FPE Stab-Lok panels

[ishiboo]

I prefer QO, but that is my preference and what I have always been around. I used to have some clear sample breakers so you could see the trip mechanism and it was neat to see it in action. I will have to see if I can find them since a google image search only showed the AFCI breakers, not the regular QO. edit: found a link to the sample breakers I had http://www.electrical-forensics.com/CircuitBreakers/CB-Web-Pics/ExemplarClear-LG.jpg

Ryan

QO is the best but the breakers are pretty pricey compared to Homeline when you need 40+ of them. The Homeline breakers contain the exact same QO mechanism, but lack the VisiTrip indicator or whatever it's called.

The panels are also a bit cheaper.

The packaging is different so you can't put the cheaper Homeline breakers in a QO panel.

 

[PatJ800]

The stab-lok breakers had serious safety issues as everyone has stated, but the scariest part of these panels is when the adjustable depth bakelite assembly that holds the buss bars in the case fails/breaks, and the buss bars short together or short to the box when the cover panel and/or breakers are removed.

People (mostly selling realtors, if you can call them people) that think a FPE panel can be "inspected" to ensure it is safe to leave in service. No one could pay me enough money to remove the cover of a hot FPE panel, even a 200A residental unit. The thing can crumble to dust in front of your face, and then you would have real issues.

 

[Dagny]

I'm changing one tomorrow a 150 amp putting a CH CH as these are my favorite.

 

[Norcal]

I'm changing one tomorrow a 150 amp putting a CH CH as these are my favorite.

10 times the quality of a current production QO, and you can have a trip indicator too on the CH like a QO , SQ D went cheap on their load centers.

 

[cowboyjosh]

QO is the best but the breakers are pretty pricey compared to Homeline when you need 40+ of them. The Homeline breakers contain the exact same QO mechanism, but lack the VisiTrip indicator or whatever it's called.

The panels are also a bit cheaper.

The packaging is different so you can't put the cheaper Homeline breakers in a QO panel.

As a builder I spec QO because I refuse to put a panel that is typically seen in
cheap tract homes.

The custom homes I build start at $600,000 and go to $3,000,000, for that kind of money I'm going to put in a commercial quality load center

I have 2 electrical contractors I use, one gets all pissed off cause they like the Eaton BR load centers and Milbank AC disconnects, whereas my primary EC uses all Square D QO for load centers and SQD AC Disconnects.

I don't care if Im spending a thousand dollars more, I want the components in my homes to last a lifetime.

 

[Norcal]

The BR panels are as close to Zinsco as you can get, they even used Zinsco style mains in larger then 125A MB panels for a while. Milbank bought Unicorn Electrical Products who built Zinsco knock-off breakers, they did redesign them & as far as I know Milbank still makes them.

Most of the supply houses in town handle the BR panels & I cannot stand them, prefer the CH classic or Siemens. Back in the 1970's I would give SQ D a slight edge over CH because of the Visi-Trip® feature of QO/QOB breakers, but because of SQ D following the lead of Gould Inc. & using plastic interiors in ITE load centers (ITE is now Siemens), the CH classic load centers are the last decent light commercial/ residential load centers left, the patent on the Visi-Trip® feature must have expired, as Eaton is offering the same feature in the CH frame breaker.

 

[gregtwojeeps]

480v? What happened? Blow up?

Yes, 480/277 V. 3 PH, 4000 amp gear.... It happened in 1972 and I don't know if there was any lawsuits but with me not knowing that .....or the statute of limitations on a case if there was one.... I should probably refrain from posting the details of the event on the internet. JMO

 

[MikeF2316]

I need to start hanging out in this forum more. I have a FPE with Stab-lok breakers in my detached garage, just an 8 breaker 60 amp subpanel. I bought this new sometime in the late '90s. It seems from what I read, Canadian FPE panels with the newer breakers are OK. If consensus is that this is not protecting me, I'll just replace it with a Square D that uses the same breaker as the main panel in my house. However if it's fine, I'll just leave it. I took all the breakers out yesterday, there's no sign of any overheating, everything looks as good as the day I installed it.

 

[wyliesdiesels]

Yes canadian version of FPE is fine. No need to replace.

 

[MikeF2316]

Yes canadian version of FPE is fine. No need to replace.

Even though that seemed to be consensus elsewhere on the 'net, now that I've read it here I feel better. Thanks!