1. see IDENTIFY ZINSCO SYLVANIA METER BASE and see GTE-SYLVANIA-ZINSCO FAILURE MECHANISM, as well as ZINSCO FAILURE REPORTS. Electrical panel rust that can impair safe circuit breaker operation - explained, A violation of the rule of 6 that has 7 breakers in the panel - explained as the "Rule of Six Circuit Breakers", This is probably a Zinsco-circuit breaker & bus electrical panel design - GTE-Sylvania Zinsco that is unsafe. 4-77 1977 [Lots of sketches of older-type service panels.]. On 2021-08-21 This type of panel was mainly installed in the 1970's. Besides looking at the label of the panel for the name, this panel has pastel colored breakers that are in one row down. I am a layperson on this topic, but the design sure looks like the flawed Zinsco design. It has Zinsco type rc38al circuit breaker in it. 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. They have a stigma similar to Federal Pacific as being "outlawed" for. "Home Wiring Inspection," Roswell W. Ard, Rodale's New Shelter, July/August, 1985 p. 35-40. GTE Sylvania Circuit Breakers Type Q, QC, QFP, R38, RC38, & HRGF The panel in your photo looks as if it was intended to be used as a mains, and is not entirely safe from what I can see. I am always very careful what I say as many people quickly jump to conclusions that I am upselling or Fear marketing. Your panel photo so tiny I can't see much, but those red and light blue (?) The Pick M'Amp circuit breaker, designed based on Zinsco's problem circuit breaker and bus design, was produced by Unicorn Industries. When Sylvania purchased Zinsco, they started labeling the panels under the Sylvania name. Some other factors that will affect the price for replacing a Zinsco panel are: Depending on these and other factors, even newer wiring might need to be installed. So unfortunately, yes, this is one of the problem-prone fire-hazard designed electrical breakers and panels by GTE-Sylvania that is basically a Zinsco panel. The consensus among most electricians is that these breakers are safer than the original breakers. Watch out: replacement circuit breakers that have been tested for these problem brands have generally performed no better than the originals. Questions & answers about the identification of Zinsco, Sylvania-Zinsco, and Kearney Electrical Panels - Zinsco-look alike Electrical Panels and Circuit Breakers. Below right: a badly faded Sylvania electrical panel sticker. undamaged item in its original packaging (where packaging is applicable). by Unicorn electrical products? I happily agreed and thought it would be a great opportunity to test out my new GoPro 9 in the process. It seems that the problems stem from aluminum parts within the panel. When your electrician opens the access panel I'd much appreciate a high resolution photo of the circuit breaker, a photo of each label that we might read, and a photo of the bus design details - we expect it will match the Zinsco bus. In older homes, there are still some electrical panel brands that have been commonly known to fail at safety standards. Some Zinsco / Zinsco-Sylvania GFCIs follow the color conventions we show above, But others do not. Above and below, courtesy of Richard Sims, we include photographs of a 400A 240V Zinsco Electrical Panel that was property of the Georgia (USA) Power Company, including identifying Zinsco labeling. Below is a Zinsco HQGF20 GFCI circuit breaker with a black toggle switch. What Is A Zinsco Panel And Why Should I Care? 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. Hickory Grove, SC for his photos of a Kearney electrical panel. Not sure what amp panel I have either - looks like maybe 150 amp. Yes, this house is indeed in Fairfax. - P.G. Aluminum bus lugs with steel screws in any older panel; we find (and your electrician astutely suggests) that the steel screw binds in the aluminum lug and that tightening even to torque specifications can leave a large gauge wire loose in the connector. Some of these such as FPE involved outright fraud by people who knew perfectly well that the product did not perform properly. So they should be treated as the same electrical panel with the same weaknesses. The first Zinsco panels contained copper bus-bars and copper breaker clips. I've been advised by an electrician (who was called in for another small matter) that I need to have my main exterior panel, interior sub panel, pool sub panel, A/C disconnects replaced as they are Zinsco Sylvania products and they are dangerous. 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. @Robert shaner, This GTE Sylvania Zinsco panel label states. It is also the panel which had several 100 ampere main breaker fails which led to fires. The switch unit is set by a plug-in cam, the angular position of the cam when it is inserted in the breaker operating the switch unit to selectively complete one or more of the shunt current paths. In addition, Zinsco panels typically have the logo at the top of the panel. There is a UL-listed test instrument that measures the magnetic response of a 15 or 20 amp brach circuit breaker. That identifies this as a Zinsco design. Photo courtesy Tim Hemm cited at references at the end of these articles. the circuit breaker colors and other external details permit the inspector to identify the problem Zinsco-design electrical panel bus and circuit breaker materials. 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. Infra-red scanning on a loaded breaker would be the best way to spot it. Makes no sense to me how I could add a 30 amp breaker with this set up. This gray circuit breaker may have been installed in a GTE-Sylvania electrical panel but is breaker did not use the Zinsco-design circuit breakers and/or may be of a different brand or manufacture. Don't be fooled by its lookalike counterparts; this panel is easily distinguishable with its pastel-colored breakers lined up in a single row. Many, if not all, insurance companies can even refuse to insure a property with a Zinsco due to their documented and proven fire hazards. There is no and was no GTE-Sylvania Zinsco electrical panel recall that would help you out with replacement costs. If you're interested in more information or details please let me know. Use GTE Sylvania Circuit Breakers Type Q, QC, R38, RC38,and HRGF. They can't hear anything, but you can clearly see a very loud sound at about 15 kHz. This is accomplished, in brief, by providing a breaker having a switch unit by which shunt current paths of different resistance can be selectively connected in parallel across the current path in which the current is sensed for activating the trip mechanism at a predetermined current level. Product information Technical Details Additional Information Warranty & Support 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. You will not receive a notification when a response to your question has been posted. Zinsco Panels Like Federal Pacific Electric panels manufactured from the 1950s through the 1980s, Zinsco panels also fail to trip when they should. "Basic Housing Inspection," US DHEW, S352.75 U48, p.144, out of print, but is available in most state libraries. SKU:SK5261622. I am sending you a picture, can you tell if it needs to be replaced? SKU:I37023078. 4-77 1977 [Lots of sketches of older-type service panels.]. The panel labels may identify it as "Sylvania", Sylvania-Zinsco, or GTE-Sylvania-Zinsco. Is my panel safe - FPE. InspectAPedia tolerates no conflicts of interest. [Click to enlarge any image] Magnetrip circuit breakers, including the earlier T-types and later Zinsco breakers using colored toggle switches, with photographs and other details foridentification. Alpha & Omega Home Inspections, Even the newer Sylvania Zinsco panels will be at least 40 years old. Personal communication, J. Aronstein to D. Friedman, 3/6/2006, James P. Simmons: Personal communication and photographs used in this article series, J. Simmons to Daniel Friedman, 3/4/2006, 2/19/2008. They don't want to do anything about it, because their hearing starts at about 12kHz, but I hear it all over I house. They were once a popular product to have installed in homes. He was recommended to me by a friend who's in contracting locally. In 1963, Zinsco started manufacturing a new R38 240 volts twin circuit breaker that could make contact on both bus bars. Zinsco Replacement Breakers Are Also Unsafe. Tandem 15A, 20A, 30A, and occasionally larger amperage "cheater" circuit breakers by Zinsco were sold in the same colors as above. Zinsco electrical panels were distributed in the United States, primarily in the Western states. If I were estimating an electrical panel age I would or LK-22 - 225 Amps, MLB20(30-40) 225A Max (with CU conductors) or 208A (with AL conductors). Replacing a Zinsco breaker panel is often worth it, as the older panels can be unreliable and may not meet current safety codes. 4. I found it exceedingly helpful, and think it's worth sharing widely. Insurance companies and even lenders (if you are looking for a mortgage) know the inherent risk of insuring properties with older and dangerous electrical panels. Watch out: the panel looks corroded, rusty, unreliable as a brand-independent hazard, and of course Zinsco breakers and panels are unsafe in any event. Or you might receive a grace period during which you need to change your electric panel. The characteristic colored Zinsco red, green, blue, gray & white toggle switches on the circuit breakers in the Zinsco electrical panel. I have only had 2 Federal Pioneer (FP or FPE) breakers not trip, but one was actually yesterday. 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