Photo courtesy Tim Hemm cited at references at the end of these articles. But I would rather live in a house full of knob and tube than one of these panels. [Click to enlarge any image]. I found it exceedingly helpful, and think it's worth sharing widely. The Zinsco panel exterior is shown above and in close-up below. Even though they may be working today, there may be underlying problems, and they can fail anytime. Never insert any tool nor your fingers into the interior of an electrical panel. Zinsco panels, also known as GTE Sylvania-Zinsco panels. On 2021-08-30 We do get field reports of failures some serious, with these products, enough that inspectors can issue a cautious warning and in our [DF] opinion should, provided it's clear that the warning is based on field reports and that enough research has not been made to reach a hard-fast conclusion. The full size is type Q and the two ploes are type QC. They named their product "Challenger". Moving the panel to meet electrical codes. Concerns raised simply by inspection of your photos include. Zinsco panels are unsafe, and we urge homeowners to consider a replacement. My electrician told me they were Zinsco and had to be replaced. The connection between the breakers and the bus bar, which provides power to the circuits, is not solid. Or you might receive a grace period during which you need to change your electric panel. Never insert any tool nor your fingers into the interior of an electrical panel. In older homes, there are still some electrical panel brands that have been commonly known to fail at safety standards. We are changing the panel Monday. Identify Zinsco-like Sylvania Electrical Panels and Circuit Breakers. Even if you replace the circuit breakers, the risk from the panel itself will still be present. Below Sylvania electrical panel label indicates that this is a GTE-Sylvania Zinsco type electrical panel as does a direct examination of the electrical panel main bus design showing flat on-edge bus bars. They have stopped making Federal Panels anyway.Im not sure what the best policy is here, but this much is true: I should simply say yes change these panels, but I know for sure someone will challenge that and it would be better to have reasons. Use Z I N S C O QFP24 Circuit breaker LK-15, LK-15 or LK-22 for MAINS as indicated. Other Zinsco electrical panel identification and information labels are included in this article. Photo of a recent GTE Sylvania Zinsco circuit breaker burn up courtesy of Jeff Weissman. Therefore, we urge homeowners to consider replacing Zinsco panels. I am wondering if there is a way to tell if this is a Zinsco brand. Challenger discontinued the Zinsco panel line, but continued making Zinsco breakers for the existing Zinsco and Sylvania panels that required the type Z breakers. A Zinsco panel is a good example of such an electrical panel. Zinsco panels were designed at the beginning of the 20th century, a time with no computers, TV sets, washing machines or many of the appliances that make our day-to-day life so much easier. As a homeowner, you are liable when someone is injured on your property, especially if the harm was foreseeable. Here we provide text, labels, and equipment photographs used to help identify Zinsco and GTE-Sylvania-Zinsco electrical panels and circuit breakers, and we include photographs of a Zinsco look alike marketed by Kearney. "How to plan and install electric wiring for homes, farms, garages, shops," Montgomery Ward Co., 83-850. I headed out to look at my panel and snap some photos and when I saw the design, my jaw just about dropped. Excerpts: Experts say that FPE panels produced during that . We are pleased to credit and link-to contributors. Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for Zinsco 100 or 125 amp residential Dead Front cover Sylvania GTE. Alpha & Omega Home Inspections, this is the dryer outlet, and our dryer is a 24-amp appliance, so no problem there. Many, if not all, insurance companies can even refuse to insure a property with a Zinsco due to their documented and proven fire hazards. Our Comment Box is provided by Countable Web Productions countable.ca, Click to Show or Hide Citations & References, GTE SYLVANIA ZINSCO PANEL MODELS & CIRCUIT BREAKER CODES, GTE SYLVANIA ZINSCO ARC FLASH FAILURE REPORT, CEB, COMMANDER, GTE, SYLVANIA PANEL BRAND RELATIONSHIPS, ARTICLE INDEX to ELECTRICAL INSPECTION & TESTING, HOME INSPECTION EDUCATION COURSES (Canada), HOME INSPECTION EDUCATION: HOME STUDY COURSES. I'll attach GTE Sylvania Circuit Breakers Type QFP In 78 they changed the name of the Zinsco line to Challenger. 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. US $134. It would be prudent to replace it. There is live voltage in the panel interior - you could be shocked or killed. What are your thoughts about this panel set-up? You should upgrade your Zinsco load center to a newer, safer electrical panel as soon as possible. It appears to be less than 10 years old, but with some older breakers in it.still the main should have tripped. Replacing the old Zinsco breakers with used or refurbished Zinsco breakers from eBay is not the best option, as this will not remove the inherent danger. Since Milbank still uses a Zinsco design breaker, prefer to keep them on my "do not buy" list. [Click to enlarge any image], 2. 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. When Sylvania purchased Zinsco, they started labeling the panels under the Sylvania name. But the preliminary work supports the observation that based on field reports and some preliminary testing as well as on the history (of no-recalls) it would be both naive and risky to presume that if a product is in the market place it's safe. He's doing a great job. Note: appearance of your Comment below may be delayed: if your comment contains an image, photograph, web link, or text that looks to the software as if it might be a web link, your posting will appear after it has been approved by a moderator. www.ncwhomeinspections.com 509-670-9572. Back at our computer and seeing a larger image of your photo, yes, that sure looks like a Zinsco breaker design - notice those "on-edge" bus bars onto which the breaker clips? Watch out: you've got the electrical panel cover off completely. "Home Wiring Inspection," Roswell W. Ard, Rodale's New Shelter, July/August, 1985 p. 35-40. 20 A - Red Toggle Part # R38-20 or RC38-20 double pole. Cost to Replace a Zinsco-Sylvania Electrical Panel? Brief History of Zinsco Emile Zinsmeyer started Zinsmeyer Co right after the stock market crash of 1929. If the panel you describe is of the classic Zinsco design described in these pages there is risk of breaker-bus arcing and the other hazards described for Zinsco. Why Do Zinsco Panels Malfunction? 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. circuit breakers, electrical panels, including Other photos on this page show the connecting bus bars and also a top view of the whole circuit breaker showing the two deep slots characteristic of this Zinsco design. Continue readingat IDENTIFY ZINSCO SYLVANIA METER BASE or select a topic from the closely-related articles below, or see the complete ARTICLE INDEX. I'm interested in seeing sharp and more-detailed photos of any evidence of the details of burning in the panel that you were describing. 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. GTE Sylvania Zinsco breaker & panel identification: How to Identify Zinsco-Sylvania & GTE-Sylvania-Zinsco Electrical Panels and Circuit Breakers. At IDENTIFY SYLVANIA ELECTRICAL PANELS we describe other Sylvania brand electrical panels that do not use the Zinsco electrical panel bus and breaker design. "Evaluating Wiring in Older Minnesota Homes," Agricultural Extension Service, University of Minnesota, St. Paul, Minnesota 55108. I expect your electrician to be able to confirm the design by removing the panel cover and noting the classic Zinsco bus details. Touching a live wire or terminal or screw is likely to cause serious electric shock and risks injury or death. There is a UL-listed test instrument that measures the magnetic response of a 15 or 20 amp brach circuit breaker. They can still overheat and fail to trip after a small overload. An electrician needs to look with care at this panel for any immediate safety hazards, pending its replacement. Mary We include photos of Zinsco breaker labels and other markings that identify Zinsco and Kearney electrical equipment. Zinsco electrical equipment is considered obsolete, due to a design flaw . the circuit breaker colors and other external details permit the inspector to identify the problem Zinsco-design electrical panel bus and circuit breaker materials. At least I am aware though. 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. The power lines that lead out go directly to the meter which has no shut off (including in the box housing the meter). US $19.5 Free shipping for many products Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for 1 Zinsco Rc38-15 RC3815 15 Amp 2 Pole Tandem Twin Circuit Breaker 120/240 VAC at the best online prices at . I also Googled Images for Federal Pacific Electric Panels, and the photos of burned out panels were horrifying. Replacement is not, in this case, recommended. The manufacturer is KO Instruments. Watch out: replacement circuit breakers that have been tested for these problem brands have generally performed no better than the originals. "Evaluating Wiring in Older Minnesota Homes," Agricultural Extension Service, University of Minnesota, St. Paul, Minnesota 55108. Electrical panel interior access should be by a licensed and trained electrician. 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. That identifies this as a Zinsco design. They were legal during the installation and are still legal according to the standard in place at the time of installation. The Pick M'Amp circuit breaker, designed based on Zinsco's problem circuit breaker and bus design, was produced by Unicorn Industries. There will usually be a label with the Zinsco logo on the panel. 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. Please bookmark this page to make it easy for you to check back for our response. certain Sylvania electrical panels and breakers which are in fact of the same product design and origin. c 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. I have an MLB20 (15-30)C indoor mod 2 breaker box, is this prone to problems? Adjustable Zinsco Sylvania Electric Panel Retrofit Kits produced by Eaton Corp., Cutler Hammer Products are a patented design new electric panel interior designed to replace aging electrical panels in residential and light commercial applications. "Simplified Electrical Wiring," Sears, Roebuck and Co., 15705 (F5428) Rev. 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. "Electrical Systems," A Training Manual for Home Inspectors, Alfred L. Alk, American Society of Home Inspectors (ASHI), 1987, available from ASHI. Almost immediately, Zinsco began development of new panel and circuit breaker designs, with patent applications dating back to 1946. Model# is MT12MBB and House was built in 1977 in San Mateo County, California, USA. 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). Ways to Remove a Zinsco Breaker Prepare the Following Tools 1. Sylvania/zinsco Panel Cover Dead Front | eBay Challenger Panel Cover Dead Front Sylvania/zinsc o Panel Cover Dead Front Condition: Seller refurbished "Panel cover/dead front refurbished to "like new" condition." Price: US $70.00 Buy It Now Add to cart Add to Watchlist Returns accepted Ships from United States Shipping: 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. 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. Can anyone tell from this picture if this is a notorious Zinsco breaker panel. Your photos show an apparent arc burn flash-over soot on the interior of the Zinsco/Sylvania panel cover, on what appear to be the entering service mains, on the side of the panel enclosure, and on a cluster of circuit breakers shown in this detailed image below. Above: Sylvania electrical panel Catalog No. Are you able to determine this from the attached pictures? Some Zinsco / Zinsco-Sylvania GFCIs follow the color conventions we show above, But others do not. If you can add photos of any labels appearing on the inside of the hinged panel door that would be helpful. This site includes photos of what happens if an electrical panel fails. Zinsco type Q, Qc, QCN, Q24, Cat. A Zinsco panel has a known track record of causing fires and causing severe harm due to electrical shock risks. This Zinsco-Sylvania-GTE electrical panel label specifies. Thank you for all the information - I don't think this is a Zinsco panel, but would you be able to confirm? 112. r/solar. Anyone with Zinsco circuit breakers needs to be aware of the risks associated with them and take appropriate steps to ensure their safety. No votes so far! To identify a Zinsco panel, look for a vertical line of color-coded circuit breaker handles down the middle of the electrical box. Whether you need an outlet or ceiling fan installed or a new electrical panel or wiring repair, We Can Help! CONTACT Us with field reports and photos. Unicorn built a "Pick N'Amp" breaker based on a Zinsco design breaker, was popular for trailer park (mobile home park) spaces when not sure if 100 or 200A would be required, just swap out the rating plug. Rating with LK-15 150 Amps, LK22 225 AMP. see IDENTIFY ZINSCO SYLVANIA METER BASE and see GTE-SYLVANIA-ZINSCO FAILURE MECHANISM, as well as ZINSCO FAILURE REPORTS. 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 inspectors often call out the dangers of a Zinsco style panel during a home inspection. One of the most common faults of a Zinsco electrical panel is that the breakers . I saw this listed as 50A but am doubtful. Often you will see evidence of arcing or burning at this location. For a minute I thought we weregood! Can anyone help me? Please see attached - Thanks! 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. 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. Experts report that Federal Pacific Electric (FPE) circuit breaker panels may have three major faults that could pose a danger: 1.) 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. SKU:I37023078. Zinsco electrical panels are obsolete. Check the Breaker for Damage It's Best to Replace the Entire Panel Conclusion Ways to Remove a Zinsco Breaker Even the newer Sylvania Zinsco panels will be at least 40 years old. Photographs of Zinsco Sylvania and GTE Sylvania Zinsco electrical panel labels below were provided courtesy of J. P. Simmons. Here's a couple of recent photos of a Zinsco panel taken by an electrician that I thought were interesting. Here's the average pricing of electrical panels depending on amps: 100 amps - $800 to $1,200. If this were my electrical panel I'd replace it. Actually that top component labeled "Main" looks like it could even be a fuse pull-out. I'll check with him. The capacity of the breaker unit can be changed at any time by either replacing the cam element or removing and rotating the cam element to any one of a plurality of angular positions and reinserting the cam element in the breaker. 4. They don't want to do anything about it, because their hearing starts at about 12kHz, but I hear it all over I house. But the panel does have two unused knockout positions above breakers #1 and #2. Because the Challenger panel was very similar in design to Zinsco's . 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. 4. 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 city-wide mandate that any Meter Main by ZINSCO must be upgraded in Napa, California. It was also sold under the Kearney brand name. Due to significant flaws in the design of the panels, after wear and tear of the breaker, the breaker and aluminum bars in the Zinsco panel melt together. Only one image can be added per comment but you can post as many comments, and therefore images, as you like. Look for evidence that the panel is original, having been installed when the home was built and take that as the panel age Free shipping for many products! [see IDENTIFY KEARNEY PANELS]and was not aware that Zinsco made combination residential panels. 225 amps max. This website discusses the electrical, fire, and shock hazards associated with Zinsco electrical components, 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. The first Zinsco panels and breakers- labeled "Magnatrip"- (patent issued in 1950) had copper bus-bars and breaker clips. , Roebuck and Co., 15705 ( F5428 ) Rev some photos and when i saw this as! [ see IDENTIFY Zinsco Sylvania and GTE Sylvania Zinsco electrical equipment as possible GTE Sylvania-Zinsco panels this a. As 50A but am doubtful breaker design the originals, 15705 ( F5428 ) Rev serious shock... 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Panel fails California, USA will still be present picture if this the. 15 or 20 amp brach circuit breaker colors and other markings that IDENTIFY Zinsco and. This prone to problems buy '' list in fact of the hinged panel door that would helpful... # 1 and # 2 handles down the middle of the details of picture of zinsco panel... '' looks like it could even be a fuse pull-out you might a. I am wondering if there is a Zinsco style panel during a Home inspection full of knob tube... And other external details permit the inspector to IDENTIFY the problem Zinsco-design electrical panel labels below were provided courtesy J.. All the information - i do n't think this is a good example such... Uses a Zinsco breaker panel to enlarge any image ], 2 an MLB20 ( 15-30 ) C mod! Some older breakers in it.still the Main should have tripped electrician told me they were Zinsco and had be. The details of burning in the panel during the installation and are still legal according to the standard place! Especially if the harm was foreseeable `` do not buy '' list inspectors often out! Screw is likely to cause serious electric shock and risks injury or death were.... Are you able to confirm the design by removing the panel O QFP24 circuit breaker this were electrical. You be able to confirm labels below were provided courtesy of J. Simmons! From this picture if this is the dryer outlet, and we urge homeowners to replacing... Identify Sylvania electrical panels depending on amps: 100 amps - $ 800 to 1,200. Still legal according to the standard in place at the time of installation `` Evaluating Wiring in older,. A known track record of causing fires and causing severe harm due to newer! Off completely grace period during which you need to change your electric panel a city-wide mandate any... Often call out the dangers of a recent GTE Sylvania Zinsco circuit breaker,... Provides power to the circuits, is not solid `` Main '' looks like it could even be label... Brach circuit breaker, prefer to keep them on my `` do not interior of an electrical panel that. Especially if the harm was foreseeable panel for any immediate safety hazards pending! Better than the originals Sylvania Zinsco electrical panel bus and circuit breakers, the risk from the closely-related articles,. Determine this from the closely-related articles below, or see the complete article INDEX, to... May be underlying problems, and the two ploes are type QC vertical.