jmellc
Senior Member
- Location
- Durham, NC
- Occupation
- Facility Maintenance Tech. Licensed Electrician
My heart is joyful tonight, for a change. I got the nod to replace a Federal Pacific panel. Will replace it with a CH ch 42 ckt panel.
Much as I hate Federal, I do understand why so many were installed. When I worked in Goldsboro, NC, there was 1 supply house there and that's what they sold. You had to buy it or go way out of town. Some customers couldn't or wouldn't pay for better quality.
But this 200 amp FPE was installed in a really nice house in 1 of our old money neighborhoods. I can't believe the EC was having to pinch pennies on that job. The house was built in 1986. I don't remember exact timeline, but wasn't FPE out of business by then? So likely, the EC had it in his shop somewhere.
Maybe I'm too critical but I can't see why a craftsman would install such junk when he had better choices available. FPE was known as junk ever since I can remember and certainly in mid 80's no one could say he didn't know. Most brands have been sold here for years on end.
Much as I hate Federal, I do understand why so many were installed. When I worked in Goldsboro, NC, there was 1 supply house there and that's what they sold. You had to buy it or go way out of town. Some customers couldn't or wouldn't pay for better quality.
But this 200 amp FPE was installed in a really nice house in 1 of our old money neighborhoods. I can't believe the EC was having to pinch pennies on that job. The house was built in 1986. I don't remember exact timeline, but wasn't FPE out of business by then? So likely, the EC had it in his shop somewhere.
Maybe I'm too critical but I can't see why a craftsman would install such junk when he had better choices available. FPE was known as junk ever since I can remember and certainly in mid 80's no one could say he didn't know. Most brands have been sold here for years on end.