaker’s connection to the bus bar becomes loose, causing arcing and subsequent overheating. Long-term exposure to this heat can cause the breaker to fuse to the bus bar, making it impossible to remove.
Do breaker brands matter?
Brand: Always install the correct brand of breakers in your breaker panel. While some breakers are interchangeable, many are not, even if they look the same. Replacing one brand of breaker with another can be dangerous, may void your breaker or panel warranty, and may lead to a failed electrical inspection.
Can I use a Siemens breaker in a Eaton panel?
Eaton’s UL classified breakers are designed and tested to be both mechanically and electrically interchangeable with circuit breakers manufactured by General Electric, Thomas & Betts, ITE/Siemens, Murray, Crouse-Hinds, and Square D. Video Player is loading.
Can a subpanel be a different brand than main panel?
A subpanel has separate bus bars for neutral and ground wires and typically has no main breaker. It may not be labeled “subpanel.” Instead, it might be labeled “lugs only.” Additionally, it might be a different brand than the main panel. Safety is most important when installing anything with wires or electrical work.
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.
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 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 wrong with Sylvania electrical panels?
Issues with the Panel After installation of the panel was wide-spread, fire and shock hazards began to arise. To summarize the issues, the bus bar of the electrical panel could easily melt and overheat. This would lead to the breakers melting and not properly turning off power to a circuit.
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.
