Electrical panel interior access should be by a licensed and trained electrician. Below is an enlargement of the the bus-connection section of a classic Zinsco circuit breaker - showing the difference between these devices. Watch out: replacement circuit breakers that have been tested for these problem brands have generally performed no better than the originals. Hazards of Zinsco Panels. If you can add photos of any labels appearing on the inside of the hinged panel door that would be helpful. 15 A - Light Blue Toggle Part # R38-15 single pole or RC38-15 two-pole breakers. Tandem 15A, 20A, 30A, and occasionally larger amperage "cheater" circuit breakers by Zinsco were sold in the same colors as above. The first Zinsco panels contained copper bus-bars and copper breaker clips. Joe's advice is in our opinion bad and unsafe. I will do another post with another picture. 4-77 1977 [Lots of sketches of older-type service panels.]. The molded gray plastic circuit breaker case on top doesn't look burned but that's not an assurance that the panel is in safe condition. He was recommended to me by a friend who's in contracting locally. The average cost of replacing a Zinsco service panel is $1,600 to $4,000. - Anonymous by private email 2019/01/30. Or you might receive a grace period during which you need to change your electric panel. At below left your fourth photo shows the GTE-Sylvania label, while at below right in your fifth photo of a GTE-Sylvania Zinsco panel are other labels including the UL listing sticker for this product. LK-15 Often the panel manufacture date is stamped on the panel labeling but not always and not in a consistent patterns. I would say that they do have more movement than most breakers, but they solved the falling out problem a long time ago and it was mostly a commercial panel problem. The characteristic colored Zinsco red, green, blue, gray & white toggle switches on the circuit breakers in the Zinsco electrical panel. SKU:SK5261622. I have an MLB20 (15-30)C indoor mod 2 breaker box, is this prone to problems? 2, Type 1 Enclosure, 125A Max.. The Zinsco panel exterior is shown above and in close-up below. I see it's in Fairfax Virginia (my home for many years) and I'm guessing from the electrical inspector's tag that the home or at least the panel is from 1976. 1320 Dayton Street SE, Olympia, WA 98501, 360-705-4225, Fax 360-705-0130 or by email to, Thanks to various electricians, home owners, and home inspectors for contributing the Zinsco Sylvania-Zinsco electric panel and circuit breaker, Thanks to Joe Funderburk, Even the newer Sylvania Zinsco panels will be at least 40 years old. Zinsco electric panels jolley1859 1.6K views 2 years ago How to Upgrade an Electric Meter to 200-Amp Service (Part 1) | This Old House This Old House 2.7M views 8 years ago Hack for AFCI_GFCI. Application filed by Unicorn Industries Inc.. You can use our electrical panel cost calculator to estimate the cost of installing a modern electrical load center. Between the 1980's to the 1990's Challenger panels were installed in hundreds of thousands of homes. or LK-22 Lug Block for Mains w/ LK-15 - 150 Amps; Please bookmark this page to make it easy for you to check back for our response. Experts say that FPE panels produced during that . Actually that top component labeled "Main" looks like it could even be a fuse pull-out. I've been conducting professional home inspections since 2002. We are pleased to credit and link-to contributors. @Robert shaner, by (mod) 2, 225AMPS Max. 3057. 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. 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. 5. The manufacturer is KO Instruments. (Don't try it.). Does the home you are buying have a Zinsco panel? Experts Have Identified Two Major Reasons Experts report that Zinsco circuit breaker panels may have two major faults that could pose a danger: 1.) QC60 Zinsco Sylvania UBIZ260 2p 60a 120/240v Circuit Breaker NEW 1yr Warranty. Therefore, we urge homeowners to consider replacing Zinsco panels. Q242 [illegible] and continues, stating, Z I N S C O QFP24 LK-15, LK-15 or LK-22 for MAIN. "Electrical Systems," A Training Manual for Home Inspectors, Alfred L. Alk, American Society of Home Inspectors (ASHI), 1987, available from ASHI. 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. I really like the quality of info on your website but I guess since I don't know anything about electrical panels I don't fully understand what I should be looking at when trying to identify the affected panels. The kit is intended for use with Zinsco type Q- or type R series load centers, typically 8-16 or 12-24 format. Never insert any tool nor your fingers into the interior of an electrical panel. Replacement is not, in this case, recommended. REally appreciate your feedback(wow, and quick too!). Sometimes that's true. Electrical panel interior access should be by a licensed and trained electrician. An expert who opens the electrical In older homes, there are still some electrical panel brands that have been commonly known to fail at safety standards. They were once a popular product to have installed in homes. 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. Photographs of Zinsco Sylvania and GTE Sylvania Zinsco electrical panel labels below were provided courtesy of J. P. Simmons. You will not receive a notification when a response to your question has been posted. It began in 2012. I discovered it by coincidence doing a search on line during the eight hours they've been here so far. 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. When these panels experience a short circuit or an overcurrent, they often fail to cut the power supply to the affected circuit. (Obsolete, not recommended), 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. panel or performs further disassembly (DANGER) can further identify the characteristic circuit breaker details but the circuit breaker I should also point out that the 200 ampere mains are mounted differently and as far as I am aware had no problems like this. In your panel there are two red stickers with arrows: one pointing "up" indicates that the upper portion of the panel contains multiple (Two in this case) main disconnect breakers and the lower portion of this split bus panel contains individual circuit breakers. "Simplified Electrical Wiring," Sears, Roebuck and Co., 15705 (F5428) Rev. Look for evidence that the panel is original, having been installed when the home was built and take that as the panel age The Zinsco Style may be labeled as Zinsco, Challenger or Sylvaina. 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. Rating with LK-15 150 Amps, LK22 225 AMP. Mary 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. Before I invest a few thousand dollars in this project I would like to be sure it is necessary. "Electrical Systems," A Training Manual for Home Inspectors, Alfred L. Alk, American Society of Home Inspectors (ASHI), 1987, available from ASHI. Above is an example, a Zinsco R38 Tandem circuit breaker sporting light blue toggle switches. An expert who opens the electrical Your panel photo so tiny I can't see much, but those red and light blue (?) At IDENTIFY SYLVANIA ELECTRICAL PANELS we describe other Sylvania brand electrical panels that do not use the Zinsco electrical panel bus and breaker design. Here I'll post a closer-view excerpted from your photo. Today Zinsco electrical panels are deemed outdated and a significant electrical hazard. Experts report that Federal Pacific Electric (FPE) circuit breaker panels may have three major faults that could pose a danger: 1.) They named their product "Challenger". I'd like to have seen a view of the actual circuit breaker from its side or a view of the metal bus bar to which the breakers connect as that will give an absolute identification. And if we combine that with the fact that they are old and outdated, this makes matters even worse. Photographs contributed to this website by Jim P. Simmons, Mr. Electric, Licensed Master Electrician, 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. Some Sylvania brand electrical panels are essentially a "Zinsco in Sylvania's clothing". At least I am aware though. "Had to" is a technical opinion with which I agree. 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. 3. Aluminum Enters the Picture. The Zinsco panel may be under the name of Sylvania, GTE-Sylvania or Kearney. The first Zinsco panels and breakers- labeled "Magnatrip"- (patent issued in 1950) had copper bus-bars and breaker clips. I have personally experienced it over 20 times for overcurrent situations and about 5 times in fault current situations. 20 March 2015. [Click to enlarge any image]. Once I found your website we started to take a different path. Estimating Electrical Panel Age I'm a licensed Home Inspector, Certified Professional Inspector (CPI), Certified Master Inspector (CMI), and FHA 203k Consultant. Above: Sylvania electrical panel Catalog No. The present invention is directed to a relatively inexpensive circuit breaker of the type commonly used as the main breaker in a household electrical service unit in which the rated capacity can be preset by a plug-in cam element made of inexpensive molded plastic material. This was used as a temp panel for 3 months on a job. In 1973, the GTE Corporation launched an electric panel design and called it "Challenger". 4. Hello, They then sold off the Challenger line in 81. Below we show the interior of this 400Amp Zinsco electrical panel. 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. I expect your electrician to be able to confirm the design by removing the panel cover and noting the classic Zinsco bus details. This GTE Sylvania Zinsco panel label states. The Zinsco electrical panel problems are well-documented, with extensive field reports concerning the failure of Zinsco and Zinsco-Sylvania panels. 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. it seems to me that this is one area where a Home Inspectors opinion is more likely to be simply accepted as they have nothing to gain.I have never heard of Kearney or LK-22 - 225 Amps, MLB20(30-40) 225A Max (with CU conductors) or 208A (with AL conductors). Some history of Unicorn Industries circuit breakers is at. 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. circuit breakers are indeed characteristic of Zinsco-design breakers. 240V 3 PH LONG 15 3/4 WIDE 27 3/4 $300.00 $102.65 shipping But do not let yourself sound too frightened when talking with the electrician or the replacement price may go up. GTE-Sylvania / Zinsco Panel Identification Pictures Below is a close-up of the bus connection end of a classic Zinsco circuit breaker - showing the difference between these devices. Zinsco breakers were frequently labeled with the name Zinsco Magnetrip breakers. There were a few still being installed later, but they are rare. According to experts, zinsco panels malfunction for two reasons: Design Flaws Electricians have observed that there are indeed design flaws in the Zinsco circuit breaker panels. 4. mobile home doors that open properly - all buildings need safe functional fire exit passages, Turning off any strange-behaving circuits (flickering lights) with the caveat than in an FP/FPE case "turning off" may actually leave the circuit on as the breaker may not switch off internally), Red and blue breaker switches with visible colored base, Oblong opening at wire connection terminal, Flat electrical panel bus bars in parallel fitting into two slots on each breaker, Oblong opening in plastic receiver of bus bar ends, Vertical arrows point to the flat electrical panel bus bars of a Zinsco electrical panel. It's probably a 15A Zinsco tandem circuit breaker. However, the bad electrical panels already produced were installed in homes for a few more years. 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