Fpe concerns!
Fpe concerns!
I just read your post. ("I recently replaced a faulty FPE with a new breaker. On this kitchen circuit was a 1500w micro, 1800w toaster, stove fan & light. I explained to the owner that running these appliances will trip the 20 amp breaker.
To demonstrate, I place my amp meter on the circuits wire and turned on the micro and toaster. The meter read 29 amps. I waited (~1 minute). Nothing.")
I'm not here to answer your question but have a few questions/comments of my own...
The original 20a breaker had what size/type conductor terminated to it? (cu or al, # 14 or #12, thhn or thw or.. etc?
You say you replaced with a "new" breaker? I didn't know they made UL approved replacement breakers for FPE panels?
What size breaker is now installed? (assume the same size and type wire leaving the panel and feeding the loads hasn't changed?)
FYI.. Last week I found a 100A, FPE panel loaded with 1P/20a breakers and #14 tw cu under all of them and circuitry that had no thought put into it!
Everything I have read, discussed with other electricians, inspectors, engineers etc over the years is that FPE panelboards are dangerous, couldn't meet minimum testing requirements/UL approval, breakers that failed to trip 70-80% of the time in independent testing and are a fire and injury hazard! On top of that, having unqualified personnel wiring them (as is the case in the panel I inspected last week) adds additional concern for electricians, inspectors, homeowners, renters, insurance companies etc.
The following site has some good information on this and other subject matter: InspectAPedia.com
gman electrical
