Electric Panels

Here in Georgia, electric panels are typically located in the garage or basement of the building. Electric panels should always be readily accessible in the event of an  emergency.

If neighborhood conditions warrant putting a lock on exterior electric panels, please ensure that all occupants and visitors have a key and/or that spare keys are readily accessible in both interior and exterior locations. Also ensure that all occupants and visitors know how to safely shut off electricity to the building in the event of an emergency. And lastly, make sure that the fire department knows about the lock and the location of the key, or that they have a key themselves. I personally believe that if you are in a neighborhood that warrants extra security, instead of putting a lock on the electric panel, sign up for a home security and monitoring service.

Standards generally recognize that the life expectancy of electric panels is about 25 years. With older panels, contact points become corroded, possibly causing arcing, brownouts, and, at worst case, fires, personal injury, and property damage. I do not remove any circuit breakers to inspect for corrosion at the circuit breaker contact points since that would require shutting off the electricity to the property.

A common “defense” of older electric panels and the four brands that will be discussed below is that “it’s always been there and hasn’t caused any problems.” Electric panels in and of themselves typically do not “cause any problems.” It is the electric components or appliances that typically cause problems, e.g., a short in an appliance, an electric outlet, or a light switch. Electric panels and circuit breakers are designed to prevent personal injury and property damage in the event of a short (or other problem) by shutting down the electric current to the faulty appliances or electrical components. The fact that there “have not been any problems” simply means that the electric wiring, switches, and outlets—and the appliances using the wiring, switches, and outlets—have not had any problems.

There are four brands of electric panels that are inherently problematic or uniquely proprietary:

1. Zinsco,
2. Sylvania (panels produced when Sylvania took over the Zinsco brand),
3. Federal Pacific Electric (and some variations on the name), and
4. Bulldog, whose equipment is so unique and proprietary that finding replacement parts is difficult, and if they are found, they are expensive.

Zinsco and Sylvania
Zinsco panels and Sylvania panels from the late 1970s and early 1980s when Sylvania bought out Zinsco have an inconsistent history of various problems associated with them. Typically, the panels are outdated and possibly dangerous by today’s standards. Zinsco and Sylvania panels are no longer manufactured, and while some replacement parts might be available, they might be difficult to find and expensive to buy.

Zinsco circuit breakers may fail to trip in response to an overcurrent or a short circuit. A circuit breaker that may not trip does not afford the protection that is intended and required, creating a fire hazard. Simply replacing the circuit breakers might not be a reliable repair. There appears to be no official recall on these panels, mainly because the companies that made these panels are out of business.
The Zinsco electrical panel, Zinsco circuit breakers - Hazard information website

Federal Pacific Electric
The most problematic type of panel made by Federal Pacific Electric is the “Stab-Lok” panel. Federal Pacific Electric circuit breakers may fail to trip in response to an overcurrent or a short circuit. A circuit breaker that may not trip does not afford the protection that is intended and required, creating a fire hazard. Simply replacing the circuit breakers might not be a reliable repair. There appears to be no official recall on these panels, mainly because the company that made these panels is out of business. For more information about Federal Pacific electric panels, visit these web sites:

1. Federal Pacific Electric (FPE) electrical hazards website
2. Federal Pacific Electric panels: Fires waiting to happen, debate waiting to be ended
3. Federal Pacific Electric (FPE) panels - CPSC information, and
4. Federal Pacific Electric panel tests indicate failures

Bulldog
Bulldog panels use a unique, proprietary type of circuit breaker called a “Pushmatic.” Bulldog panels with Pushmatic breakers indicate an older system that is no longer manufactured, making replacement parts difficult or expensive to find. There appear to be two major problems with Pushmatic breakers: (1) they are thermal breakers with no magnetic trip (doesn’t really mean much to you and me), and (2) they are grease-fed breakers, meaning that if they not used and serviced regularly (they rarely are), they become stiff and difficult to operate or reset. I know of no study documenting unusually high failure-to-trip rates, and opinions of electricians vary on the need to replace or upgrade these panels. However, it is both the age and the proprietary nature of the Pushmatic breakers that beg for a licensed electrician to shut down electricity to the property, remove the circuit breakers, and check the contact points for rust, corrosion, and proper contact with the buss bar.

Inspection and recommendation
While you might be able to find replacement parts for all four companies, they’ll probably be expensive. The companies that made those brands are now out of business for various reasons, including billions of dollars of lawsuits against them for property damage, personal injury, and death. Additionally, those companies have not been in business for many years, so the electric panels generally can be assumed to be old and outdated, as well as inherently problematic. When I find those specific brands, I simply recommend that you have a licensed electrician inspect them before close of escrow.

Due to the problems associated with Zinsco, Sylvania, Federal Pacific Electric, and Bulldog electric panels, I do not remove the inner covers, so the type of power cable and/or main wiring, the type of branch wiring, the adequacy of the grounding system, and the condition of the wiring and any specific wiring problems all are unknown. In some cases, inadequate clearance between circuit breakers and the edges of the inner cover can dislodge circuit breakers when the inner cover is removed, so please do not attempt to remove the cover and work on the panels yourself.

For Zinsco, Sylvania, Federal Pacific Electric, and Bulldog electric panels, I highly recommend further evaluation by a licensed electrician before close of escrow simply because these panels have various problems associated with them, and they are old, so the contact points between the circuit breakers and the buss bar need to be looked at. That will require shutting off electricity to the property and removing circuit breakers.

There is the possibility that any electric panel has been upgraded, but only a licensed electrician can make that determination since electric service might have to be shut off and circuit breakers removed.
Note that I am not a licensed electrician in the State of Georgia, so I can only do so much without intruding into the jurisdiction of licensed electrician. Practicing as an electrician without a license can be subject to severe civil and criminal penalties.

I determined the type of branch circuit wiring used in your home by inspecting the electric panels. Inspection of the wiring in or at electric outlets; light switches; lighting fixtures; electrical junction boxes; or in walls, ceilings, floors and the attic, or any other places other than the electric panel, is beyond the scope of a home inspection and were not inspected. It would be extremely time-consuming to unplug someone’s equipment and appliances (and we don’t do that) and unscrew every outlet and light switch cover to check the wiring. Such an inspection could take several days or hours and would cost many hundreds of dollars more than what you paid for a general home inspection. It is entirely possible, particularly with older homes, that wiring at electric outlets; light switches; lighting fixtures; electrical junction boxes; or in walls, ceilings, floors and the attic, or any other places other than the electric panel, might be different from that in the electric panel, particularly if the home has been renovated or has additions.

Panel creatures
Electric wires and circuit breakers are inherently warm, and the heat dissipated is naturally attractive to wildlife. When the panel covers are loose or missing, wildlife will take up residence in the panel. They can cause damage as they build their nests, bring in food, and leave waste products behind. If they chew on the electric wires, they can die (see Figure 1 and Figure 2). These types of conditions create safety hazards and health hazards. Recommend ensuring that panel covers are in place and secure at close of escrow and whenever service personnel have working in the electric panel.

If you have any questions about anything, simply contact me.

Figure 1. Dead mouse in electric panel.

Figure 2. Dead mouse in electric panel.

                      

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