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Federal Pacific panels: what is known and what to do

Federal Pacific Electric panels with Stab-Lok breakers come up in home inspections often. Here is what the public record says, without the alarm.

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The short version

What it is
A panel from Federal Pacific Electric that uses Stab-Lok circuit breakers.
What the CPSC said
It closed its investigation in 1983 without deciding whether the breakers are safe.
What to do
Have a licensed electrician inspect it and put the findings in writing.

Burning smell, sparks or a hot outlet? Stop using that circuit, switch its breaker off if you can reach the panel safely, and call now. If there is smoke or fire, leave and call 911.Call (844) 505-0813

How to tell if you have one

  • Look for Federal Pacific Electric or FPE on the panel door or label.
  • Look for the name Stab-Lok on the label or the breakers.
  • Check your home inspection report.
  • Do not remove the panel cover yourself.

Reasons to call now

  • A breaker feels hot or will not stay set.
  • There is a burning smell or scorch marks at the panel.
  • Lights dim or flicker when appliances start.
  • You are buying, selling or insuring the house.

What the record says

  • The 1983 decisionThe CPSC said "the data currently available to the Commission does not establish that the circuit breakers pose a serious risk of injury" and closed the case. It did not declare them safe.
  • Why it stopped thereThe Commission cited its limited budget and the cost of further testing, and said it could reopen the investigation if new information warranted.
  • What an inspection coversSigns of overheating, the condition of the breakers and bus bars, and whether the panel still suits the loads in the house.
  • If it is replacedReplacement is an ordinary panel job with a permit and an inspection. Our page on panel replacement explains what sets the price.

What an electrician will do

  1. Identify the panel and breakers from the labels.
  2. Open the panel and look for heat damage and loose connections.
  3. Tell you what was found and what the options are.
  4. If you choose replacement, quote it as a permitted panel job.

The CPSC's general advice in the same release applies to every panel: "Never overload any electrical circuit by connecting too many products to the circuit."

Related guides

Sources

  • US Consumer Product Safety Commission, release 83-008
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