They were later manufactured for a time by sylvania and. Zinsco was established as a brand in 1943 when the son of the zinsmeyer company took over his fathers electrical business. These early breakers employed copper busclips, which matched the copper busbars in these panels. Electric, indicated that nearly 32% of the zinsco circuit breakers tested to date failed to trip as required by the ul testing standard. We include advice on how to identify zinsco, sylvania zinsco, and kearney electrical panels and circuit breakers, and repair or replacement advice for those products. It was also sold under the names sylvania zinsco and kearney.
Given these facts, zinsco electrical panels and circuit breakers should be considered an undue fire and injury risk and we recommend that the equipment be replaced completely. These electrical panels do not use the zinsco or gtesylvania zinsco electrical panel bus and breaker design. Here we take indepth look at electrical services, panels, breakers, fuses and more. This means homes with zinsco brand circuit breakers and electrical panels are likely to be at significantly greater risk such as burnups, fires, and failure to trip in response to overcurrent.
Intertek etl listing to ul standard 489 for us and canada molded case circuit breakers. It was a very popular product and installed throughout north america. The zinsco panel is one of the most common brands of dangerous electrical equipment we see. The zinsco electrical panel, hazard information pdf4pro. Eliminates expensive and time consuming drywall repair. Every year scores of people are injured in and around their homes by unsafe conditions that result from a faulty electric breaker panel. Understanding risks associated with zinscotm circuit breakers. Hazardous electrical panels during the inspection of your home, we noted one of the following brands of electrical panel. If you are having issues with an electric receptacle somewhere in your house and cannot find the problem, its possible something ha. Zinsco was a manufacturer of circuit breakers and electrical distribution panels, founded by emile zinsmeyer and his son martin zinsmeyer in the early 1930s. This made the zinsco brand hugely popular with contractors and millions of zinsco service panels and load centers were installed through the 60s and 70s. Fpe stablok electrical panels and includes a link to the mostcurrent and easilyprintable.
Jul 29, 2018 another electric panel from the same era that has a checkered history is zinsco, although the standard recommendation for this panel is evaluation by an electrician. Also, damage was found in 25% of the zinsco sylvania panels. Other less common markings to look for are these logos stamped on enclosures. Usually, these panels will melt from extreme heat exposure, all the way up to the bus bar of the panel. Our team is available to help with your electrical needs. We have a large assortment of zinsco, sylvania, and challenger bus bars, dead front covers, and meter parts. For your safety, heres whats going on with the power in your home. Original breakers were patented in 1950 and labeled magnatrip. In addition, zinsco panels typically have the logo at the top of the panel. Zinsco breakers melt and fuse to the aluminum bus bar causing failure in about 25% of the panels inspected. Zinsco czars objective is to provide the customer with those hard to find electrical parts and fittings that no one else seems to stock or have. Zinsco went on to be a very popular brand of electrical panels for several. A copper shortage during the war promoted code changes.
Split bus panels with multiple breaker manufacturers in competition, and the increase in the typical number of circuits, many employed the splitbus panel to save cost. Zinsco sylvania kearney electrical panel and circuit breaker. Our business is supplying repair parts for your needs. Apr 30, 2019 there are gray areas, and one of the major gray areas is the zinsco electric panel. Federal pacific stablok model service panels are widely reputed to have a number of problems that can result in a fire or shockelectrocution. Faqs ask a question toll free numbers media contact hospitals and clinics vet centers regional benefits offices regional loan centers cemetery locations veterans crisis line. There are other reasons to consider a new panel, as well as an overall upgrade to the wiring. If you have electricity, you probably have an electrical panel for it, too. Zinscotm or gtesylvaniatm zinsco or kearney circuit breakers and electrical panels, manufactured until the 1970s, may not offer reliable protection against. One problematic panel in particular, zinsco, was widely installed as early as the 1950s and through to the 1970s. Industry reports indicate that as many as 25%75% of all zinscotm circuit breakers could fail. Expert opinion on zinsco panels these circuit breakers do not offer the level of overcurrent and fire protection provided by most other. These panels would not be allowed to be sold because they no longer pass current safety codes. Where zinsco electrical panels and zinsco circuit breakers are in use, arcing, contactpoint burn, and even circuit breaker case blowout have been observed in the field.
Understanding risks associated with zinscotm circuit. Although zinsco no longer exists, this panel is still in numerous homes. Zinsco electric panels could leave property owners at risk for both fire and electric shock as a result of failing to operate properly as much as 25% of the time. Zinscotm tmor gtesylvania zinsco or kearney circuit breakers and electrical panels, manufactured until the 1970s, may not offer reliable protection against fire, shock, and other hazards related to circuit overload. Simmons, a well known electrical expert known as mr. Federal pacific stablok hazards internachi inspection. Like fpe panels they had problems with contact to the bus bar and latter they became known as sylvania about the early 70s. Inside, look for the name stabloc the brand name of the circuit breakers. Branch breakers 1 per pole format catalog numbers voltage poles amp aic special protection or features. Zinsco electrical panels zinsco electrical panels are obsolete. This made the zinsco brand hugely popular with contractors and millions of zinsco service panels and loadcenters were installed through the 60s and 70s.
However, previously purchased panels were still being installed for a time after that. For zinsco subpanelboards the electrical distribution subpanel is a zinsco brand panel. Where zinsco electrical panels are discovered in buildings, they should be replaced to reduce some very real fire and shock hazards. We also carry all of the replacement circuit breakers for these panels. Why are zinsco and sylvaniazinsco electric panels a problem.
Generator interlock kits electrician interlock kits. Zinsco or gtesylvania panels were popular electrical panels installed in homes throughout the 1970s. Federal pacific panels were installed from the 1950s 1980s and zinsco panels were in demand during the 1970s. In 1973, martin zinsmeyer sold the zinsco electric company to gtesylvania.
Production was halted when design flaws were discovered. When it comes to your electric breaker panel, there are a lot of things that you will have to. The bus is burned to a crisp with a rather large hole and lots of charring and soot. The first zinsco panels contained copper busbars and copper breaker clips. Also, damage was found in 25% of the zinsco sylvania panels that are checked.
Solar panels and electric cars are a match made in heaven when you install a solar. The inspector recommends that before the expiration of your inspection objection deadline, you consult with a qualified electrical contractor concerning the necessity for replacing this service panel. An electrical panel includes bus bars, which conduct a major current of electricity from. The electrical system of this home contains a zinsco service panel and or a service panel with zinsco components. After hundreds of similar incidents, it was found that zinsco panels were to blame for frequent electrical shocks, short circuits, and fires. Zinsco or zinsco sylvania is the name given to a brand of electrical panel that was commonly installed up to the mid1970s. There is no question that electrical issues, especially those related to panels themselves, rank high on the list of home inspection findings. In addition to advice on identifying zinsco panels, inspecting zinsco electrical panels, and repairreplacement advice, we provide field photographs of circuit breaker failures. Experts report that zinsco circuit breaker panels may have two major faults that could pose a danger. Sep 18, 2019 federal pacific and zinsco are both manufacturers of electrical panels that were recalled in a class action law suit from 2002. Zinsco circuit breakers have been obsolete for many years now but are still available reconditioned.
Due to the deficiencies found in these panels and the adverse effects the panels can cause, zinsco electrical panels should be replaced. Once this occurs, it will no longer be able to trip in the event of an overcurrent or a short circuit. Zinsco panels electrical forum the inspectors journal. The circuit breakers for this panel were manufactured under stabloc, the brand name. Ubiz1520 zinsco replacement circuit breaker type ubiz type r twin 1pole 15a20a. For example, since zinsco went to the great scrapyard in the sky, weve come to recognise a need for at least two kitchen circuits. Zinsco and sylvania electrical breakers prevent fire. Zinsco panels today zinsco electrical equipment is considered obsolete, due to a design flaw in which the circuit breakers connection to the bus bar becomes loose, with the potential to cause arcing and overheating. Zinsco electrical panel and circuit breaker hazards, failures, inspection, detection, repair, replacement sylvania zinsco circuit breakers and panel hazards. Due to significant flaws in the design of the panels, after wear and tear of the breaker, the breaker and aluminum bars in the zinsco panel melt together. Zinsco electrical panels internachi inspection narrative.
Eaton electrical launches new options for upgrading existing panelboards. I find some of them that are pristine and look great but most are a mess particularly the older magnatrip panels. I will be calling out the electrical work for multiple other reasons, and im already aware of all the other complaints about zinsco, fpe, etc. During that ownership, the product line remained the same, with new labeling and branding, while dropping the. Zinsco history one of the many zinsco logo variations. Connecticut electric inc replacement breakers for zinsco. As time has passed, electricians and home inspectors have discovered that certain zinsco panels often can fail to operate properly and may leave homes and homeowners at risk to both fire and electrical shock. However, over time, components in these panels have been found to fail. Aronstein indicate that the central zinsco electrical panel and circuit breaker. Jan 04, 2016 federal pacific electric will likely be written on the cover of your breaker box. The danger of an fpe or zinsco electrical panel in your home. Federal pacific stablok zinsco pushmatic bulldog federal pacific stablok federal pacific electric fpe stablok was a widelydistributed electrical panel brand throughout the united states. At one time zinsco electrical panels were commonly installed in homes in certain parts of the country.
Who is the manufacturer of those bad electric panels. Eaton electrical launches new options for upgrading. Zinsco breaker panels lancaster pa win home inspection. What to do when your electric breaker panel pops and sizzles. The zinsco panel was very popular during the 1970s. There are stories of defective panels, then there are videos of them. Zinsco is now defunct, but many homes still have these panels. Your homes electrical panel is the place where all of the electricity is distributed throughout your home. Developed and manufactured by a second generation licensed electrician with over 25 years of experience, our generator interlock kit product line offers a wide assortment of clipsboth listed and nonlistedand are available for your immediate use with a variety of electrical panels. Is it safe to open a zinsco panel electrical inspections. Eaton electrical launches new options for upgrading existing. While there are varying opinions regarding the reliability of zinsco equipment and its ability to consistently provide reliable electrical system protection, there are documented reports of some zinsco equipment overheating andor failing to trip. Typical construction for 1 phase main breaker and main lug br panels with tinplated aluminum bus.
This name is on the inside of federal pacific electric breaker boxes. Because electrical panels can see such a great amount of voltage and current constantly, its possible for them to build up resistance. Zinsco electrical panels are considered dangerous by electricians and industry experts. Almost immediately zinsco switched their focus to the development of new panel and circuit breaker designs. To identify a zinsco panel, look for a vertical line of colorcoded circuit breaker handles down the middle of the electrical box. Main electrical panel wiring refers to the wiring diagram of a main electrical panel, which houses the electrical power from the electric meter and circuit main electrical panel wiring refers to the wiring diagram of a main electrical panel. Also, there are millions of people today with panels that are more than 40. Doing a service change in arvada and talking about the code requirements that you need to follow in order for the inspection. House is originally 1912, remodeled to 3 apartments for university students, would guess some work done in 50s or 60s. Zinsco electrical panels internachi inspection narrative library.
In the 1970s, the manufacturing of zinsco panels came to a stop. Sep 29, 2020 an accident report that dates back to july 1994 was published by the occupational safety and health administration states that an electrical contractor sustained second and third degree burns after an electrical fault happened while working on a zinsco electric panel. Solar panels and electric cars are a match made in heaven when you install a solar energy system, you canpower your home and charge your electric car. The earlier and less common version of this equipment was called a zinsco magnetrip and had this label stamped on the enclosure. Replacing electric panels can be costly, but with us we offer a stock of zinsco, sylvania and challenger panels and other parts to get the job done at a lower cost. Here we provide text, labels, and equipment photographs used to help identify sylvania electrical panels and circuit breakers. If your panel is zinsco brand, previous burnups of breakers are physically visible on disassembly and inspection by an electrician where bus burns and breaker. Free shipping on many items browse your favorite brands affordable prices.
Five additional patents would be issued for subsequent designs. A leading expert on panel safety says that older zinsco panels would not receive todays ul listing. Prior to world war ii, the only permissible electrical conductors were copper, gold, and silver. Zinsco panels portland electrical panel replacements. Replaces vintage brands that have hard to find, expensive replacement breakers. Jun 20, 2012 the earliest zinsco panel had buss bars mad of copper. Do not purchase and install replacement zinsco type circuit breakers.
Zinsco sylvania kearney electrical panel and circuit. The zinsco electrical panel, zinsco circuit breakers hazard. In the beginning, zinsco panels were manufactured with copper bus bars. Both of these brands of electrical panels were quite popular in homes even here in atlanta. Today connecticut electric continues making aluminum zinsco bus replacement kits, and replacement breakers. Zinsco and sylvania electrical breakers prevent fire hazards. More and more customers need to upgrade their existing electrical systems to meet their. Replacing electric panels can be costly, but with us we offer a stock of zinsco, sylvania, and challenger panels and other parts to get the job done at a. Connecticut electric 125amp 2pole standard trip circuit. If you have a zinsco electrical panel call us today at 561 4086466. With light coming on at the flip of a switch, electricity is often taken for granted without giving it a second thought.
Safely upgrade to arc fault and ground fault breakers to meet current electrical code requirements. The zinsco electrical panel, zinsco circuit breakers. A huge electrical surge will course throughout the homes wire and overtax the wires, panels and circuits. This was a good thing but when the shortage came many were redesigned with anodized aluminum. When it comes to your electric breaker panel, there are a lot of things that you will have to keep in mind whenever you are attempting to fix it. Although zinsco panels and components were innovative at the time of inception, the reliability and safety of the panel has been in question due to documented circuit breaker and busbar failures. Zinsco electrical panels were extremely popular due to their fairly low cost, ready availability, and seemingly quality construction.
Why solar panels complement electric cars energysage. Also called a load center or breaker box, it takes your main source of electricity and divides it up between the various areas that require power in your home. See the ech pdf file 450kb which explains how this replacement program works. Zinsco line vs load side of breaker electrical forum. Old panels often have too few breakers for the necessart circuits. This zinsco electrical panel article discusses the electrical, fire, and shock hazards associated with zinsco electrical components, circuit breakers, electrical panels, including certain sylvania electrical panels and breakers which are in fact of the same product design and origin. The majority of the zinsco panels have this blue and black foil label on the inside cover with colorful red, blue and green breakers.
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