Replacing Main Breaker Panel: Upgrade to code?

Status
Not open for further replies.
B

bcs001

Member
Location
Cumming Ga.
I am a mechanical engineer new to this forum. I am having a licenced electrician (co-worker) replace a Federal Pacific Stab Lock main breaker panel in a 33 year old house. I am unsure how much of the existing wiring (if any) would be required to be upgraded to current code.

I would like to replace the inside panel with another main breaker and not have to upgrade the outside meter panel with a main breaker. I planned to install GFCI's in all circuits that pass thru and to bathrooms and the kitchen.

Thanks,
Bruce.
 
If you are having a licenced electrician do the work for you he should be able to direct you as to what needs replacing.I would have the new fed-pacific breaker tested before installing it.
 
Although what you want to do may be permissible, I would recommend installing a new service altogether. Leaving the 33 years old service entrance and meter pan is not a great idea. These have a limited life span and could be very near the end depending on the type of service entrance you have. I have seen 35 year old SE cable with the outer jacket falling off. Just my opinion.
 
I am going to use a GE main breaker panel in place of the Fed Pacific. When my electrician comes over I will definately have him assess the condition of the SE cable. My visual inspection inside the box and under the house did not reveal any obvious degredation of the cable. It is possible that is has been replaced by the previous owner at some time.

Bruce.
 
Replacing the FPE panel is a good idea. There's a reason it's known as "Fire Prone Equipment" among electricians. Your electrician should be able to determine whether the entire service needs to be upgraded. From what you've said, it sounds like you might be OK leaving it in place.

You probably have local or state rules that will govern what, if any, changes to other wiring will have to be made when the panel is changed out. For example, one jurisdiction I work in has a whole page of required updates that have to be done when a panel is swapped out, while the next jurisdiction over says you can do a panel swap and nothing else if you want. Check with your electrician and inspection department. I've had panel swaps get very expensive because of all the extras required by local ordinance.
 
If you are replacing the old Fed-Pac panel with a different type like Sq-D or GE because the Fed-Pac's reputation and on a limited budget I would change the panel only and not pull a permit.
I would treat it as a service call to not involve inspectors. Chances are that if the house is 33yrs. old then you may as well be prepared to re-wire the entire house if the inspector shows up.
If there hasn't been a problem then you should be able to upgrade a little at a time without having to do it all a once just because you took the initiative to improve. It's been there for 33yrs right? (notice how I'm trying to justify my comments)
If your friend is an electrician he will be able to recognize if you've had overload problems and if the wiring is in good shape.
 
willdogyou said:
If you are replacing the old Fed-Pac panel with a different type like Sq-D or GE because the Fed-Pac's reputation and on a limited budget I would change the panel only and not pull a permit.
Click to expand...

Moderators comment;

We can not recommend breaking the law, and in most areas what you describe would be breaking the law.
 
iwire said:
Moderators comment;

We can not recommend breaking the law, and in most areas what you describe would be breaking the law.
Click to expand...


I was not recommending to break the law I would most certainly check with the inspections department before proceeding with doing any questionable work. As well, I have a great repoire with all the local electrical inspectors here locally. If a permit is not required then I would not pull one. I would check first...
 
JohnJ0906 said:
Where are you not required to pull a permit, especially for a panel change?
Click to expand...

I think willdogyou had a bad experience or something...
willdogyou said:
Chances are that if the house is 33yrs. old then you may as well be prepared to re-wire the entire house if the inspector shows up.
If there hasn't been a problem then you should be able to upgrade a little at a time without having to do it all a once just because you took the initiative to improve. It's been there for 33yrs right? (notice how I'm trying to justify my comments)
Click to expand...


Something just doesn't sit right here....no offense dog, just what I see.
 
The inspector initially informed me that the house had a Fed Pacific panel and that I should do some research as to the well documented problems with it. What I found scared me enough to swap out the entire panel before thinking about living in it.

After I mapped out all the circuits, I found many things not to current code. I guess back then it was ok to run a circuit from a bedroom, thru a bathroom and into a basement without any GFCI's.

I am on a somewhat finite budget and hopefully a panel swap along with replacing SE cable going to a stove and a making sure all grounds are tied correctly is all that really has to be done. Moving the main breaker back outside would be nice but not worth the cost to me right now.

Bruce.
 
bcs001 said:
I guess back then it was ok to run a circuit from a bedroom, thru a bathroom and into a basement without any GFCI's.
Click to expand...
33 years ago there may have not even been GFCI's available!
(I dunno...was there???)

...and let's not forget it was also common knowledge that the world was flat :D
 
celtic said:
33 years ago there may have not even been GFCI's available!
(I dunno...was there???)

...and let's not forget it was also common knowledge that the world was flat :D
Click to expand...

Yup, sure were. They weren't in receptacles, like they are today, but it was possible to get GFCI breakers in the 1970's.
 
celtic said:
33 years ago there may have not even been GFCI's available!
(I dunno...was there???)
Click to expand...
tallgirl said:
Yup, sure were. They weren't in receptacles, like they are today, but it was possible to get GFCI breakers in the 1970's.
Click to expand...

Thanks...I didn't know that.

celtic said:
...and let's not forget it was also common knowledge that the world was flat :D
Click to expand...

Pierre C Belarge said:
When did that change?
I have been so busy, that I did not hear about it ;)
Click to expand...

Nah, it's just a rumor...check it out at snopes.com
 
tallgirl said:
Yup, sure were. They weren't in receptacles, like they are today, but it was possible to get GFCI breakers in the 1970's.
Click to expand...


If I remember correctly those were Class B breakers which had a higher ground fault trip rating than the 4-6 ma of the Class A devices we use now.
 
bcs001 said:
I am going to use a GE main breaker panel in place of the Fed Pacific. When my electrician comes over I will definately have him assess the condition of the SE cable. My visual inspection inside the box and under the house did not reveal any obvious degredation of the cable. It is possible that is has been replaced by the previous owner at some time.

Bruce.
Click to expand...

Personally i would never use a GE panel.If spending the money i would be looking at quality like square D or cutler hammer.
 
From the standpoint of liability, I wouldn't merely change out a 33 year old breaker panel without bringing the rest of the service up to current code standards. You didn't mention what size your current service was but if you intend to replace a 100 amp service with another 100 amp service you're not adding any value to your house, nor are you providing for any future capacity. IMHO if your electrician is just swapping out a breaker panel he may be saving you a few $$$ up front and appear to be doing you a favor but he truly is not doing you a service. (no pun intended !!!)

I would like to add that in my area, once you cut the tag on the meter pan, you better have a permit to do the work. Next time the meter reader comes around and finds a cut tag, a whole lotta things start in motion. If it's determined that you did work on the service without a permit you could get fined.
 
Last edited:
Status
Not open for further replies.
Top