Federal Pacific Boxes - Electrician Talk - Professional Electrical Contractors Forum

almaxwell · 03-25-2009, 12:26 PM

When you have a defective Federal Pacific electric box, do you have to replace the whole thing or just the Double Pole breakers? I'm getting mixed opinions.

Hidyusbeast · 03-25-2009, 12:34 PM

Change it out. That will make it safer and more $$$ for you!

user5941 · 03-25-2009, 02:41 PM

The breakers are hard to find and putting a used breaker is just asking for liability we dont do anything but a change out. I don't like hearing "everything worked fine until you changed that breaker"

waco · 03-25-2009, 03:06 PM

change it.

I think it should be added that we change the FP panels when we encounter them, "defective" or not. I really don't know if they deserve the bad reputation they have, but I can't ignore the fact they have a bad rep and since we are the experts on the scene, I don't see how we can avoid the implied liability. In fact, I doubt the local jurisdiction's inspector would hang a tag on one.

Funny how that works.

brian john · 03-25-2009, 03:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rewire

. I don't like hearing "everything worked fine until you changed that breaker"

I think every service electrician has heard this at least once,

NolaTigaBait · 03-25-2009, 03:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by brian john

I think every service electrician has heard this at least once,

no matter what...it's always your fault

BDB · 03-25-2009, 04:04 PM

I probably have over 150 Federal breakers. We have taken many old federal panels out. The old breakers do come in handy every now and then.

NolaTigaBait · 03-25-2009, 04:20 PM

i save them too...not sure why though

waco · 03-25-2009, 04:42 PM

I throw them away. If the customer won't buy a panel change, they can get a different electrician.

Thayer · 03-25-2009, 04:49 PM

I change out every FPE that I can. It brings joy to my heart to see those in the trash.

Charlie K · 03-25-2009, 05:01 PM

<LI class=profilefield_category>About almaxwell How did you find ElectricianTalk.com? google What is your electrical related field/trade: Federal Pacific Location Georgia.

Sorry Almaxwell but your profile does not add up. You sound like a homeowner. The best thing for you to do is consult a local licensed electrican. He can look over your panel and make a determination for you.

Charlie

jbfan · 03-25-2009, 05:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by almaxwell

When you have a defective Federal Pacific electric box, do you have to replace the whole thing or just the Double Pole breakers? I'm getting mixed opinions.

What part of GA?

Two prbpblems with the FPE breakers and panels, are they won't trip, or the buss gets messed up and the breakers don't make connection, so The best thing to do is replace the panel!

480sparky · 03-25-2009, 05:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Charlie K

<LI class=profilefield_category>About almaxwell How did you find ElectricianTalk.com? google What is your electrical related field/trade: Federal Pacific Location Georgia.

Sorry Almaxwell but your profile does not add up. You sound like a homeowner. The best thing for you to do is consult a local licensed electrican. He can look over your panel and make a determination for you.

Charlie

Looks like he didn't understand what the querie was asking for. Instead of 'electrician', he entered in a subject line.

user5941 · 03-25-2009, 05:45 PM

nrp3 · 03-25-2009, 07:58 PM

The property management group I do business with has hundreds of these in various forms. The ones I have the most trouble with are the ones in the damp basements. Bad buss connections leading to melting of the buss and branch breakers. Those I toss and put in a new QO with a copper buss. The others are the bolt ins with those crappy clamp type covers. The ones in dry apartments seem to have held up ok and look almost new.

When in doubt, just change the panel. A good investment.

ACB · 03-26-2009, 06:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Thayer

I change out every FPE that I can. It brings joy to my heart to see those in the trash.

recycle,,,, not throw in the trash,,, some hick/hack handiman will pull it out install it somewhere,,,, LOL!!. I bring em home and give my kid a scew gun and he rips them apart, sorts the various metals into my scrap bins, which go in once a year,,, pays for a weekend vacation somewhere.