Too young to know (lol) Never saw one
- Thread starter Esthy
- Start date
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jnaas2
Member
- Location
- Evansville, In
Google pushmatic panel
John120/240
Senior Member
- Location
- Olathe, Kansas
The house I grew up in had one 1955 or there bouts. Yes Pushmatic
PetrosA
Senior Member
- Location
- Lancaster, Pennsylvania
I think Bulldog was around from the late 1940s, but don't quote me on that and the first patents for their breakers are dated 1936. These certainly aren't that old though. A typical 12-20 circuit Bulldog panel weighs about 800 pounds if I recall correctly 
K8MHZ
Senior Member
- Occupation
- Electrician
In case you haven't figured this out, the current rating of the breaker is on the side of the button. I remember the first time I saw these and it took a couple minutes for me to find the current rating of the breaker. It's especially difficult if the breaker is dirty and the numbers are obscured by dirt and grease.
Oh Lord, I think I need your help, been new in WA and with WAC regulation I have reservations here. Please as before, bear with my poor English/idiomatic expressions.
Situation: the corroded set of meters and disconnects (second photo) included the one that supply the Mobile Home in question. This meter/disconnect is located about 100/150? and supply (I assume) the Pushmatic on pedestal (first photo) with one 130 amps and one 30 amps breakers. The panel inside the Mobile Home is a 200 amps Federal Pacific (oh, oh). This is a very old Mobile Home.
A fire started in the electric furnace that is protected with a 50 amps breaker and of course, been a FP panel the breaker didn?t trip and the fireman had to do by hand. The heat was intense and I must assume that the breaker was going to trip, but it didn?t. I am going to check on Monday the situation, I would like to replace the FP panel, but if the condition of the buss/breakers looks clean maybe I will let it go because of a very economic poor situation here, BUT if I need to replace this panel (I would like Square D) I have the following question: If this is a ?Permanent Mobile Home? should I install the 2 grounding rods from the new SD panel? From the Pushmatic? From the meter/disconnect (because of the terrain and corrosion, it is hard to diagnosis the situation there)? Better if I replace the Pushmatic? Money is a big issue here, but I really want to help in the less but safe way possible, and I know you have the answers and of course thanks again!
Situation: the corroded set of meters and disconnects (second photo) included the one that supply the Mobile Home in question. This meter/disconnect is located about 100/150? and supply (I assume) the Pushmatic on pedestal (first photo) with one 130 amps and one 30 amps breakers. The panel inside the Mobile Home is a 200 amps Federal Pacific (oh, oh). This is a very old Mobile Home.
A fire started in the electric furnace that is protected with a 50 amps breaker and of course, been a FP panel the breaker didn?t trip and the fireman had to do by hand. The heat was intense and I must assume that the breaker was going to trip, but it didn?t. I am going to check on Monday the situation, I would like to replace the FP panel, but if the condition of the buss/breakers looks clean maybe I will let it go because of a very economic poor situation here, BUT if I need to replace this panel (I would like Square D) I have the following question: If this is a ?Permanent Mobile Home? should I install the 2 grounding rods from the new SD panel? From the Pushmatic? From the meter/disconnect (because of the terrain and corrosion, it is hard to diagnosis the situation there)? Better if I replace the Pushmatic? Money is a big issue here, but I really want to help in the less but safe way possible, and I know you have the answers and of course thanks again!
PetrosA
Senior Member
- Location
- Lancaster, Pennsylvania
The money involved to replace this equipment is nowhere near large enough to be worth compromising life safety. You really need to replace that gear.
PetrosA
Senior Member
- Location
- Lancaster, Pennsylvania
Are the meters combination type with FP or Pushmatic breakers? Do they have corroded terminals for wires or meter? If so, replace. Any panels in this setup with FP or Pushmatic breakers that failed to trip should be replaced. Square D costs too much? Use a cheaper brand. You have options like Eaton BR series, Siemens, or even Murray. Just don't hook up corroded gear (I'm talking about the internal stuff, not just rusted on the outside) or gear that has failed to trip or which has overheated. That's a huge liability for you.
Thank PetrosA for your advice. I will check next week the situation, but the visual is this: Meters for 8 mobile homes are in bad shape (exterior, will check inside) but this particular Mobile Home were I am going to work is about 100/150' away from the meter and the disconnect (breaker too corrode to identify by visual amperage), them there is a Pushmatic panel closed to the Mobile Home with 130 amps and a 30 amps breakers and a FPE 200 amps breaker inside the house. My feeling is, without checking yet, is that if the FPE is not "clean" I should replace it and replace the Pushmatic. I am not familiar with WA state Mobile homes, but I think that if I replace the Pushmatic with a new panel and disconnect and connect the grounding rods there and replace the FPE and use it as a "subpanel" (grounds and grounding separate) will be okay and call POCO or the management office to take care of the meter combo. I appreciate your opinion
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