Federal Pacific panels are a known fire risk.
A fire can happen at any time one of these panels is in use. If your home has one, it is worth having it looked at.
Roy Poteete — retired firefighter, EMT and home inspector. He sent the photograph and the article below so homeowners can see what they are looking at.
Why the panel is the problem.
The panels are a known fire risk, and a fire can happen at any time these panels are in use. The problem is the breaker connection to the bus bar. When the breaker should trip and shut off the circuit it does not always work, so excessive heat builds up and causes the plastic to catch fire.
What replacing one takes.
The cost to replace the panel depends on the size of the home. It covers:
- The discount and removal of bad wiring
- Knob and tube, and aluminum to copper wiring
- New wiring
- A new 200 Amp panel
- GFCI on the panel or within 8 feet of water
- Each exterior outlet, and a garage on its own breaker
- Arc Fault Circuit Interrupter protection on the panel
That brings the home to current electrical standards.
The full article on these panels.
Free to read. It opens in a new tab.
“Thank You” to the below for providing this information free for everyone!
J. ARONSTEIN
Consulting Engineer
Mechanical and Materials Engineering
BME, MSME, Ph.D., N.Y.S. P.E. Lic. No. 39860
50 Pasture Lane, Poughkeepsie, N.Y. 12603
(845) 462-6452 EMail AronsteinJ@verizon.net
Have one of these panels?
If you want the panel in your own home looked at, call or text Roy, or send the quote form and he will get back to you. Quotes are free, and he will tell you straight what he sees.
More questions
The same question is answered on the FAQ page, along with the wood deck questions Roy gets asked most.
Read the FAQ →Worried about the panel in your house?
Call or text (636) 448-7078 and describe it. Most answers take two minutes.