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Home > Archive > Home Repair forum > April 2008 > skinny Federal Pacific breakers
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skinny Federal Pacific breakers
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| Mikepier 2008-04-01, 1:25 pm |
| I ran a new circuit in my brother-in-laws condo that has all FPE
panels. I needed a spare breaker and came across the skinny breakers
that take up 1/2 of a normal breaker slot.
Are these breakers suppose to be that loose when you put them in?
They have the 2 brass stab-pins at the end. It does not seem to
secure. can I spread the pins out? Are the regular sized "fat"
breakers any better?
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| John Grabowski 2008-04-01, 1:25 pm |
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"Mikepier" <mikepier@optonline.net> wrote in message
news:4a866966-fa01-4c1c-9bfa-d72c2814176b@a23g2000hsc.googlegroups.com...
>I ran a new circuit in my brother-in-laws condo that has all FPE
> panels. I needed a spare breaker and came across the skinny breakers
> that take up 1/2 of a normal breaker slot.
> Are these breakers suppose to be that loose when you put them in?
> They have the 2 brass stab-pins at the end. It does not seem to
> secure. can I spread the pins out? Are the regular sized "fat"
> breakers any better?
It seems to be normal for them to be a little wobbly. The full size
breakers feel a little more solid, but I don't know if that means the
contact is better.
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"Mikepier" <mikepier@optonline.net> wrote in message
news:4a866966-fa01-4c1c-9bfa-d72c2814176b@a23g2000hsc.googlegroups.com...
>I ran a new circuit in my brother-in-laws condo that has all FPE
> panels. I needed a spare breaker and came across the skinny breakers
> that take up 1/2 of a normal breaker slot.
> Are these breakers suppose to be that loose when you put them in?
> They have the 2 brass stab-pins at the end. It does not seem to
> secure. can I spread the pins out? Are the regular sized "fat"
> breakers any better?
They are, after all, FPE. Once the cover is on, they tend to stay seated
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| hallerb@aol.com 2008-04-01, 8:27 pm |
| On Apr 1, 6:54=EF=BF=BDpm, "RBM" <r...@noemail.com> wrote:
> "Mikepier" <mikep...@optonline.net> wrote in message
>
> news:4a866966-fa01-4c1c-9bfa-d72c2814176b@a23g2000hsc.googlegroups.com...
>
>
> They are, after all, FPE. Once the cover is on, they tend to stay seated
be certain to install in pairs, just leave one unused
the FPE stab lock panels have a excellent reputation as a fire starter;
(
search FPE STAB LOCK to learn more than you ever want to know........
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| Mikepier 2008-04-01, 9:26 pm |
| On Apr 1, 8:05=C2=A0pm, "hall...@aol.com" <hall...@aol.com> wrote:
> On Apr 1, 6:54=EF=BF=BDpm, "RBM" <r...@noemail.com> wrote:
>
>
[color=darkred]
>
>
[color=darkred]
>
> be certain to install in pairs, just leave one unused
>
> the FPE stab lock panels have a excellent reputation as a fire starter;
> (
>
> search FPE STAB LOCK to learn more than you ever want to know........
I'm well aware of the issues. I just had to install 1 new circuit for
a kitchen remodel. The town requires using BX.
This is a 70 unit condo all with FPE panels. If they are concerned
with me using BX, that should be the least of their concerns.
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| hallerb@aol.com 2008-04-01, 9:26 pm |
| On Apr 1, 8:56=C2=A0pm, Mikepier <mikep...@optonline.net> wrote:
> On Apr 1, 8:05=C2=A0pm, "hall...@aol.com" <hall...@aol.com> wrote:
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
...[color=darkred]
>
[color=darkred]
>
ed[color=darkred]
>
>
>
>
> I'm well aware of the issues. I just had to install 1 new circuit for
> a kitchen remodel. The town requires using BX.
> This is a 70 unit condo all with FPE panels. If they are concerned
> with me using BX, that should be the least of their concerns.- Hide quoted=
text -
>
> - Show quoted text -
well the last guy to touch the panel might be on the hook if a fire
occurs......
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| hallerb@aol.com wrote:
....
> the FPE stab lock panels have a excellent reputation as a fire starter;
....
No, the _panels_ are fine -- there was a specific group of _breakers_
that were a problem.
The current replacements from Schneider are listed and fine.
--
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<hallerb@aol.com> wrote in message
news:2e70276f-00fd-42a5-b038-5744ce868ef1@8g2000hse.googlegroups.com...
On Apr 1, 6:54?pm, "RBM" <r...@noemail.com> wrote:
> "Mikepier" <mikep...@optonline.net> wrote in message
>
> news:4a866966-fa01-4c1c-9bfa-d72c2814176b@a23g2000hsc.googlegroups.com...
>
>
> They are, after all, FPE. Once the cover is on, they tend to stay seated
be certain to install in pairs, just leave one unused
the FPE stab lock panels have a excellent reputation as a fire starter;
(
search FPE STAB LOCK to learn more than you ever want to know........
Haller, you need to separate FACT from HYSTERIA, instead you just promote
HYSTERIA. Do you really believe that if ALL FPE panels and breakers were
death traps, as you advocate, that they wouldn't have been recalled or at
least outlawed by municipalities. Do you really believe that they would
STILL be selling U.L. listed breakers, if they had a propensity to burst
into flames. Use a little common sense
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| hallerb@aol.com 2008-04-03, 9:25 am |
| On Apr 3, 6:11=EF=BF=BDam, "RBM" <r...@noemail.com> wrote:
> <hall...@aol.com> wrote in message
>
> news:2e70276f-00fd-42a5-b038-5744ce868ef1@8g2000hse.googlegroups.com...
> On Apr 1, 6:54?pm, "RBM" <r...@noemail.com> wrote:
>
>
[color=darkred]
>
>
[color=darkred]
>
> be certain to install in pairs, just leave one unused
>
> the FPE stab lock panels have a excellent reputation as a fire starter;
> (
>
> search FPE STAB LOCK to learn more than you ever want to know........
>
> Haller, you need to separate FACT from HYSTERIA, instead you just promote
> HYSTERIA. Do you really believe that if ALL FPE panels and breakers were
> death traps, as you advocate, that they wouldn't have been recalled or at
> least outlawed by municipalities. Do you really believe that they would
> STILL be selling U.L. listed breakers, if they had a propensity to burst
> into flames. Use a little common sense
ahh my point was the panel he worked on is likey filled with possible
fire makers. since he worked on it, if a fire occurs they will assume
it was him.
take a look back he didnt tell that he knew they were trouble till i
mentioned it......
the point about new FPE breakers being ok is a good one. a person with
a FPE panel might choose to just replace all the existing breakers,
but they cost a fortune a new panel might be cheaper.
google FPE and fire.
around here you CANT sell a home with a FPE panel untill its been
replaced. obviously your not aware of how hazardous they really
are....
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| hallerb@aol.com 2008-04-03, 9:25 am |
|
> search FPE STAB LOCK to learn more than you ever want to know........
>
> Haller, you need to separate FACT from HYSTERIA, instead you just promote
> HYSTERIA. Do you really believe that if ALL FPE panels and breakers were
> death traps, as you advocate, that they wouldn't have been recalled or at
> least outlawed by municipalities. Do you really believe that they would
> STILL be selling U.L. listed breakers, if they had a propensity to burst
> into flames. Use a little common sense
the breakers dont burst into flames, they just often fail to trip
under a short, and once a FPE stab lock breaker trips once its much
less likely to EVER trip again.............
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| hallerb@aol.com wrote:
>
> the breakers dont burst into flames, they just often fail to trip
> under a short, and once a FPE stab lock breaker trips once its much
> less likely to EVER trip again.............
Again, that applied to a _SPECIFIC_ group of FPE Stablok breakers, not
all FPE breakers (and not even all of the Stablok form factor).
--
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| Mikepier 2008-04-03, 9:25 am |
| On Apr 3, 9:20=A0am, dpb <n...@non.net> wrote:
> hall...@aol.com wrote:
>
te[color=darkred]
e[color=darkred]
at[color=darkred]
[color=darkred]
t[color=darkred]
>
>
> Again, that applied to a _SPECIFIC_ group of FPE Stablok breakers, not
> all FPE breakers (and not even all of the Stablok form factor).
>
> --
I am well aware of the FPE issues. In fact I had one in my own house
when I bought it before I changed it 6 months later.
As I mentioned this is a condo unit I am working in, and all of them
have FPE panels ( with the main breaker in the basement). I might just
buy a new breaker anyway just to have peace of mind.
| |
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| Mikepier wrote:
....
> I am well aware of the FPE issues. In fact I had one ...
It's nothing to do w/ you (or even the original post any longer,
Mike--haller always has to throw in his fud crap which has a bare
modicum of a fact but is always blown totally out of proportion to
reality... 
I on occasion can bite the keyboard just so long before feel need to add
at least a little reason to temper him.
Almost all is FPE here, too...I have checked which series were used and
they're not on the list of those w/ falsified UL test data that did have
a problem.
--
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| dpb wrote:
> Mikepier wrote:
> ...
>
> It's nothing to do w/ you (or even the original post any longer,
> Mike--haller always has to throw in his fud crap which has a bare
> modicum of a fact but is always blown totally out of proportion to
> reality...
>
> I on occasion can bite the keyboard just so long before feel need to add
> at least a little reason to temper him.
>
> Almost all is FPE here, too...I have checked which series were used and
> they're not on the list of those w/ falsified UL test data that did have
> a problem.
>
Without commenting on hallerb...
There is a list? Can you also determine if a breaker was made in the
period FPE was falsifying information? Both would be useful.
I believe the buss in some of the panels is screwed together and can
sometimes fail.
FPE breakers can be pretty loose.
--
bud--
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| bud-- wrote:
....
> There is a list? Can you also determine if a breaker was made in the
> period FPE was falsifying information? Both would be useful.
At one time I did find reference to the affected parts, yes. It's been
long enough ago I don't recall where that was. I believe I have a list
of particulars squirreled away somewhere--if I can put my hands on it,
I'll try to post what I have. My recollection is there is a part no or
other identifying mark as well as the series numbers that are
identifiers but that is as stated--recollection.
Don't know about the panel issue--never seen any problem on any I have
nor have I ever had any significant issue w/ the fit of any in the
panels when the cover is in place.
--
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