My existing panel is a Federal Pacific from the 1960s. The other day I went to reset a breaker, and it popped out and fell on the floor. It's time for a new box, and I'm looking for a brand recommendation if there's sufficient differentation between available boxes and breakers. If they're all pretty much the same, that's fine too.
How's that even possible if there were a load wire attached?????
--
+1...
Could not have fallen on the floor unless it was not connected to a circuit...
Brand =3D Price
The bigger question you should be asking yourself is that if you are going to be replacing the panel now, should you also replace/upgrade the service entrance, meter can, grounding facilities, etc at the same time since it is all related work...
~~ Evan
buss, but as others have pointed out, it would have to have a pretty long wire attached to reach the floor. I think the general consensus is that Square D- QO are considered the best residential grade breakers
...and the cover was off, besides.
--
Not sure about all breakers, but mine snap in.
If I was the OP, I'd put it back and not worry about it unless it did it again.
I'd check Consumer Reports. Beyond that, not sure.
Christopher A. Young Learn more about Jesus
If this were The Wheel, you'd have won a Carribean vacation.
Or, a new insurance carrier?
Christopher A. Young Learn more about Jesus
If this were The Wheel, you'd have won a Carribean vacation.
The breakers just snap in place. This one came loose and popped out when I tried to reset it.
well why were your resetting a breaker that has no wire attached to it?
Was the wire it feeds still attached? Are you sure the panel needs replacing because you had a bad breaker? That seems like you are buying a new car because of a flat tire. But then again, you know better the reason the breaker fell out since you were there.
If the panel is from the 60's, so is everything in it and probably feeding it. Now is a good time to check everything that may need upgrading before making a final decision.
The electrician we use at wok prefers Square D, but there may be others just as good. I don't buy them often so I don't have much experience with the differences.
Troll
Up here, Seimens is the brand of choice for most electricians. (every one I asked about changing mine)
I see a lot of Seimens switchgear and metering centers as well as breaker panels in commercial buildings... Square D would also be a good name too...
Bolt-on breakers are better than snap-in types but those panels and the breakers that are used with them cost a little bit more...
~~ Evan
*****
Um, is he a Chinese electrician? ^_^
TDD
All brands of breakers snap in place. None do it exactly the same, but they all do.
I garee with others. In order to pop out, the breaker panel cover had to be off. If it fell on the floor, there was no wire attached. Therefore, it's not being used, so why did you reset it?
Why replace the whole panel because of one (possibly) bad breaker. Spend around $5 for a new breaker, snap it in, and put the cover on the panel. DONE!
Do you demolish and build a new house when the carpeting needs to be replaced?
Maybe the breaker is not even bad, and just was not snapped in tightly. You'll have to carefully check this breaker and make sure the contacts are that snap in place, are not broken. If this breaker is not being used, just eliminate it, but buy a special cover made for the breaker hole so fingers cant be shoved in the hole (likely required by code).
obviously you havent priced FPE breakers lately. if you can find them they are around 30 bucks each. plus its hard to get new homeowners insurance with a FPE panel
just google FPE & fire.....
then you will understand why the company went out of business...........
FPE stab-lok breakers do not snap in place, they wedge or stab into the buss, hence the name. The current price for a single pole FPE breaker in the U.S. is about $30
All brands of breakers DO NOT just "snap into place" older ones like the Stab-lok ones being discussed here wedge into place and not all that well... Many commercial electrical panels use breakers that BOLT into place using large machine screws to attach an input flange on the breaker to the panel bus bar...
Why replace the panel ? LOL... Stick to things you know, a 40 year old panel should be replaced, not only are newer breakers tested in better ways than the older ones were, many circuit breakers deteriorate and wear out over time so that they might not trip like they are designed to do or might not be able to be switched back on after you turn them off if something has failed inside...
Your comment about demo'ing a house to change the carpeting is not a good comparison -- a carpet is an appearance issue, carpeting won't kill you from a shock hazard or burn down the house if it is overloaded or wears out... Consider replacing the electrical panel an investment in safety...
~~ Evan
HomeOwnersHub website is not affiliated with any of the manufacturers or service providers discussed here. All logos and trade names are the property of their respective owners.