Is Your Home at Risk? Check Federal Pacific Electrical Panel

In 2005, a judgment found Federal Pacific Electric (FPE) guilty of fraudulent practices in relation to their electrical panels. Residents of New Jersey who had the Federal Pacific Electrical Panel (also known as the FPE Stab Lok breaker) in their home were awarded limited damages. While this judgment was limited to New Jersey, the FPE panel is found in homes built all over the country, including the Palm Beach and Broward County areas of Florida.

According to report written for the American Society of Home Inspectors, “From an electrical safety standpoint, the fraud has left homeowners and occupants with an increased risk of fire and injury. The defective performance of the FPE Stab-Lok ® breakers is not in actual compliance with the NEC or any other electrical safety code.”

If you are in a South Florida home that was built between the 1950’s and the 1980’s, you might have one of these breakers.

At a minimum go check what type of elecrical panel you have and call SunCoast Home Solutions at (561) 264-0486 for a Free Panel Inspection with any service! You should also consider having them replaced.

The Federal Pacific Electrical Panel: Why is it dangerous?

When an electric wire has too much current flowing through it, the circuit breaker is designed to cut off the flow of electricity until it can be repaired. Circuit breakers have been instrumental in keeping homes safe from electrical fires.

However, the FPE breakers, also known as the Stab Lok Breaker, have been shown to not cut off the electrical flow properly in repeated tests.

• For example, when tested for the first time, the FPE breaker failed a quarter of the time.
• Not only that, the breaker locked up, meaning that it would never be able to prevent an overload ever again.
• Even worse, if the current was doubled, FPE breakers failed over 80 percent of the time.

Another issue that is known about the FPE Electrical Panel is that the ones installed before 1970 were a split-bus system. This means that instead of having one main breaker, the panel is split into multiple parts.

So instead of having one main “off” switch, there can be up to six. Why is this an issue? Considering that FPE breakers are already known to fail, as shown above, the split bus design means that there is not just one point of failure, but many. The Split bus breaker was banned in the 70s, but older houses still might contain them.

Client Testimonial

I needed to get help fast. My insurance company told me that my Federal Pacific Electric (FPE) panel was way out of date and recalled in 1982. I was going to lose my insurance coverage. They said they offered 24 hour emergency service and they came out and had me re-installed and certified within a day! I cant thank you enough.

Anand, Delray Beach, FL

Do you need to get your FPE Panel inspected?

The short answer is no. Inspections are only cursory tests of the equipment, such as turning them off and on, making sure the breakers are tightly attached, and looking for signs of scorching and overheating. However, this type of check cannot show what would happen during an actual overload. Paying for a full test of each breaker is a needless expense, because if they do fail (which has been shown to happen), you would have to completely replace them anyway.

How To Identify if You Have a FPE Panel

To determine if you have a Federal Pacific Electric (FPE) electrical panel in your home, you can follow these steps:

1. Locate Your Electrical Panel: Find the location of your electrical panel or main breaker box in your home. It is usually in the basement, utility room, garage, or an exterior location.
2. Look for Brand Labels: Open the door of your electrical panel and examine the inside cover or the panel itself. Look for any brand labels, stickers, or markings that indicate the manufacturer. Common indications of an FPE panel include the words "Federal Pacific Electric" or "FPE" printed on the label or panel.
3. Search for the Stab-Lok Logo: FPE panels often feature a specific logo on the breakers called the "Stab-Lok" logo. Look for this logo on the breakers inside the panel. It resembles a sideways "F" with a small "P" in the center.
4. Check for Red-Handled Breakers: FPE panels typically have distinctive red-handled circuit breakers. Look for these breakers within your electrical panel. The red-handled breakers can be an indicator of an FPE panel, although it's important to note that not all red-handled breakers necessarily indicate an FPE panel.

It's worth noting that FPE panels have been associated with safety issues and are no longer manufactured due to concerns about their performance and reliability. If you have an FPE panel, it is generally recommended to consider having it replaced by a licensed electrician for safety reasons, even if it appears to be functioning normally.

If you're still unsure or have difficulty identifying the manufacturer or specific characteristics of your electrical panel, it's recommended to consult a licensed electrician. We have the expertise and knowledge to identify different types of electrical panels and can provide a professional assessment.

Replacement of the FPE Electrical Panels

It is recommended that not only should you replace your FPE Stab Lok breaker, but you should replace it with a completely different brand. Tests have shown that not only are the old FPE breakers are dangerous, but the replacement parts of the same brand are equally shoddy.

As a matter of fact, the FPE breakers don’t even meet the UL minimum safety requirements. UL is an independent, global scientific company that sets safety standards on electric equipment. Not only did their equipment not meet the UL standard, they knowingly falsified their UL listing, which is why the lawsuit in New Jersey was successful.

Now For A Free FPE Breaker Replacement Estimate

So the right course of action is to replace your FPE panel with another safer brand. Suncoast Home Services Electricians are fully licensed and insured serving Palm Beach and the Broward County area. We will come out and upgrade your FPE breaker.

Don't wait for a fire or a failure. Protect your South Florida home and family and upgrade to a new breaker that meets todays electrical codes! Just give us a call or online to set up your Free Panel Inspection today.