Federal
Pacific "Stab-Lok" Panels
Federal Pacific Electric "Stab-Lok" service panels and breakers are a
latent hazard and can fail, leading to electrical fires. The problem is
that some double-pole (240-Volt) FPE circuit breakers and possibly also
some single-pole units simply may not work. We also have reports that
independent of the
breaker problems, there have been panel and panel-bus fires and arcing
failures in some equipment.
A latent hazard exists where FPE Stab-Lok circuit breakers continue
in use. The hazard is worst for double-pole breakers. Published reports
of actual tests that were performed indicate that under certain
conditions it is possible for one leg of these circuits to attempt to
trip the breaker, resulting in a jammed breaker which will afterward not
trip under any load condition.
Some common household appliances are powered by a two-pole 240V
circuit (protected by the type of breaker under discussion) but use two
or more independent 120V sub-circuits inside the appliance. Two obvious
cases are electric clothes dryers and ranges. If, for example, the
low-heat (110V) heater in a dryer were to short to the dryer case, a
serious overcurrent would occur on one "leg" of the circuit.
Another wiring practice, using a single two-pole breaker to power a
split circuit which uses a shared neutral, such as may be installed in
kitchens in some areas, is nearly certain to have each leg of the
circuit loaded independently and thus subject to single-leg overloading
and subsequent breaker jamming. A breaker which jams and then fails to
trip under this condition is a serious fire hazard.
These panels are easy to identify.They usually display the FPE and/or
the "Stab-Lok" logos / insignia. Typically a knowledgeable electrician
will recommend replacing these panels. Replacement cost is usually about
$1000.00.
