FPE Breaker fails to reset

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powerplay

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I had a call to replace an FPE three pole 40 amp NA breaker at an gas station with an 5 ton Rooftop A/C Unit. There had been an tranformer taken out by a cehicle that caused an Power Outage. When they tried to reset the tripped breaker the Breaker would not reset. What would cause the problem?...or the short circuit caused magnetic forces to mess with function of breaker? The new Breaker flipped on and everything was fine.
 
Two general classes of reason for not resetting:
1. The mechanism just feel apart when it opened and the handle can no longer push the contacts closed.
2. The mechanism fell apart when it tripped and the contacts will no longer stay closed when you let go of the handle.
FPE breakers are infamous for failing to open, close, and otherwise do what is expected of them.

Tapatalk!
 
powerplay said:
I had a call to replace an FPE three pole 40 amp NA breaker at an gas station with an 5 ton Rooftop A/C Unit. There had been an tranformer taken out by a cehicle that caused an Power Outage. When they tried to reset the tripped breaker the Breaker would not reset. What would cause the problem?...or the short circuit caused magnetic forces to mess with function of breaker? The new Breaker flipped on and everything was fine.
Click to expand...


I would CELEBRATE the fact it wouldn't reset. Most FPE breakers fail in the on position especially double and triple pole breakers. I hope you recommended a panel upgrade.
 
As to way it tripped (which as others mentioned, is somewhat of a miracle in the 1st place) I would guess that it being a 3 phase breaker, when the transformer was damaged it might have lost one phase first causing your load to single phase and trip the breaker. Golddigger pretty well summed up the "why it didn't reset" part.
i would certainly add my recommendation to replace the panel ASAP.
 
waedwards87 said:
Get rid of the FPE breaker/panel immediately. Those breakers are some of the most unsafe pieces of equipment in existence. A must read PDF on the subject: http://www.codecheck.com/cc/ccimages/PDFs/FPE_2012.pdf

I don't know who handles the panelboard/breaker problems/customer service. The company apparently split into separate divisions sometime in the late 1980s.
Click to expand...

The PDF is a good one. Mentions the issues at hand well. :thumbsup:
 
Federal Pathetic Electric

Federal Pathetic Electric

Yeah, I remember back in the 80's our client (Phone Company) showed us a letter from FPE warning them
not to close or open a list of molded case breaker frames ranging from 200A to 800A due to safety concerns.
Their air frame breakers also had a reputation in the industry as being the junkiest equipment ever made. I remember one 4000A model that had 2 spring charging motors and if they were not properly synchronized would tear the closing mechanism apart :jawdrop: They used pot metal in the gear mechanisms!!! :happyno:
They were also the cheapest on the market which is why you saw a lot of their stuff in governmental buildings
due to being low bidder....:thumbsdown:

I could not find the letter but found this..
http://www.prestigeelectric.net/downloads/hazardous-fpe-circuit-breakers-and-panels.pdf

Would like to hear Zog chime in here.....!?
 
ATSman said:
Yeah, I remember back in the 80's our client (Phone Company) showed us a letter from FPE warning them
not to close or open a list of molded case breaker frames ranging from 200A to 800A due to safety concerns.
Their air frame breakers also had a reputation in the industry as being the junkiest equipment ever made. I remember one 4000A model that had 2 spring charging motors and if they were not properly synchronized would tear the closing mechanism apart :jawdrop: They used pot metal in the gear mechanisms!!! :happyno:
They were also the cheapest on the market which is why you saw a lot of their stuff in governmental buildings
due to being low bidder....:thumbsdown:

I could not find the letter but found this..
http://www.prestigeelectric.net/downloads/hazardous-fpe-circuit-breakers-and-panels.pdf

Would like to hear Zog chime in here.....!?
Click to expand...


Me too. FPE is still found in a lot of old buildings sadly. I agree, nearly every single thing they made was garbage. Ironically, Ive heard their transformers were the best. Or did I hear it wrong?
 
GoldDigger said:
I love that it is an official FPE warning label.
Much cheaper than a recall.

Tapatalk!
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I love the the fact it says;

"AN ATTEMPT TO RE-CLOSE THE BREAKER COULD RESULT IN THE EMISSION OF SPARKS & FLAMES."

That just screams;

"Hold my beer, watch this."
 
waedwards87 said:
Get rid of the FPE breaker/panel immediately. Those breakers are some of the most unsafe pieces of equipment in existence. A must read PDF on the subject: http://www.codecheck.com/cc/ccimages/PDFs/FPE_2012.pdf

I don't know who handles the panelboard/breaker problems/customer service. The company apparently split into separate divisions sometime in the late 1980s.
Click to expand...
That PDF is excellent, IMO. It's very clear and concise and explains everything well. It comes off as accurate and informative instead of like a biased sales pitch.

I've printed it out and stapled it together in a little 3 page book (my printer prints on both sides of the paper) and I will be giving it to every customer with an FPE panel.

I don't expect customers to read it word for word, but even if they just skim thru it real quick, they should get the idea pretty easily. Then, if they are interested, they can read it more in depth.
 
HackElectric said:
That PDF is excellent, IMO. It's very clear and concise and explains everything well. It comes off as accurate and informative instead of like a biased sales pitch.

I've printed it out and stapled it together in a little 3 page book (my printer prints on both sides of the paper) and I will be giving it to every customer with an FPE panel.

I don't expect customers to read it word for word, but even if they just skim thru it real quick, they should get the idea pretty easily. Then, if they are interested, they can read it more in depth.
Click to expand...

yep.... +1 a few times to waedwards87 who dropped the link on us.

i printed some up... i'm running across some light commercial that used fpe.
 
chris kennedy said:
I love the the fact it says;

"AN ATTEMPT TO RE-CLOSE THE BREAKER COULD RESULT IN THE EMISSION OF SPARKS & FLAMES."

That just screams;

"Hold my beer, watch this."
Click to expand...

more likely, he keeps the beer in his hand, uses a yardstick
to push the breaker lever, and his buddy makes either a
youtube video, or a sequel to the jackass movies, depending
on how it turns out.
 
Yeah, the author is cited a few times in the PDF and he even said "We encourage distribution of this article." so I don't see any issue handing it out.
 
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