"How to plan and install electric wiring for homes, farms, garages, shops," Montgomery Ward Co., 83-850. WA Home Inspector Advisory Licensing Board. Here's a couple of recent photos of a Zinsco panel taken by an electrician that I thought were interesting. "Electrical System Inspection Basics," Richard C. Wolcott, ASHI 8th Annual Education Conference, Boston 1985. You will not receive a notification when a response to your question has been posted. ML12(12-24)C (Indoor) - Mod. The panel labels may identify it as "Sylvania", Sylvania-Zinsco, or GTE-Sylvania-Zinsco, but Or you might receive a grace period during which you need to change your electric panel. LK-15 Thank you for all the information - I don't think this is a Zinsco panel, but would you be able to confirm? The full size is type Q and the two ploes are type QC. They may be the same design with a different sticker on top. Below right: a badly faded Sylvania electrical panel sticker. There is live voltage in the panel interior - you could be shocked or killed. Zinsco panels are known for being unsafe, as they are prone to overheating and arcing. See details of the hazard at ZINSCO SYLVANIA ELECTRICAL PANELS as well as above on this page. Thank you so much for your help. Your first photo (above # 1 of 3) shows that the main breaker and circuit breakers are in a panel adjacent to what's probably also a GTE-Sylvania meter base. toggle switch colors and unique labels should be sufficient for most inspectors and owners to identify this equipment. Federal Pacific Electric panels were produced from the mid-1950s well into the 1980s. Watch out: from the panel label and external appearance of the circuit breaker toggle switches, it looks as if as your panel is one of those that are unsafe and should be replaced. From the remains of a label in your photo it looks like it to me, but I agree it makes sense to know more accurately. There will usually be a label with the Zinsco logo on the panel. Sylvania electrical panel Catalog No. Zinsco breakers are known to not trip in the presence of overcurrent or short circuits. GTE Sylvania Circuit Breakers Type QFP GTE Sylvania Circuit Breakers Type Q, QC, QFP, R38, RC38, & HRGF I don't think so, Ben, given that the breaker toggles are not the characteristic tan or red or green colors. "Electrical Systems," A Training Manual for Home Inspectors, Alfred L. Alk, American Society of Home Inspectors (ASHI), 1987, available from ASHI. - Anonymous (pending author wish to be identified) to A.C. to D.F. 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. . 40 A - Light Gray Toggle Handle Part # RC38-40, 50A - Black Toggles, Part # RC38-50 - shown above, 60A - White Toggle or handle, Part # RC38-60 (not shown in the photo above). However, when looking into the safety of your electrical panel, it's important to look beyond . by Unicorn electrical products? Photographs contributed to this website by Jim P. Simmons, Mr. Electric, Licensed Master Electrician, On 2021-08-21 These are also called cheater breakers. Your second photo above shows cardboard inside of the electrical panel, perhaps stuck there to hold a neutral or ground cable to one side in the enclosure. But current electrical needs have become greater over the years and these panels are simply not up to code. The word Magnetrip embossed in the steel electrical panel cover or on data tags in the Zinsco electrical panel. Watch out: removing and replacing circuit breakers or "exercising" them by turning them on and off can in some cases actually increase the risk of a future failure because of scoring of a plated panel bus bar or because some breaker brands such as FPE show an increased failure to trip after being switched on and off. Joe JRL Electric Supply said: The torque specification was perhaps intended to reduce the chances of a poor connection between aluminum wiring and the main connection lugs in the panel. 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. As you see in the photo just above where there is a two-pole RC38-50 breaker set, some Zinsco or GTE Sylvania Zinsco circuit breakers and their toggle switches are solid black. Your electrician agrees that the circuit breakers are a latent hazard - risking failing to protect your home from a fire or injury should an over-current hazard occur, so he or she recommended replacement. 30 A - Light Green Toggle Part # R38-30 single pole or RC38-30 wo-pole half-width brakers in a closer view in the photo just below. Joe's advice is in our opinion bad and unsafe. Below is a Zinsco HQGF20 GFCI circuit breaker with a black toggle switch. HOW TO WIRE UP an ELECTRIC GENERATOR and ISOLATION SWITCH REQUIREMENTS, On 2020-12-04 by BW Simmons On 2020-12-04 by (mod) Now required in the 2020 NEC, panel-level surge protection is key for critical circuits that power equipment in residential applications. Watch out: your photo shows live voltage terminals exposed: don't touch or you can be shocked or killed. On 2020-07-10 - by (mod) - is there is a way to tell if this is a Zinsco brand. --- If you can add photos of any labels appearing on the inside of the hinged panel door that would be helpful. [Click to enlarge any image], 2. Tandem 15A, 20A, 30A, and occasionally larger amperage "cheater" circuit breakers by Zinsco were sold in the same colors as above. Thanks so much, this is a great service you are providing! They have a reputation as the breaker which doesnt trip. This means the breaker can't ever trip, even when there's a short or overloaded circuit. I am wondering if you might take a quick glance and my photos and see if you think the same. Cost to Replace a Zinsco-Sylvania Electrical Panel? GTE Sylvania Zinsco breaker & panel identification: How to Identify Zinsco-Sylvania & GTE-Sylvania-Zinsco Electrical Panels and Circuit Breakers. You will not receive a notification when a response to your question has been posted. When I told them I have an old Zinsco panel they asked me to snap a picture of all of the breakers and they offered to send me all new replacement breakers so I could test out their equipment. 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. I'd be grateful if you'd post your photo and question there. Plated aluminum bus bars that get gouged-through when a breaker is inserted (mounting a breaker cuts through the plating and we see corrosion, overheats, failures). They named their product "Challenger". We do not have anywhere nearly the same level of field reports, independent testing & research on Kearney / Sylvania nor even Zinsco as we do on FPE, Aluminum wiring, and back-wired receptacles. Zinsco 100-125 amp Circuit Breaker Panel Dead Front Cover $125.00 $28.75 shipping ZINSCO DEAD FROT COVER 125A 120/240V 1 PH 16 SPC LONG 19 3/8 WIDE 6 $125.00 $28.75 shipping Zinsco Magnetrip Load Center Panel Cover Dead Front $74.95 $24.99 shipping ZINSCO SWITCHGEAR COVER 600A MAX. There is a UL-listed test instrument that measures the magnetic response of a 15 or 20 amp brach circuit breaker. Can anyone help me? The photo above shows the distinctive operating handle on the door of this Zinsco electrical panel. Ways to Remove a Zinsco Breaker Prepare the Following Tools 1. Below we show the interior of this 400Amp Zinsco electrical panel. It is from 1975. Free shipping for many products! 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. He's doing a great job. Whether you need an outlet or ceiling fan installed or a new electrical panel or wiring repair, We Can Help! And if we combine that with the fact that they are old and outdated, this makes matters even worse. It drops a dead short across the circuit and measures trip current and time to trip. Proceed to complete the identification your panel by having its main bus design examined by your electrician. Well I am in the middle of Working From Home in this crazy time! Look for an electrical inspector's stamp of approval of the installation - those, if present, are dated and signed. Please see details at ZINSCO SYLVANIA ELECTRICAL PANELS. InspectAPedia tolerates no conflicts of interest. I agree with that advice, but I acknowledge that the data base of tested Zinsco equipment confirming the failures is smaller than that of the FPE Stab-Lok hazard discussed elsewhere at InspectApedia. The Zinsco panel exterior is shown above and in close-up below. circuit breakers, electrical panels, including They can't hear anything, but you can clearly see a very loud sound at about 15 kHz. In the third photo above I mark with red arrows the distinctive deep notches into the side of a Zinsco-design circuit breaker and the vertical or on-edge aluminum bus bars to which the breaker clips. 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. Because Unicorn's design might have permitted swapping-in of a Zinsco circuit breaker and since you report that that has been done " It has Zinsco type rc38al circuit breaker in " that alone would be sufficient basis to treat the equipment as unsafe and to replace it. I wanted corroboration so I could be sure I wasn't buying something that I really didn't need. I would like to verify the bus rating of my house panel the only label that I have is what is attached in the photos Aluminum has a useful life of approximately 30 years. Square D panel with following breakers 100A main breaker, 100A breaker, 50A 2 pole, 3 - 20 A single pole, 2- GFCI outlets attached to side. 5. I should point out that the new Commander panels appear to be a good products. The inside box is a Zinsco/Sylvania model number 20-5x (7-14). Actually that top component labeled "Main" looks like it could even be a fuse pull-out. 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. Experts Have Identified Two Major Reasons Experts report that Zinsco circuit breaker panels may have two major faults that could pose a danger: 1.) In older homes, there are still some electrical panel brands that have been commonly known to fail at safety standards. 240V 3 PH LONG 15 3/4 WIDE 27 3/4 $300.00 $102.65 shipping 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. at the best online prices at eBay! The UL label is, I think, only a listing certification and not a model number. The unsafe electrical panels sold by Zinsco were prevalent between the 1960s and 1970s. Or if your electrician doesn't know how to look at the Zinsco breakers we've illustrated, have her take some sharp photos of all sides of the breaker and email them to me. 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. by inspectapedia.com.moderator (mod). Below is a close-up of the bus connection end of a classic Zinsco circuit breaker - showing the difference between these devices. Home inspectors often call out the dangers of a Zinsco style panel during a home inspection. [DF NOTE: I do NOT recommend this obsolete publication, though it was cited in the original. The electrical panel is also tagged with the electrician's card, Jim Wise, owner, Wise Electric. white stickers telling you not to remove those "knockout" pair of opening covers. As a consequence of this, in Ontario we had to mount drywall behind panels for years. Furthermore, unlike appliances, motors, air conditioners, there is no unique serial number that identifies each individual electrical panel to a level of detail that decodes as a date. They have been receiving more claims related to such homes, so they are listed as a possible liability. Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for Zinsco 100 or 125 amp residential Dead Front cover Sylvania GTE. MOB20(20-40)C (Indoor) Mod.2, 225 AMPS Max. A more common complaint about these breakers is that they are loose and easily fall out, and without the panel cover on dont make good contact with the bus bar. Panel info: 20-5X(10-20) C Mod. Zinsco electrical panels were distributed in the United States, primarily in the Western states. I'm dealing with this problem in my home currently, I have both my HVAC and an electrician here. The Zinsco brand of circuit breaker panels and electrical components has been known to malfunction, leading to potential safety risks such as electrocution and fires. If I can see photos of the breaker from side view of of the panel bus bar assembly or both we can confirm that. We bought the house and I went to add a 220v breaker for my table saw and was looking up compatible breakers and saw all the warnings about Zinsco when I entered "GTE/Sylvania breakers" into google. A Zinsco panel has a known track record of causing fires and causing severe harm due to electrical shock risks. Brief History of Zinsco Emile Zinsmeyer started Zinsmeyer Co right after the stock market crash of 1929. Research is underway. Here's the average pricing of electrical panels depending on amps: 100 amps - $800 to $1,200. These are just as prone to safety issues and frequent malfunctions. Electrical Equipment & Supplies; Circuit Breakers & Disconnectors; Unfortunately, yes, that's a Zinsco-Sylvania panel design. Here I'll post a closer-view excerpted from your photo. single pole, yellow handle. Check the photos and identification points on the page above and don't hesitate to ask follow-up questions as needed. But Watch out: opening an electrical panel, if you touch what you shouldn't means dead Larry (or Dead Daniel if I do it). Your panel photo so tiny I can't see much, but those red and light blue (?) Their breakers can overheat and fail to trip at 135% circuit overload or higher due to aluminum alloy bus bars and loose breaker connections. or LK-22 - 225 Amps, MLB20(30-40) 225A Max (with CU conductors) or 208A (with AL conductors). 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. We have no relationship with advertisers, products, or services discussed at this website. CONTACT Us with field reports and photos. Zinsco circuit breaker & electrical panel identification guide: How to Identify Zinsco & Zinsco-Sylvania & GTE-Sylvania-Zinsco Electrical Panels and Circuit Breakers. . So they should be treated as the same electrical panel with the same weaknesses. Are you able to determine this from the attached pictures? They have a stigma similar to Federal Pacific as being "outlawed" for. - Editor. Is this 100 amp breaker from 1965 a zinsco breaker? Zinsco R38 This is a tandem 20 amp Circuit Breaker. Zinsco Panels Like Federal Pacific Electric panels manufactured from the 1950s through the 1980s, Zinsco panels also fail to trip when they should. There is no Zinsco electrical panel recall, despite overwhelming evidence of failures. What are your thoughts about this panel set-up? Guess I had bettertalk to our electrical contractor :(. For example, the deep slot that cuts up into the side of Zinsco breakers and the "on-edge" bus bars are key details that will reliably identify Zinsco breakers and panels and can be easily seen in an electrical panel. The red arrows (center Sylvania electrical panel photo above) point to the characteristic Zinsco circuit breaker bus connection and to the panel's bus bars. Use Zinsco circuit breakers type Q, Qc, QCN, Q24, Cat. Moving the panel to meet electrical codes. Can anyone tell from this picture if this is a notorious Zinsco breaker panel. 3057. c Zinsco panels have certain components that contain aluminum. Join. Although the breaker appears to be off, internally, the panel may still be conducting power. Use GTE Sylvania Circuit Breakers Type Q, QC, R38, RC38,and HRGF. Other Zinsco electrical panel identification and information labels are included in this article. Or use the SEARCH BOX found below to Ask a Question or Search InspectApedia. Hickory Grove, SC for his photos of a Kearney electrical panel. Photographs contributed to this website by Jim P. Simmons, Mr. Electric, Licensed Master Electrician, MLB20(12-24)C (Indoor) Mod. When these panels experience a short circuit or an overcurrent, they often fail to cut the power supply to the affected circuit. ---- "Had to" is a technical opinion with which I agree. Thanks again *and* in advance after I get more pix! Please see ELECTRIC PANEL AMPACITY for more detailed help in answering your question. On 2021-08-30 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. According to usinspect.com, problems with Zinsco Panels . [DF NOTE: I do NOT recommend this obsolete publication, though it was cited in the original. (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. Federal Pacific Electric panels may not meet today's updated safety codes. Only one image can be added per comment but you can post as many comments, and therefore images, as you like. 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