Continue readingat IDENTIFY GTE SYLVANIA-ZINSCO PANELS or select a topic from the closely-related articles below, or see the complete ARTICLE INDEX. I can ask Dr Aronstein if he can test this Sylvania - Zinsco electrical panel before we disturb conditions by actually pulling breakers. 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. In the case of Zinsco panels, the risks are well known. I am wondering if there is a way to tell if this is a Zinsco brand. The inside box is a Zinsco/Sylvania model number 20-5x (7-14). No. Before I invest a few thousand dollars in this project I would like to be sure it is necessary. In 1973, the GTE Corporation launched an electric panel design and called it "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. I have searched the web and cannot find any of the identifying marks of a Zinsco panel on the panel I have. I happily agreed and thought it would be a great opportunity to test out my new GoPro 9 in the process. 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. 390-205-09 on a label which has the bottom left corner torn off. On 2021-08-25 by inspectapedia.com.moderator (mod). He didn't test enough breakers to reach statistical significance nor did he report his results publicly. In any case, I would replace this electrical panel. The panel labels may identify it as "Sylvania", Sylvania-Zinsco, or GTE-Sylvania-Zinsco. Free shipping for many products! There will usually be a label with the Zinsco logo on the panel. 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. Apologies for the delay. Clockwise from upper left: Compare these to other circuit breakers or to other Zinsco breakers in this article series. 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. - Editor. I'm dealing with this problem in my home currently, I have both my HVAC and an electrician here. Like Zinsco, it brought safety hazards and was recalled. Contact us if you have photos of a Frank Adams electrical panel or other details. It does day Sylvania and has what I assume is the model number: It would have top be purchased used only. I should point out that the new Commander panels appear to be a good products. Discussed: GTE-Sylvania-Zinsco Electrical Panels that used Zinsco circuit breakers and bus design & may involve similar electrical panel failures and safety concerns as Zinsco. The peace of mind of having an upgraded panel is likely worth it. 160. Sean. toggle switch colors and unique labels should be sufficient for most inspectors and owners to identify this equipment. MLB20(15-30)C Indoor 225A MAX. ML12(12-24)C (Indoor) - Mod. Mr. Funderburk is a NACHI member and home inspector who can be reached at, Thanks to reader Richard Sims for photographs of a 400A Zinsco Electrical panel 3/6/2007, Thanks to reader Judd Stiff for photos of a Zinsco-Sylvania meter base 3/6/2007, Our recommended books about building & mechanical systems design, inspection, problem diagnosis, and repair, and about indoor environment and IAQ testing, diagnosis, and cleanup are at the. The replacements for zinsco do not make the 35 amp any more. Use GTE Sylvania Circuit Breakers Type Q, QC, R38, RC38,and HRGF. Most of the Zinsco electrical panels and circuit breakers were installed in the 1960s and 1970s. 2, 225 AMPS Max. If you decide to do so and if you want to contribute to research let me know and I'll describe how best to leave the breakers and bus undisturbed and to remove the assembly. Identify Zinsco-like Sylvania Electrical Panels and Circuit Breakers. 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. My electrician told me they were Zinsco and had to be replaced. Electrical panel interior access should be by a licensed and trained electrician. CONTACT Us with field reports and photos. One of my staff accidentally cut the wrong wire. 20 A - Red Toggle Part # R38-20 or RC38-20 double pole. Since Milbank still uses a Zinsco design breaker, prefer to keep them on my "do not buy" list. ---- Excerpts: Some history of Unicorn Industries circuit breakers is at. 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. [Click to enlarge any image] Your Wenatchee and Chelan Professional Real Estate, Home and Structural Pest Inspection Service. An electrician needs to look with care at this panel for any immediate safety hazards, pending its replacement. Rating with LK-15 150 Amps, LK22 225 AMP. 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. On 2018-08-18 Just as a simple example, FPE failures were at 60% when contemporary industry failures to trip were a fraction of 1%. Alpha & Omega Home Inspections, Indeed not all Sylvania products are Zinsco products, and thus should not be tarred with so broad a brush. 7. The Consumer Products Safety Commission (CSPC) has not issued a recall on many faulty brands due to budget issues and the significant investment required to implement such recalls, and their claim of a lack of supporting evidence. Zinsco panels, also known as GTE Sylvania-Zinsco panels. 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. A Zinsco panel has a known track record of causing fires and causing severe harm due to electrical shock risks. Below is a Zinsco HQGF20 GFCI circuit breaker with a black toggle switch. Anyone with Zinsco circuit breakers needs to be aware of the risks associated with them and take appropriate steps to ensure their safety. Thank you for your information. 4. 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. The bottom line is that having a Zinsco electrical panel can make . We include photos of Zinsco breaker labels and other markings that identify Zinsco and Kearney electrical equipment. I'm looking for the AIC rating of the big double throw AC cutoff switch on the front. Often you will see evidence of arcing or burning at this location. I cannot see anything of the main breaker in your Zinsco panel so it's ampacity could differ, but the panel label describes a 400Amp panel single phase, 120/240VAC unit. This site includes photos of what happens if an electrical panel fails. 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. Zinsco breakers are known to not trip in the presence of overcurrent or short circuits. I'll check with him. Insurance companies have become increasingly cautious when signing insurance for older properties with FPE or Zinsco installed. Is my panel safe . Your panel photo so tiny I can't see much, but those red and light blue (?) @Robert shaner, The full size is type Q and the two ploes are type QC. Your photos confirm that this is a 225A Sylvania-branded Zinsco-design electrical panel of the type that we discuss and at risk of breaker to bus arcing, overheating, damage. We have no relationship with advertisers, products, or services discussed at this website. Rating with LK-15 150 Amps, LK22 225 AMP. It has Zinsco type rc38al circuit breaker in it. 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. The half Size is R38 for 1 poles and RC38 for 2 poles. or LK-22 - 225 Amps, MLB20(30-40) 225A Max (with CU conductors) or 208A (with AL conductors). Zinsco panels are unsafe, and we urge homeowners to consider a replacement. 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. Depending on the panel's amperage (150A or 200A panels will cost more), additional electrical upgrades may also be necessary. So, what breakers are compatible with Zinsco? by Unicorn electrical products? Production of Zinsco panels halted in mid-1970s. The Pick M'Amp circuit breaker, designed based on Zinsco's problem circuit breaker and bus design, was produced by Unicorn Industries. These are also called cheater breakers. Above is an example, a Zinsco R38 Tandem circuit breaker sporting light blue toggle switches. 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. Between the 1980's to the 1990's Challenger panels were installed in hundreds of thousands of homes. certain Sylvania electrical panels and breakers which are in fact of the same product design and origin. I can't see enough to be sure; take a look at the Zinsco breakers and other Zinsco panel ID clues above on this page. 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. 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. History of the Challenger Panel. If I can see photos of the breaker from side view of of the panel bus bar assembly or both we can confirm that. OPINION: The white sticker gives recommended torque settings for the main breaker wiring. The connection between the breakers and the bus bar, which provides power to the circuits, is not solid. Book your home inspection today by calling 818-298-3405 Please bookmark this page to make it easy for you to check back for our response. Hopefully you can help. On the other hand, most other panels are usually black and arranged in two rows. Try posting a larger photo of that detail. They have a reputation as the breaker which doesnt trip. Zinsco R38 This is a tandem 20 amp Circuit Breaker. Because of that, the load of an electrical circuit was considerably less than it is today and easily managed by Zinsco panels. Third party vendors may produce "zinsco replacement" breakers but testing has shown they perform no more safely than the original ones. 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. Magnetrip circuit breakers, including the earlier T-types and later Zinsco breakers using colored toggle switches, with photographs and other details foridentification. He was recommended to me by a friend who's in contracting locally. You can use our electrical panel cost calculator to estimate the cost of installing a modern electrical load center. - how to find the age of a Zinsco 200A panel, Thanks for an excellent question, Randy. It is best to avoid buying used Zinsco breakers. Once I found your website we started to take a different path. I'm sorry to say that I have not found a credible Zinsco electrical panel age decoder. 200 amps - $1,300 to $2,600. If I were estimating an electrical panel age I would Just below, the photo of a recent GTE Sylvania Zinsco circuit breaker burn-up is shown here courtesy of Jeff Weissman and observed, he reports, in a GTE-Sylvania electrical panel. Federal Pacific Electrical Panels, often known as FPE Stab Lok panels, are a type of electrical panel manufactured by Federal Pacific. Brief History of Zinsco Emile Zinsmeyer started Zinsmeyer Co right after the stock market crash of 1929. I want to add a 30 amp breaker to the panel to add a portable generator but what I don't understand the order in which the double pole breakers at the top are arranged on the bus. - Anonymous by private email, 2017/02/16. I'm a licensed Home Inspector, Certified Professional Inspector (CPI), Certified Master Inspector (CMI), and FHA 203k Consultant. unused, Condition:: New: A brand-new. It is also the panel which had several 100 ampere main breaker fails which led to fires. 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. Watch out: replacement circuit breakers that have been tested for these problem brands have generally performed no better than the originals. Look for an electrical inspector's stamp of approval of the installation - those, if present, are dated and signed. Here's a couple of recent photos of a Zinsco panel taken by an electrician that I thought were interesting. undamaged item in its original packaging (where packaging is applicable). The upper and lower "Do not Remove this K.O." Zinsco electrical panels were distributed in the United States, primarily in the Western states. "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. Zinsco circuit breakers and the buss connections they use are easily identified regardless of the loss or absence of panel labels. ML12(12-24)C (Indoor) - Mod. and I am watching carefully Challenger as well as the others you name. 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. These are just as prone to safety issues and frequent malfunctions. After hundreds of similar incidents, it was found that Zinsco panels were to blame for frequent electrical shocks, short circuits, and fires. Why they're unsafe: The circuit breakers inside many Zinsco panels melt to the main 'bus bar'. Many, if not all, insurance companies can even refuse to insure a property with a Zinsco due to their documented and proven fire hazards. 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. It appears that the present Unicorn Industries has nothing to do with the old meter base in your photo; the current Unicorn describes themselves: Zinsco electrical panels were distributed in the United States, primarily in the Western states. Experts report that Federal Pacific Electric (FPE) circuit breaker panels may have three major faults that could pose a danger: 1.) Mr. Funderburk is a NACHI member and home inspector who can be reached at, Thanks to reader Richard Sims for photographs of a 400A Zinsco Electrical panel 3/6/2007, Thanks to reader Judd Stiff for photos of a Zinsco-Sylvania meter base 3/6/2007, Our recommended books about building & mechanical systems design, inspection, problem diagnosis, and repair, and about indoor environment and IAQ testing, diagnosis, and cleanup are at the. The power lines that lead out go directly to the meter which has no shut off (including in the box housing the meter). We are changing the panel Monday. Back in 2013 over at electriciantalk.com an electrician who was familiar with Unicorn Electrical products commented: I headed out to look at my panel and snap some photos and when I saw the design, my jaw just about dropped. I am sending you a picture, can you tell if it needs to be replaced? this is the dryer outlet, and our dryer is a 24-amp appliance, so no problem there. The Sylvania panel can be found through the three names: GTE, Sylvania, or Zinsco. "How to plan and install electric wiring for homes, farms, garages, shops," Montgomery Ward Co., 83-850. 4. I'll attach Ok, I see, the panel label has the language you spotted. . - Vertical or "on edge" electrical panel bus bars identify a Zinsco design. 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