Is This a Zinsco (Dangerous) Panel?

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Surprisingly Zinsco bolt-on breakers seem to be OK, it's the flat AL bus used in their single phase loadcenters that is the problem, but if you think Zinsco/Sylvania plug-in breakers are expensive, try buying the bolt-on one's, there are no aftermarket ones made, only used. The 3 phase plug in bus is copper, shown below is a picture of the rather strange 3? plug-in bus design.

 
BTW, there was Zinsco/ American Switch, they made the Monkey Ward panels, since Challenger is a successor to them, the safest bet would be to use breakers that are UL classified replacements for Challenger since Zinsco, Sylvania, and Challenger, are all gone.
 
Main Breaker Looks Off but it's ON

Main Breaker Looks Off but it's ON

The picture of the entire panel reminded me of a job I saw a few years back. HI wanted the panel replaced because the main looked OFF but was actually ON. He made the comment the breaker handle should be in the up position to indicate on. I agree but look at the breaker. It is indicating ON in the down handle position. This is UL listed and unless you know something UL doesn't don't worry about it.
The panel remained. It was in great shape too. No homeowners fingered up!

The first pic in the OP shows an ITE QP breaker too, plus several Bryant breakers.
 
tshea said:
The picture of the entire panel reminded me of a job I saw a few years back. HI wanted the panel replaced because the main looked OFF but was actually ON. He made the comment the breaker handle should be in the up position to indicate on. I agree but look at the breaker. It is indicating ON in the down handle position. This is UL listed and unless you know something UL doesn't don't worry about it.
The panel remained. It was in great shape too. No homeowners fingered up!

The first pic in the OP shows an ITE QP breaker too, plus several Bryant breakers.
Click to expand...



Was the panel by any chance a old Murray (pre Crouse-Hinds)? They had a odd 100A main that when the OEM breaker was used the vertically mounted main would be "ON" when the handle was up, if a "normal" breaker was used "ON" would be down.
 
I know there is a company that makes approved after-market breakers for Zinsco panels (Connecticut Electric). I have always thought that the problem was the actual breakers. Does anyone know if you can simply swap out all the original Zinsco breakers with the after-market replacements and have the panel be safe?
 
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