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How Do I Know If My Panel Is Safe?
Here are some of the best ways to tell that your electric panel is NOT safe...
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​1. It is old - If your home's electrical system is more than 40 years old, it most likely needs to be updated. The electric service is the perfect place to start since your circuit breakers are your first line of defense against short circuits and overloaded circuits. Outdated electrical panels were not designed for today's higher electrical demands and may also fail to protect you from electrical fires.
2. If it doesn't look safe, it probably isn't - Missing covers, discolored breakers or wires, messy wiring, and overall sloppy work is a good sign that something isn't right. If it just doesn't look right, have it looked at by a licensed electrician.
3. Main breaker - Whether it be inside or outside, you need to have one main breaker that shuts off all of the power to the house. If you do not have a main breaker, this is a safety concern and should be addressed.
4. If you have one of these - The three manufacturers shown below are know to have some major safety issues. If you have any of these in your home, you should have a professional look at it right away.
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Federal Pacific Electric or FPE
These panels were manufactured from the 1950's to the 1980's in New Jersey and are very commonly found in homes in our area that were built during that time. These panels provide a loose connection between the stab-lok breaker and the bus bar causing overheating. Even worse, these breakers fail to "trip" at an excessively high rate. This company was even sued for distributing circuit breakers that they knew did not meet UL requirements.
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Zinsco Panels
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Just like Federal Pacific, Zinsco panels were very popular and can be found installed throughout the United States, even here in New Jersey. These breakers have also been found to not perform under test conditions. The circuit breakers do not trip under overload and may even weld themselves to the bus bar. The biggest danger associated with this brand of circuit breaker is they have been found to deliver electricity even when they appear to be in the off position.
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Pushmatic Panels
These panels are obsolete. Along with the other two brands, these circuit breakers may have failure tripping after long periods of time. The biggest problem with these panels is the lack of a main breaker. This is not only safe but is no longer up to code.
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