Zinsco Doc's

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RSquirrel

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Location
Watsonville, CA, USA
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Mechanical Engineer (retired/consulting)
Can anyone supply data sheets, manuals or other documentation (.pdf or scan) or point me to a source for one or both of the following? (Google yields no directly-relevant hits):

[1] Zinsco RBMT-30 Load Center (contains 100-amp breakers, each serving one of four meters in a stack)
[2] Zinsco BMS6033SN 600 AMP 3-pole, 120/208V.A.C. 3⌀, 4W Heavy Duty Fusible Enclosed Switch?

Note: The purpose is to have documentation in order to evaluate replacement options.
 
Considering that Zinsco was gone before the internet existed (as we know it), someone would have had to have scanned those old docs and put them on a server somewhere. Given that the general consensus on Zinsco is to just rip and replace, it’s unlikely that anyone bothered.

Why the need for documents? The fact that Zinsco no longer exists and has a nasty reputation for failure is reason enough. In fact there are a number of insurance companies that will not underwrite a building that still has Zinsco (or FPE) panels in it.
 
Jraef said:
Considering that Zinsco was gone before the internet existed (as we know it), someone would have had to have scanned those old docs and put them on a server somewhere. Given that the general consensus on Zinsco is to just rip and replace, it’s unlikely that anyone bothered.

Why the need for documents? The fact that Zinsco no longer exists and has a nasty reputation for failure is reason enough. In fact there are a number of insurance companies that will not underwrite a building that still has Zinsco (or FPE) panels in it.
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Jraef,

Yes, I'm aware of most of what you've said - in fact I replaced a Zinsco load center in my own home with a Square-D QO panel. As for "the need for documents," I'm pretty sure I stated the reason.
 
I am guessing that instead of doing new load calculations he wants to figure out what maximum load the old could have supported and planning for that in the new system?
 
James L said:
I'm curious, like @Jraef
How do you go about evaluating replacement options by looking at a spec sheet from a long-gone product?

What exactly are you looking for in those documents?
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We are hoping to feed two dual-head ChargePoint CT4021 chargers (4 40-amp 2-pole circuits) from an existing meter bank (specifically from the "house" meter that has a limited load demand). It's not in our HOA budget to replace the Zinsco equipment, so knowing what's behind the sheet metal would be very helpful.
 
RSquirrel said:
We are hoping to feed two dual-head ChargePoint CT4021 chargers (4 40-amp 2-pole circuits) from an existing meter bank (specifically from the "house" meter that has a limited load demand). It's not in our HOA budget to replace the Zinsco equipment, so knowing what's behind the sheet metal would be very helpful.
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Put in 3 chargers and a new panel then
 
Given that the problems with Zinsco have to do with things not reliably performing as the specs would have you believe, I'm also curious how having the specs would help.
 
I'm wondering, if you're looking at adding (4) 30-amp chargers onto a 100-amp service, why not just add up 4x30 and see if it goes into 100 ?
 
For what it's worth, on the rare occasions in the past that I've dealt with existing Zinsco equipment I've always assumed that the ratings were as stated on the label. This was pretty much always after the customer got a clear warning that we were not responsible for that equipment and they clearly acknowledged it. I mean, it's either suitable for what it's labeled for or else all bets are off anyway.

(And as far as I recall, we never touched a full Zinsco panelboard except to replace it, always backfed our solar through a different brand subpanel or occasionally a meter/main with one or two breakers. These days I wouldn't even do that as we have enough work that if a customer says no to replacing Zinsco then we don't need that job).
 
RSquirrel said:
[1] Zinsco RBMT-30 Load Center (contains 100-amp breakers, each serving one of four meters in a stack)
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Replace house breaker with one of these, if it fits equipment:

ZIN; QFB; 3P; 125A; 240V​

Zinsco QFP24-200-3 3P; 200A; 240V​

RSquirrel said:
[2] Zinsco BMS6033SN 600 AMP 3-pole, 120/208V.A.C. 3⌀, 4W Heavy Duty Fusible Enclosed Switch?
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Replace house meter & feeders with one of these, if it fits.

ZINSCO METER SOCKET 200A 3 PHASE

Zinsco 3 Phase 240V Meter Socket​

 
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