Zinsco Panels

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dan_mcquiston

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I am an electrical contractor in the Northwest and a commonly used panel in the 60's were the Zinsco Panels. I know that these are hazardous but I cannot find any information to show potential customers about these panels. Does anyone have available any solid evidence that these panels need to be replaced. I know about the corrosion issues with the breaker jaws and about the wire bend radius issues but I need something in writing about these and other issues.
 
Re: Zinsco Panels

Do a search on Mike Holt. There was also a class action law suit in New Jersey in the 60s.
In addition go on the web and type in law suits against zinsco panels.
I use these areas all the time also there was a this old house article written by the guy who founded it Bob Vila it is also on the net.
 
Re: Zinsco Panels

I'm not actually being helpful here but I can't help but get the impression that know one wants to here what the professional has to say anymore because obviously our only motive is to rip people off.

Forget about it. I can get you "reconditioned" Zinsco breakers for all the nice people you're cheating.

:mad:
 
Re: Zinsco Panels

Or you could just go down line to any receptacle and short hot to ground. As the sparks are flying and the wire is humming inside the walls, explain to them very loudly the diffence between tripping on an overcurrent v. tripping on a short circuit and how Zinsco will trip on overcurrent, just has a difficult time tripping on a short circuit. Also tell them that with a new panel, the circuit would have tripped by now, because the short circuit mechanism actually works with other brands.

At this time you should probably disconnect your short circuit. Have them look carefully at the now burnt off insulation on the red hot wires. Let them know that this is how electrical fires start. If you're still unable to convince them at this time to do a panel change, just ask them to at least make sure they don't let their homeowner's insurance lapse.

Goodluck
 
Re: Zinsco Panels

I was going to post a separate thread about this, but since it came up; I was always a little skeptical about the FPE and/or Zinsco thing until this weekend when I saw it with my own eyes.

I was working with my old mentor and he had me trace out a receptacle in a 2 gang box with a duplex and switch. I shut off the breaker feeding the receptacle and he proceeded to remove the devices. As he is pulling out the switch, it arcs to the plaster ring (not on the same circuit as the duplex). The arc held for a pretty good instant until he moved the switch. The screw was virtually completely melted and the FPE StabLok held just fine.

I am sure you all have many stories like this, but for me seeing is believing.

Mark

[ November 21, 2005, 06:52 PM: Message edited by: busman ]
 
Re: Zinsco Panels

Re. FPE StabLok and Zinsco, are these considered the same, that is the same complaints and/or problems are the same for both panels?
Also, often times one never discovers that a breaker is defective because it is never required to trip. It can sit their for years on end and never be subjected to a short circuit or an overload. When it comes down to it what liability do we have when we remove and save breakers form a job for future installation or purchase them from a electrical salvage company without knowing if it will in fact operate as originally manufactured.
 
Re: Zinsco Panels

FPE, Zinsco and Murry 200a red main breakers's. Should all be replaced IMHO.

[ November 21, 2005, 08:26 PM: Message edited by: magoo66 ]
 
Re: Zinsco Panels

I did some work on a mobil home fed from a Zinsco service. Lights were flickering and stuff and the owner tried to put that on me. I checked all my work (even though I knew there was no need) and insisted I wouldn't be responsible for the "other" problems. A week or so later the tenent saw sparks shooting out of the Zinsco service panel.

Edit: Error A

[ November 22, 2005, 06:06 PM: Message edited by: physis ]
 
Re: Zinsco Panels

FPE`S and ZINSCO`S were at one time refered as arch welders without the welder.You can go to the big O and buy a 2 pole 90 for the same money as a sub panel 125 a loaded with breakers.I did a kitchen remodel and someone had the range on a 2 pole 90 there was plenty of room in the zinsco panel.$$$ wise I fed the sub off the 2p90 zinsco.
Fed the remodeled kitchen from the subpanel and saved 50%in material :D
 
Re: Zinsco Panels

How can you bad mouth such a fine breaker ? They will last almost forever and we almost never get calls about them tripping.Most will keep going till the fire is over :D
 
Re: Zinsco Panels

Originally posted by jimwalker:
How can you bad mouth such a fine breaker ? They will last almost forever and we almost never get calls about them tripping.Most will keep going till the fire is over
Click to expand...
I've heard that they're approved for fire pumps. :D
 
Re: Zinsco Panels

Originally posted by jimwalker:
How can you bad mouth such a fine breaker ? They will last almost forever and we almost never get calls about them tripping.Most will keep going till the fire is over

This is great and I have seen these panels throw LARGE sparks during a rain storm, was not fun! But the main breaker held great! Hope you don't mind me using your quote now and again!
 
Re: Zinsco Panels

Oh I am sure there wll be some other choice words
to descibe ZINSCO and FPE breakers,just as I am trying to be politocally corect :roll: The truth is simply this.(need an arc welder) get a zinsco set up to $$
 
Re: Zinsco Panels

my experience with zinsco was a bit different. fpe wouldn't trip, but zinsco calls were almost always breakers that wouldn't stay on, primarily due to faulty connections. the bar clips would loosen with being taken out and put back in. the bars would scorch or oxidize or whatever and even new breakers would burn out and pretty soon the whole bar was gone.

on the other hand i had a stablock breaker hold while the wires melted all the way back to the panel. sounded like a big wall fan for several minutes.

i just sold all my old breakers to an electrical resaler

paul
 
Re: Zinsco Panels

Never thought of it that way.Need a fire for collecting insurance ?We have the perfect breakers for this.Best part is after the fire they can be salvaged for the next fire job :D :D .
Maybe i am just hard on them and should back off ;) I seen some of the fires they can do.Great jobs and they held just fine.
 
Re: Zinsco Panels

Got one for you guys. demoing job the other day. It was a detached garage with a subpanel in it. Had all of the wires demoed except one. AS I go to cut it kliens get a nice hole in em. well traced the wire out to a wall mounted box that was being fed from an outdoor outlet located on the house. Head inside expect to see a fpe panel. Oh no what do I see is a ge panel. How common is it for a ge breaker to act like an fpe since the circuit stayed hot.
 
Re: Zinsco Panels

I'm not sure whether I'd expect that conductor to be dead based on what you've said. But I do have two sets of side cutters, one for only unenergized copper and one for stuff like what happened to your Kliens. :D
 
Re: Zinsco Panels

Most likely the run was rather long so its possable the breaker never seen the load you think you gave it.Best to never use new klines on live or demos.Carry a hot stick always.GE is ok if your kool with half space breakers.Personally i dislike all GE products.It started many years back when i did TV repairs.Never found any quality in there products.But that just my opinion.
 
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