This article was posted 05/01/2006 and is most likely outdated.

The Zinsco Electrical Panels and Circuit Breakers
 

 
Topic - Safety
Subject - The Zinsco Electrical Panels and Circuit Breakers

May 1, 2006  

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The Zinsco Electrical Panels and Circuit Breakers

 Hazard Information Website

 

The Home Inspection and Construction Information Website, started by Daniel Friedman, discusses Zinsco Panels and Circuit Breakers and their association with problems relating to electrical fire and shock. This Website documents cases in which these problems arise. Daniel urges all building owners or electricians encountering problems with this equipment to contact his Website so that he may add that information to the electrical failure database. This is an effort to develop accurate safety information, which is then shared with appropriate federal and state agencies.

 

To visit Daniel’s Website for information on how to document your own case or to read about other cases simply click here: www.inspect-ny.com/electric/Zinsco.htm 
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Copyright © 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006 Mike Holt Enterprises, Inc. All rights reserved.
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Comments

  • it has been about 15 years, got a call to fix a circuit in a double wide mobile home. when i got to site it was multiple problems but not the panels in the home of which there was 2 - 100 amp panels and a gaffed in feeder to an outside - Zinsco panel which was self distructing, all the mobile homes had zinsco panels outside and from what i saw they all were in some stage of self destruction. i am in michigan and had never saw a zinsco panel, i thought federal had the worst panels untill i saw this, had to get permission to shut feeder down to replace zinsco panel with a siemens panel [ ITE]. talked to part time inspector about the mess at trailer park, he did not say much, found out he had done the whole job and was not about to blow the whistle on hisself. nice world we live in.

    ron doran - master electrician

    • Reply from: JAMES P BEATTY   
    I AM HERE IN TUCSON AZ AND I DID A THREE MONTH STUDY ON FPE BREAKERS WHICH WERE DOGGED BY EVERY ELECTRICIAN IN AZ . WHAT I FOUND OUT WAS VERY SURPRISING, NOT ONE SINGLE FIRE HAS BEEN ATTRIBUTED TO THESE BREAKERS IN AZ. I CHECKED WITH INSURANCE CO., FIRE IVESTIGATION TEAMS AND LOCAL ENGIN, AND I AM WONDERING IF ZINSCO IS GETTING THE SAME BAD REP DUE TO HERE SAY IN THE ELECT INDUSTRY

    Reply from: ron doran   
    The standing story about FPE panels and breakers is you can mount a fan next to a FPE panel and you have a space heater. Michigan Electrical Contractor for 40 years. Study's can be made to read any way you want them to and 3 months ain't nothin, you should see what I have seen over the years. Any good electrician will not add a circuit to a FPE panel or even want to work on them, most all are replaced for safety.

    Reply from: JAMES P BEATTY   
    AGAIN I HAVE BEEN A ELECTRICIAN FOR ONLY 24 YEARS AND MY STUDY YET FOR THREE SHORT MONTHS COVERED DATA FOR YEARS. I HAVESEEN MANY TYPES OFF BREAKER FAILURES FROM MANY DIFFERENT MANUFACTURES . I THINK THAT ALOT OF THE FAILURES ARE FROM THE INSTALLATION MAYBE NOT SO MUCH FROM THE PRODUCT.AS BAD AS THESE FPE PANELS AND BREAKERS ARE ITS JUST SEEMS WIERD THAT AGAIN NO FIRES HAVE BEEN DIRECTLY RELATED TO THIS PRODUCT IN AZ . I MYSELF WOULD NOT USE THIS PRODUCT BECAUSE OF ELECTRICIANS SUCH AS YOURSELF I JUST WONDER IF THIS PRODUCT IS SO BAD AND SUCH A FIRE HAZARD WHY AGAIN NO FIRES.

    Reply from: Mike Holt   
    James, 'all cap' in writing style indicates that you are 'YELLING.' You might want to consider to only use caps as you would in normal writing, unless if course you do intend to make a statement by yelling.

    Reply from: James P Beatty   
    I didnt mean to sound like I was yelling,been working too many hours lately , nonthing gets solved by yelling I stand corrected thanks Mike
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