"Electrical Systems," A Training Manual for Home Inspectors, Alfred L. Alk, American Society of Home Inspectors (ASHI), 1987, available from ASHI. Check the Breaker for Damage It's Best to Replace the Entire Panel Conclusion Ways to Remove a Zinsco Breaker Be sure to also read HISTORY of ZINSCO ELECTRICAL PANELS. They were legal during the installation and are still legal according to the standard in place at the time of installation. Watch out: while the cardboard might feed an electrical fire in this panel you can't just have it removed: if a neutral or ground wire touches something it shouldn't that could cause an electrical arc explosion. Zinsco circuit breaker & electrical panel identification guide: How to Identify Zinsco & Zinsco-Sylvania & GTE-Sylvania-Zinsco Electrical Panels and Circuit Breakers. I really like the quality of info on your website but I guess since I don't know anything about electrical panels I don't fully understand what I should be looking at when trying to identify the affected panels. The following remarks from a licensed electrician were provided to us courtesy of Al Carson, Carson Dunlop Associates, a Toronto home inspection and home inspection education firm. 4. Insurance companies have become increasingly cautious when signing insurance for older properties with FPE or Zinsco installed. In 1973, the GTE Corporation launched an electric panel design and called it "Challenger". Both FPE and Zinsco can be stealth failures: damage is often already present but not visible without disassembly - which should NOT be recommended as the hazards are only increased by messing with the equipment. On 2021-08-30 Challenger also used FPE and Zinsco Circuit Breakers in many Residential Panels and these are the ones that have had trouble according to many experts. "Home Wiring Inspection," Roswell W. Ard, Rodale's New Shelter, July/August, 1985 p. 35-40. by inspectapedia.com.moderator (mod). 200 amps - $1,300 to $2,600. Zinsco electric panels jolley1859 1.6K views 2 years ago How to Upgrade an Electric Meter to 200-Amp Service (Part 1) | This Old House This Old House 2.7M views 8 years ago Hack for AFCI_GFCI. Tandem 15A, 20A, 30A, and occasionally larger amperage "cheater" circuit breakers by Zinsco were sold in the same colors as above. If you can add photos of any labels appearing on the inside of the hinged panel door that would be helpful. Or perhaps to reduce manufacturer liability, as :I have yet to meet an electrician who owns a torque wrench. It is best to avoid buying used Zinsco breakers. They can still overheat and fail to trip after a small overload. Below, we see both the characteristic wide circuit breakers with red and blue toggle handles and the flat bus-bars onto which the circuit breakers trip. The electrical panel is also tagged with the electrician's card, Jim Wise, owner, Wise Electric. For a minute I thought we weregood! 1320 Dayton Street SE, Olympia, WA 98501, 360-705-4225, Fax 360-705-0130 or by email to, Thanks to various electricians, home owners, and home inspectors for contributing the Zinsco Sylvania-Zinsco electric panel and circuit breaker, Thanks to Joe Funderburk, To explain, it appears the 50 amp breaker for my stove is above the main (100 amp) breaker. InspectAPedia tolerates no conflicts of interest. Yes your electrical panel is indeed the Zinsco-Sylvania design, that we can see in both labeling and in the unique Zinsco breaker and bus design that shows deep slots into the breaker that slide over vertical edges of the bus bars in the electrical panel. In that photo I also circle characteristic light green GTE-Sylvania-Zinsco circuit breaker toggle switches. Apologies for the delay. I'd indeed like to see photos of the breaker panel you cite, in total, its labels, its bus bar design and its breaker details and labels. This is contrary to other breakers that are in two rows and black colored. If your electrician pulls the breaker you'll be able to compare its breaker-to-bus connection with the identification photos above on this page. Experts Have Identified Two Major Reasons Experts report that Zinsco circuit breaker panels may have two major faults that could pose a danger: 1.) Don't be fooled by its lookalike counterparts; this panel is easily distinguishable with its pastel-colored breakers lined up in a single row. An electrical panel upgrade is the best option and can often be done in one or two days. In 1973, GTE-Sylvania (same owners of Zinsco) introduced their own panel and breaker design. I should also point out that the 200 ampere mains are mounted differently and as far as I am aware had no problems like this. Connecticut Electric offers Zinsco breaker replacements. Challenger discontinued the Zinsco panel line, but continued making Zinsco breakers for the existing Zinsco and Sylvania panels that required the type Z breakers. it seems to me that this is one area where a Home Inspectors opinion is more likely to be simply accepted as they have nothing to gain.I have never heard of Kearney Your panel photo so tiny I can't see much, but those red and light blue (?) US $134. Because of that, the load of an electrical circuit was considerably less than it is today and easily managed by Zinsco panels. Panel info: 20-5X(10-20) C Mod. Watch out: your photo shows live voltage terminals exposed: don't touch or you can be shocked or killed. Watch out: replacement circuit breakers that have been tested for these problem brands have generally performed no better than the originals. GTE Sylvania Circuit Breakers Type Q, QC, QFP, R38, RC38, & HRGF OPINION: a look by your electrician at the condition of the circuit breaker-to-bus connection might show the same arcing and burning illustrated above in this article. Estimating Electrical Panel Age 160. Featuring two 1-pole circuit breakers with separate operating handles, the Leviton Surge Protective Device provides effective surge protection for the entire home without sacrificing space inside the panel. Back in 2013 over at electriciantalk.com an electrician who was familiar with Unicorn Electrical products commented: Packaging should be the same as what is found in a retail store, such as an unprinted box or plastic bag. Will snapmore pix when I can drag myself away from computer. Above: Sylvania electrical panel Catalog No. Depending on the panels amperage (150A or 200A panels will cost more), additional electrical upgrades may also be necessary. As a homeowner, you are liable when someone is injured on your property, especially if the harm was foreseeable. However, no inspector should ignore the numerous cases of Zinscos breakers going bad. - Anonymous by private email 2019/01/30. Zinsco Class Action Lawsuit In 2002, a class-action lawsuit was filed against Federal Pacific Electric and Zinsco regarding the danger posed by their electrical panels. Sylvania electrical panel Catalog No. Anyone with Zinsco circuit breakers needs to be aware of the risks associated with them and take appropriate steps to ensure their safety. - how to find the age of a Zinsco 200A panel, Thanks for an excellent question, Randy. But other times not. Experts report that Federal Pacific Electric (FPE) circuit breaker panels may have three major faults that could pose a danger: 1.) These are just as prone to safety issues and frequent malfunctions. Only one image can be added per comment but you can post as many comments, and therefore images, as you like. Mr. Funderburk is a NACHI member and home inspector who can be reached at, Thanks to reader Richard Sims for photographs of a 400A Zinsco Electrical panel 3/6/2007, Thanks to reader Judd Stiff for photos of a Zinsco-Sylvania meter base 3/6/2007, Our recommended books about building & mechanical systems design, inspection, problem diagnosis, and repair, and about indoor environment and IAQ testing, diagnosis, and cleanup are at the. The company was sold in 1973 to GTE- Sylvania, who continued to manufacture breakers and panels to the original Zinsco design for some years; this product line is now discontinued. Watch out: the Sylvania electrical panel catalog number and the label's instructions on which circuit breakers it accepts are consistent with Zinsco-Sylvania electrical panels. mobile home doors that open properly - all buildings need safe functional fire exit passages, Turning off any strange-behaving circuits (flickering lights) with the caveat than in an FP/FPE case "turning off" may actually leave the circuit on as the breaker may not switch off internally), Red and blue breaker switches with visible colored base, Oblong opening at wire connection terminal, Flat electrical panel bus bars in parallel fitting into two slots on each breaker, Oblong opening in plastic receiver of bus bar ends, Vertical arrows point to the flat electrical panel bus bars of a Zinsco electrical panel. An interlock arrangement insures that the cam element can not be removed without the breaker being automatically tripped. Home inspectors often call out the dangers of a Zinsco style panel during a home inspection. In your panel there are two red stickers with arrows: one pointing "up" indicates that the upper portion of the panel contains multiple (Two in this case) main disconnect breakers and the lower portion of this split bus panel contains individual circuit breakers. But in your case we can see the familiar label in your photographs. (Don't try it.). Help, my parents bought a new solar system and since then my head hurts. When these panels experience a short circuit or an overcurrent, they often fail to cut the power supply to the affected circuit. Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for Zinsco 100 or 125 amp residential Dead Front cover Sylvania GTE. On 2018-08-18 Please see attached - Thanks! In addition, Zinsco panels typically have the logo at the top of the panel. Instructor- Fundamentals of Home Inspection- Bellingham Technical College. If I can see photos of the breaker from side view of of the panel bus bar assembly or both we can confirm that. Try the search box just below, or if you prefer, post a question or comment in the Comments box below and we will respond promptly. Challenger panels made by Challenger Electrical Equipment Corp or Eaton/Cutler Hammer. I'm looking to upgrade to 200A with solar system in future but trying to decide if I should replace it now if it's unsafe. The panel label specifically says to use Zinsco circuit breakers. this is the dryer outlet, and our dryer is a 24-amp appliance, so no problem there. The present invention is directed to a relatively inexpensive circuit breaker of the type commonly used as the main breaker in a household electrical service unit in which the rated capacity can be preset by a plug-in cam element made of inexpensive molded plastic material. Those red and light blue (?) It turns out as I'm reading your article, you cite someone named James Simmons from Mr Electric. "Had to" is a technical opinion with which I agree. I also Googled Images for Federal Pacific Electric Panels, and the photos of burned out panels were horrifying. (Photos below), Shown above in a very crowded collection of circuit breakers we see two-pole Zinsco RC half-sized breakers in three different amperages. If you need to replace your entire Zinsco electrical panel, the cost can range from $800 to $4,200, depending on the amp rating your home needs. Zinsco or Zinsco-Sylvania is the name given to a brand of electrical panel that was commonly installed up to the mid-1970's. It was a very popular product and installed throughout North America. We have no relationship with advertisers, products, or services discussed at this website. Never insert any tool nor your fingers into the interior of an electrical panel. Zinsco electrical panels were distributed in the United States, primarily in the Western states. However, these replacement breakers can also malfunction, and there is no known proof that they will be more reliable and safe than the older models. So don't assume that all-black breakers can be excluded from this unsafe Zinsco circuit breaker group. However, they can still be found in older homes and properties built before 1990. The copper shortage of the 1960's was primarily caused by the US . Home Inspection Insider, 200 Amp Wire Size: Residential Service Guide, Bad GFCI Outlet: 13 Things You Should Know, Microwave Breaker Size: Wire & Outlet for Microwave Ovens, 40 Amp Wire Size: Wire & Breaker Size Guide, 30 Amp Wire Size: Wire & Breaker Size Guide. It is from 1975. The first Zinsco panels contained copper bus-bars and copper breaker clips. Dryer outlet, and therefore images, as you like never insert any tool nor your fingers into the of! 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