The panel in your garage or hall closet does one job: it shuts a circuit off when too much current runs through it. If the breakers in a panel do not trip when they should, nothing else in the house can protect you.
That is the concern with two old panel brands, Federal Pacific and Zinsco. Both are still in plenty of homes in St. Johns County.
How to Spot a Federal Pacific Panel
Federal Pacific Electric panels use a breaker called Stab-Lok. The Columbus, Indiana Fire Department says to look for the name Stab-Lok printed in the breaker area, and recommends checking homes built between 1950 and 1990.
You can often see the brand on the label on the panel door. If the label says Federal Pacific, FPE or Stab-Lok, write it down.
Do not take the metal cover off the panel yourself. The wires behind it are live even with the main breaker off. A licensed electrician does that part.
The Worry With Stab-Lok Breakers
The fire department’s warning is that these breakers can fail to trip, which can lead to overheated wiring and a fire. Their advice is to replace the panel or talk to a licensed electrician about your options.
Opinions on how common the problem is vary among inspectors, but the advice from fire officials and most inspectors is the same: do not leave it alone.
Zinsco Panels Get the Same Advice
Zinsco panels, including the GTE-Sylvania version, have a different problem. InspectApedia’s Zinsco reports describe breakers that do not trip on overload and breakers that burn where they clip onto the bus bar.
Zinsco is a separate brand from Federal Pacific, and the label usually says Zinsco or Sylvania. Inspectors flag both, and so do many insurers.
What Insurers Do
Insurers can refuse or limit coverage on a home with one of these panels. Our post on the electrical part of a 4-point inspection covers what insurers look for. We are electricians, not insurance agents, so your insurer decides what it accepts.
If you are buying a home, ask for the inspection early. A panel replacement takes planning, and it is better to know before closing.
What Replacement Involves
Replacing a panel means a new panel, new breakers, a check of every circuit and a permit. We pull the permit through St. Johns County Building Services or the city, and schedule the inspection.
Replacing the panel is also a good time to add a whole house surge protector. Our panel upgrade page covers the full job.
Common Questions
Do I have to replace it right away? Ask an electrician to look at it. If your insurer or buyer is asking, that sets the timeline.
Can I just swap the breakers? Not safely. Replacement breakers for these brands are hard to find and the panel itself is the concern.
Is old wiring part of the problem? Sometimes. Our post on signs it is time to rewire lists the other things to watch for.
We work in St. Augustine, Nocatee, Ponte Vedra Beach and Palm Valley. Send a photo of the panel door and we will tell you what we see.
Need help with this? See our electrical panel upgrades or call (904) 837-0310.
