Federal Pacific Stabloc Panel Found

[Lee Curtis]

So I found this Federal Pacific Panel with Stab Loc circuits while doing a 4 point on a 1955 home in Tampa Bay. The Insurance Agent said I needed to give the remaining "life expectancy" of all four points. What would you have answered for the Electrical?
I'll try to attach photo's for your viewing pleasure:

Panel
Panel Open
Above Panel

Can you notice any other interesting items in this panel?

[Robert Meier]

I see no connector/raceway for the service entrance conductors. And it's a split-bus panel.

[Joseph Hagarty, CMI]

"Remaining Life Expectancy ?"

.....30 seconds or 30 feet
whichever comes first..

[Jae Williams]

FWIW--it's not the panel per se that is the problem here--it is the way it's installed (it usually is).

Refer to a licensed electrician for repair.

[Joseph Hagarty, CMI]

Originally Posted by jwilliams4

FWIW--it's not the panel per se that is the problem here--it is the way it's installed (it usually is).

Refer to a licensed electrician for repair.

It is a Stab-Lok...
What about this particular panel do you find
NOT Warranting a Recommendation
for Replacement?

[Harry D. Vandermeulen]

Looks like white ungrounded conductors as well

[Joseph Hagarty, CMI]

Originally Posted by jhagarty

It is a Stab-Lok...
What about this particular panel do you find
NOT Warranting a Recommendation
for Replacement?

I guess the IR Camera found all breakers within acceptable temp range...
so...
it must be good

[Ken Brittain]

Is that melted insulation around the SE cables at the lugs?

I would not speculate on life expectancy as mentioned evaluate by a qualified specialist and/or recommend replacement. I'm sure there is some standard write up for these.

Glad you were able to open it with out any issues. The safety aspect can be a reason for not inspecting

[agallatin]

That's a pretty amazing wiring job ! And it's worked for how many years ?

[George P. Wells, CMI]

Originally Posted by lcurtis1

So I found this Federal Pacific Panel with Stab Loc circuits while doing a 4 point on a 1955 home in Tampa Bay. The Insurance Agent said I needed to give the remaining "life expectancy" of all four points. What would you have answered for the Electrical?

When my wife had breast cancer, she and I asked her oncologist what her expected life expectancy was. He refused to give us a direct answer. Instead, he said he would give us the published statistics that are available to anyone. However, he said, he would not speculate on her life expectancy. He went on to say that regardless of the odds, she should follow his advice and get the treatment he recommended. She did. Statistically, she had two years. That was 13 years ago. She is still alive and is doing well.

At exactly the same time, when my mother had renal failure, we asked her endocrinologist what her expected life expectancy was. He too refused to give us a direct answer. Instead, he said he would give us the published statistics that are available to anyone. He would not speculate on her life expectancy. He went on to say that regardless of the odds, she should follow his advice and get the treatment he recommended. She did. Statistically, she had two years. She died two months later.

Have the real estate agent call me.

[George P. Wells, CMI]

Originally Posted by Ken Brittain

Is that melted insulation around the SE cables at the lugs?

It is probably an oxide inhibitor.

[Paul W. Abernathy]

Originally Posted by jhagarty

It is a Stab-Lok...
What about this particular panel do you find
NOT Warranting a Recommendation
for Replacement?

Are you calling it out because it is a "Stab-Lok" as a design flaw.....Federal Pioneer ( Schnieder- Makers of Square D) would disagree as would I if installed properly. I would call it out due to age and life expectancy on the OCPD's and the fact the branch circuit overcurrent devices are not reliable based on the CPSC's findings ( while not totally reliable since they kinda took the low road, they still originally issued the report anyway)....give them the option to replace the breakers with modern replacements that are properly UL Listed....or the option to replacement as a solution.

Then defer it to a licensed electrical contractor and let the client make the choice based on your educated advice...


P.S. I even have one more solution for you inspectors......Eaton Cutler Hammer makes an insert that replaced the entire panelboard in the older FPE panels...the "GUTS" are replaced with UL Listed and Approved inserts designed to go into those panels and it holds modern breakers....might be the BEST solution you can give them as the enclosure is typically fine.....just replace the panelboard "GUTS"......it is an option, it is cost effective and it is UL approved and eaton will create a cover that matches the screws perfectly on the older FPE enclosure for a nice finish...

[Paul W. Abernathy]

lol..I feel like I am selling Eaton Products.......well I don't consult for them anymore so I still believe in their stuff and those inserts are awesome...I have used them on two specific occasions and it worked great..... What is the cost....well it is less than a totally new service change since you are only removing the paneboard but overall cost is dependant on the electrical contractor doing the job...again only a recommendation as cost is not part your job...just recommendations and let them choose.

[Robert J. OConnor]

Remaining life - zero to none ...

For an FPE panel call for an evaluation by an electrical specialist, and repair or replacement as needed, based on a known history of problems.

It's more than just unreliable breakers in the FPE panels. There are also issues with the breaker attachment to the bus bar and some panels did not have enough room for wires/bends, but thats not as significant as breakers that may not trip or a poor bus connection.

http://www.cahillinspection.com/imag...nsen%20FPE.pdf
http://www.inspectapedia.com/fpe/fpepanel.htm

Keep it simple and let an electrician decide the best course of action.

JMO & 2-Nickels