Still, if your electrical panel uses the circuit breakers listed here it may be a Zinsco design. Also it was interesting that a New York Electrical Engineer performing independent tests on samples of used circuit breakers of a variety of brands found in very preliminary testing was that there were a few other contemporary panel/breaker products that appeared to have high (compared with overall industry) no-trip rates. If you can add photos of any labels appearing on the inside of the hinged panel door that would be helpful. Aluminum Enters the Picture. Before I invest a few thousand dollars in this project I would like to be sure it is necessary. In your panel there are two red stickers with arrows: one pointing "up" indicates that the upper portion of the panel contains multiple (Two in this case) main disconnect breakers and the lower portion of this split bus panel contains individual circuit breakers. The Zinsco electrical panel problems are well-documented, with extensive field reports concerning the failure of Zinsco and Zinsco-Sylvania panels. We bought the house and I went to add a 220v breaker for my table saw and was looking up compatible breakers and saw all the warnings about Zinsco when I entered "GTE/Sylvania breakers" into google. Watch out: replacement circuit breakers that have been tested for these problem brands have generally performed no better than the originals. For a minute I thought we weregood! Completely by coincidence I happen to have gotten my hands on a Mr. Electric electrician today. The younger Zinsmeyer took over the company from his father in 1943 and renamed it Zinsco. "Had to" is a technical opinion with which I agree. However, these dont seem any different from the original Zinsco panels. Therefore, we urge homeowners to consider replacing Zinsco panels. Brief History of Zinsco Emile Zinsmeyer started Zinsmeyer Co right after the stock market crash of 1929. But in your case we can see the familiar label in your photographs. Victor [by private email] 10 September 2015. On 2021-08-30 Aluminum has a useful life of approximately 30 years. Please see details at ZINSCO SYLVANIA ELECTRICAL PANELS. Help, my parents bought a new solar system and since then my head hurts. Not sure what amp panel I have either - looks like maybe 150 amp. - Vertical or "on edge" electrical panel bus bars identify a Zinsco design. I am also wondering if my box is one of the hazardous ones. (Click on Icons to go to social media pages.) The copper shortage of the 1960's was primarily caused by the US . 200 amps - $1,300 to $2,600. Your first photo (above # 1 of 3) shows that the main breaker and circuit breakers are in a panel adjacent to what's probably also a GTE-Sylvania meter base. 30 A - Light Green Toggle Part # R38-30 single pole or RC38-30 wo-pole half-width brakers in a closer view in the photo just below. Electrical Equipment & Supplies; Circuit Breakers & Disconnectors; 240V 3 PH LONG 15 3/4 WIDE 27 3/4 $300.00 $102.65 shipping MOB20(20-40)C (Indoor) Mod.2, 225 AMPS Max. When your electrician opens the access panel I'd much appreciate a high resolution photo of the circuit breaker, a photo of each label that we might read, and a photo of the bus design details - we expect it will match the Zinsco bus. Although sometimes brand names change at the border. Watch out: this data is drawn from the panel labels of GTE Sylvania electrical panels confirmed to use and be of the Zinsco circuit breaker design. How to Identify a Zinsco Breaker Panel? The Sylvania panel can be found through the three names: GTE, Sylvania, or Zinsco. The inside box is a Zinsco/Sylvania model number 20-5x (7-14). What happened with Zinsco and why do electricians tell people to replace their panels? It is also the panel which had several 100 ampere main breaker fails which led to fires. Photo 2: A Zinsco panel bus, showing scratch and oxidation marks Photo 3: A Zinsco double pole breaker in-place, with the electrical panel bus exposed Photo 4: A Zinsco breaker side blowout, exposed breaker contact exposed in the electrical panel Photo 5: A Zinsco breaker side blowout-2, exposed breaker contact exposed in the electrical panel Sylvania panels from GTE Panels made by Zinsco If you have a malfunctioning circuit breaker in your home, you should replace it before it does any damage. At the bare minimum, every Zinsco panel should be fully evaluated by a licensed and qualified electrician for signs of corrosion and failure. In the case of Zinsco panels, the risks are well known. "Basic Housing Inspection," US DHEW, S352.75 U48, p.144, out of print, but is available in most state libraries. Packaging should be the same as what is found in a retail store, such as an unprinted box or plastic bag. In 1973, the GTE Corporation launched an electric panel design and called it "Challenger". Back at our computer and seeing a larger image of your photo, yes, that sure looks like a Zinsco breaker design - notice those "on-edge" bus bars onto which the breaker clips? "Electrical System Inspection Basics," Richard C. Wolcott, ASHI 8th Annual Education Conference, Boston 1985. I should also point out that the 200 ampere mains are mounted differently and as far as I am aware had no problems like this. where we discuss, among other topics, Try the search box just below, or if you prefer, post a question or comment in the Comments box below and we will respond promptly. Please bookmark this page to make it easy for you to check back for our response. 4-77 1977 [Lots of sketches of older-type service panels.]. Look for evidence that the panel is original, having been installed when the home was built and take that as the panel age 1320 Dayton Street SE, Olympia, WA 98501, 360-705-4225, Fax 360-705-0130 or by email to, Thanks to various electricians, home owners, and home inspectors for contributing the Zinsco Sylvania-Zinsco electric panel and circuit breaker, Thanks to Joe Funderburk, (Obsolete, not recommended), Personal communication, J. Aronstein to D. Friedman, 3/6/2006, James P. Simmons: Personal communication and photographs used in this article series, J. Simmons to Daniel Friedman, 3/4/2006, 2/19/2008. I am always very careful what I say as many people quickly jump to conclusions that I am upselling or Fear marketing. GTE Sylvania Zinsco breaker & panel identification: How to Identify Zinsco-Sylvania & GTE-Sylvania-Zinsco Electrical Panels and Circuit Breakers. We have an affiliate partnership with Networx. Your electrician agrees that the circuit breakers are a latent hazard - risking failing to protect your home from a fire or injury should an over-current hazard occur, so he or she recommended replacement. 112. r/solar. Zinsco is now defunct, but many homes still have these panels. So, what breakers are compatible with Zinsco? 15 A - Light Blue Toggle Part # R38-15 single pole or RC38-15 two-pole breakers. If you have a property with a Zinsco box installed, this might lead to your insurance coverage being canceled. There is no Zinsco electrical panel recall, despite overwhelming evidence of failures. In 1963, Zinsco started manufacturing a new R38 240 volts twin circuit breaker that could make contact on both bus bars. US $97.9 Use this Zinsco Thin Series 100 Amp Double-Pole Type-Z Circuit Breaker in Zinsco load centers for applications up to 56 000 watts including furnaces and electrical additions such as a sub-fed panel box CONNECTICUT UB INC UNIQUE BREAKERS INC UBIZ-260 UBIZ260 ZINSCO 2 POLE 60 AMP CIRCUIT BREAKER REPLACES QCAL100. Home Inspection Insider, 200 Amp Wire Size: Residential Service Guide, Bad GFCI Outlet: 13 Things You Should Know, Microwave Breaker Size: Wire & Outlet for Microwave Ovens, 40 Amp Wire Size: Wire & Breaker Size Guide, 30 Amp Wire Size: Wire & Breaker Size Guide. At least I am aware though. It's probably a 15A Zinsco tandem circuit breaker. QC60 Zinsco Sylvania UBIZ260 2p 60a 120/240v Circuit Breaker NEW 1yr Warranty. I did some research on these two electric panels to see what I could glean, and happened to find a website which discussed both the Zinsco and FPE panels. My electrician told me they were Zinsco and had to be replaced. Their breakers can overheat and fail to trip at 135% circuit overload or higher due to aluminum alloy bus bars and loose breaker connections. The Connecticut Electric 125 Amp Type RBK Replacement Buss Bar Kit for Zinsco Load Centers features 2 copper-plated buss bars. I have a buyer that wants me to put in a new panel because it might be. Note: appearance of your Comment below may be delayed: if your comment contains an image, photograph, web link, or text that looks to the software as if it might be a web link, your posting will appear after it has been approved by a moderator. Discussed: GTE-Sylvania-Zinsco Electrical Panels that used Zinsco circuit breakers and bus design & may involve similar electrical panel failures and safety concerns as Zinsco. Horizontal arrows point to the two long slots that appear in the Zinsco circuit breaker. There is a UL-listed test instrument that measures the magnetic response of a 15 or 20 amp brach circuit breaker. For people who are too poor to make their homes safer by replacing questionable electrical equipment we suggest some initial or temporary hazard reduction measures: I was reading information on your website about Zinsco panels but I can't determine if my main panel and sub-panel inside the house are the affected panels. Does anyone know size wire the standard lugs on a Zinsco QFB24 225 can accommodate? They were once a popular product to have installed in homes. https://unicornsystems.eu/ Electrical panel interior access should be by a licensed and trained electrician. Below right: a badly faded Sylvania electrical panel sticker. I am sending you a picture, can you tell if it needs to be replaced? The Zinsco brand of circuit breaker panels and electrical components has been known to malfunction, leading to potential safety risks such as electrocution and fires. Questions & answers about the identification of Zinsco, Sylvania-Zinsco, and Kearney Electrical Panels - Zinsco-look alike Electrical Panels and Circuit Breakers. I see it's in Fairfax Virginia (my home for many years) and I'm guessing from the electrical inspector's tag that the home or at least the panel is from 1976. - I want to add a 30 amp breaker to the panel to add a portable generator. Use Z I N S C O QFP24 Circuit breaker LK-15, LK-15 or LK-22 for MAINS as indicated. No, Mary all of your photos were quite tiny, but nevertheless we reach the same conclusion: The Zinsco circuit breakers, particularly R38 breakers, a two-pole breaker that takes up one breaker slot, have a high failure rate. This was used as a temp panel for 3 months on a job. 1320 Dayton Street SE, Olympia, WA 98501, 360-705-4225, Fax 360-705-0130 or by email to, Thanks to various electricians, home owners, and home inspectors for contributing the Zinsco Sylvania-Zinsco electric panel and circuit breaker, Thanks to Joe Funderburk, Just as a simple example, FPE failures were at 60% when contemporary industry failures to trip were a fraction of 1%. We also provide an ARTICLE INDEX for this topic, or you can try the page top or bottom SEARCH BOX as a quick way to find information you need. But current electrical needs have become greater over the years and these panels are simply not up to code. Join. It appears that the present Unicorn Industries has nothing to do with the old meter base in your photo; the current Unicorn describes themselves: as providing "information systems for the European energy industry and utilities. " Watch out: you will also find some 30A - Black toggle Zinsco breakers and 20A black-toggled GFCI breakers that, as you'll see illustrated below on this page. LK-15 It is from 1975. Some other factors that will affect the price for replacing a Zinsco panel are: Depending on these and other factors, even newer wiring might need to be installed. www.ncwhomeinspections.com 509-670-9572. See GTE-SYLVANIA-ZINSCO FAILURE MECHANISM. He was recommended to me by a friend who's in contracting locally. Sometimes that's true. Plated aluminum bus bars that get gouged-through when a breaker is inserted (mounting a breaker cuts through the plating and we see corrosion, overheats, failures). Due to significant flaws in the design of the panels, after wear and tear of the breaker, the breaker and aluminum bars in the Zinsco panel melt together. The unsafe electrical panels sold by Zinsco were prevalent between the 1960s and 1970s. But in my OPINION this is an unsafe situation: it's not a great idea to include fire-kindling inside of an electrical panel! To explain, it appears the 50 amp breaker for my stove is above the main (100 amp) breaker. Experts report that Federal Pacific Electric (FPE) circuit breaker panels may have three major faults that could pose a danger: 1.) Rating with LK-15 150 Amps, LK22 225 AMP. This panel, in photos above, uses a Zinsco type bus design. Zinsco electrical panels were distributed in the United States, primarily in the Western states. That would argue for an occurrence of the bus-connector defects and hazards we've described. 2. Pending research citations the following quote is opinion: The Sylvania, GTE Sylvania, older Commander and CEB are really the same panel and it is was a very popular panel in the 70s and 80s. --- circuit breakers are characteristic of Zinsco-design breakers. You will not receive a notification when a response to your question has been posted. Unfortunately, yes, that's a Zinsco-Sylvania panel design. Some history of Unicorn Industries circuit breakers is at. InspectAPedia tolerates no conflicts of interest. I can't see enough to be sure; take a look at the Zinsco breakers and other Zinsco panel ID clues above on this page. This is accomplished, in brief, by providing a breaker having a switch unit by which shunt current paths of different resistance can be selectively connected in parallel across the current path in which the current is sensed for activating the trip mechanism at a predetermined current level. Product information Technical Details Additional Information Warranty & Support 20 March 2015. Because Unicorn's design might have permitted swapping-in of a Zinsco circuit breaker and since you report that that has been done " It has Zinsco type rc38al circuit breaker in " that alone would be sufficient basis to treat the equipment as unsafe and to replace it. Zinsco is considered unsafe and a serious fire hazard without being officially recognized by the Consumer Products Safety Commission (CPSC). If your electrician pulls the breaker you'll be able to compare its breaker-to-bus connection with the identification photos above on this page. Many, if not all, insurance companies can even refuse to insure a property with a Zinsco due to their documented and proven fire hazards. The average cost of replacing a Zinsco service panel is $1,600 to $4,000. It is a Zinsco type electrical panel and should be replaced. As a homeowner, you are liable when someone is injured on your property, especially if the harm was foreseeable. Zinsco circuit breakers and the buss connections they use are easily identified regardless of the loss or absence of panel labels. Today Zinsco electrical panels are deemed outdated and a significant electrical hazard. Be the first to rate this post. Zinsco or GTE-Sylvania panels were popular electrical panels installed in homes throughout the 1970s. They then sold off the Challenger line in 81. [Click to enlarge any image] History of the Challenger Panel. at the best online prices at eBay! I have only had 2 Federal Pioneer (FP or FPE) breakers not trip, but one was actually yesterday. Do not touch anything inside the panel. It is not a law. Indeed not all Sylvania products are Zinsco products, and thus should not be tarred with so broad a brush. [Click to enlarge any image], 2. He did not know about the Zinsco/Sylvania problem. 2, Type 1 Enclosure, 125A Max.. That identifies this as a Zinsco design. But I would rather live in a house full of knob and tube than one of these panels. Some of these such as FPE involved outright fraud by people who knew perfectly well that the product did not perform properly. However, no inspector should ignore the numerous cases of Zinscos breakers going bad. MLB20(15-30)C Indoor 225A MAX. Try the search box just below, or if you prefer, post a question or comment in the Comments box below and we will respond promptly. This was because the threads on the bus bar were poorly manufactured and the electricians installing them would tighten it down, but not realize that the bolt was carrying the main current due to the gap. Hickory Grove, SC for his photos of a Kearney electrical panel. Those red and light blue (?) WA Home Inspector Advisory Licensing Board. On 2018-08-18 4-77 1977 [Lots of sketches of older-type service panels.]. It would be prudent to replace it. Zinsco panels may not meet today's updated safety codes. Photographs contributed to this website by Jim P. Simmons, Mr. Electric, Licensed Master Electrician, We are changing the panel Monday. "Electrical Systems," A Training Manual for Home Inspectors, Alfred L. Alk, American Society of Home Inspectors (ASHI), 1987, available from ASHI. Replacing a Zinsco breaker panel is often worth it, as the older panels can be unreliable and may not meet current safety codes. Almost immediately, Zinsco began development of new panel and circuit breaker designs, with patent applications dating back to 1946. They have stopped making Federal Panels anyway.Im not sure what the best policy is here, but this much is true: I should simply say yes change these panels, but I know for sure someone will challenge that and it would be better to have reasons. I can ask Dr Aronstein if he can test this Sylvania - Zinsco electrical panel before we disturb conditions by actually pulling breakers. What are your thoughts about this panel set-up? However, if your home was built during these decades, you may well have a Zinsco electrical panel and circuit breakers in your system. IDENTIFY GTE SYLVANIA-ZINSCO PANELS at InspectApedia.com - online encyclopedia of building & environmental inspection, testing, diagnosis, repair, & problem prevention advice. Re-posting without Joe's advertisement One of my staff accidentally cut the wrong wire. Another Zinsco variation . The Zinsco panel may be under the name of Sylvania, GTE-Sylvania or Kearney. I'm a licensed Home Inspector, Certified Professional Inspector (CPI), Certified Master Inspector (CMI), and FHA 203k Consultant. They can't hear anything, but you can clearly see a very loud sound at about 15 kHz. Moderator comment: Hi all what about unicorn electrical products? 2, 225 AMPS Max. 1. As a consequence of this, in Ontario we had to mount drywall behind panels for years. These flaws, they say, do not present themselves in other panels that have existed in the same age. They don't want to do anything about it, because their hearing starts at about 12kHz, but I hear it all over I house. I am wondering if there is a way to tell if this is a Zinsco brand. Photo courtesy Tim Hemm cited at references at the end of these articles. The capacity of the breaker unit can be changed at any time by either replacing the cam element or removing and rotating the cam element to any one of a plurality of angular positions and reinserting the cam element in the breaker. US $134. The Pick M'Amp circuit breaker, designed based on Zinsco's problem circuit breaker and bus design, was produced by Unicorn Industries. Photo of a recent GTE Sylvania Zinsco circuit breaker burn up courtesy of Jeff Weissman. Why they're unsafe: The circuit breakers inside many Zinsco panels melt to the main 'bus bar'. I happily agreed and thought it would be a great opportunity to test out my new GoPro 9 in the process. Federal Pacific Electric panels were produced from the mid-1950s well into the 1980s. Bottom lien: An electrician needs to look with care at this panel for any immediate safety hazards, pending its replacement. That would be useful additional information to document. The instructions say to use certain Zinsco breakers to replace the original ones. - P.G. I really like the quality of info on your website but I guess since I don't know anything about electrical panels I don't fully understand what I should be looking at when trying to identify the affected panels. "How to plan and install electric wiring for homes, farms, garages, shops," Montgomery Ward Co., 83-850. Mr. Funderburk is a NACHI member and home inspector who can be reached at, Thanks to reader Richard Sims for photographs of a 400A Zinsco Electrical panel 3/6/2007, Thanks to reader Judd Stiff for photos of a Zinsco-Sylvania meter base 3/6/2007, Our recommended books about building & mechanical systems design, inspection, problem diagnosis, and repair, and about indoor environment and IAQ testing, diagnosis, and cleanup are at the. Apologies for the delay. Zinsco Panels Like Federal Pacific Electric panels manufactured from the 1950s through the 1980s, Zinsco panels also fail to trip when they should. The Zinsco panel exterior is shown above and in close-up below. Watch out: the panel looks corroded, rusty, unreliable as a brand-independent hazard, and of course Zinsco breakers and panels are unsafe in any event. Instead the generator is connected to the panel THROUGH a transfer switch - an "either-or" type switch that makes certain that both power systems are not ever turned on simultaneously. I would GREATLY VALUE your opinion. Your second photo above shows cardboard inside of the electrical panel, perhaps stuck there to hold a neutral or ground cable to one side in the enclosure. I should point out that the new Commander panels appear to be a good products. Electrical panel interior access should be by a licensed and trained electrician. This gray circuit breaker may have been installed in a GTE-Sylvania electrical panel but is breaker did not use the Zinsco-design circuit breakers and/or may be of a different brand or manufacture. Thanks! @Robert shaner, Thanks again *and* in advance after I get more pix! The following remarks from a licensed electrician were provided to us courtesy of Al Carson, Carson Dunlop Associates, a Toronto home inspection and home inspection education firm. and I am watching carefully Challenger as well as the others you name. The Consumer Products Safety Commission (CSPC) has not issued a recall on many faulty brands due to budget issues and the significant investment required to implement such recalls, and their claim of a lack of supporting evidence. OPINION: a look by your electrician at the condition of the circuit breaker-to-bus connection might show the same arcing and burning illustrated above in this article. Free shipping for many products! This is contrary to other breakers that are in two rows and black colored. Since Milbank still uses a Zinsco design breaker, prefer to keep them on my "do not buy" list. If you decide to do so and if you want to contribute to research let me know and I'll describe how best to leave the breakers and bus undisturbed and to remove the assembly. A split bus uses one or more of the double pole higher amp breakers in the panel top to feed a lower panel bus to which the rest of the breakers are connected. panel or performs further disassembly (DANGEROUS STEP) can further identify the characteristic circuit breaker details but the circuit breaker 15 amp has Blue Handles Part # R38-15 20 Amp has Red Handles Part # R38-20 30 Amp has Green Handles Part # R38-30 When these panels experience a short circuit or an overcurrent, they often fail to cut the power supply to the affected circuit. No. We have no relationship with advertisers, products, or services discussed at this website. - and then look for remodeling and renovation dates on the panel and in the home's documentation. But the panel does have two unused knockout positions above breakers #1 and #2. I started HomeInspectionInsider.com to help people better understand the home inspection process and answer questions about homeownership and home maintenance. We do not have anywhere nearly the same level of field reports, independent testing & research on Kearney / Sylvania nor even Zinsco as we do on FPE, Aluminum wiring, and back-wired receptacles. To know with confidence what the breakers are in the panel an electrician will remove the cover, pull a breaker and compare it with the breaker designs illustrated as characteristic of Zinsco. But watch out: there are surely plenty of other GTE panels that are a completely different design and don't have the GTE-Sylvania panel issues. Zinsco or Zinsco-Sylvania is the name given to a brand of electrical panel that was commonly installed up to the mid-1970's. It was a very popular product and installed throughout North America. Hickory Grove, SC for his photos of a Kearney electrical panel. . In older homes, there are still some electrical panel brands that have been commonly known to fail at safety standards. There were a few still being installed later, but they are rare. white stickers telling you not to remove those "knockout" pair of opening covers. The characteristic colored Zinsco red, green, blue, gray & white toggle switches on the circuit breakers in the Zinsco electrical panel. Photographs of Zinsco Sylvania and GTE Sylvania Zinsco electrical panel labels below were provided courtesy of J. P. Simmons. My Missouri home was built in 1978. Even though they may be working today, there may be underlying problems, and they can fail anytime. 1. The switch unit is set by a plug-in cam, the angular position of the cam when it is inserted in the breaker operating the switch unit to selectively complete one or more of the shunt current paths. Thanks again! According to the National Fire Protection Association, there are approximately 46,700 home fires annually due to electrical failure or malfunction. Is my panel safe - FPE. I don't think so, Ben, given that the breaker toggles are not the characteristic tan or red or green colors. Ok got pix of the stickers -- will add the images. The kit is intended for use with Zinsco type Q- or type R series load centers, typically 8-16 or 12-24 format. Above is an example, a Zinsco R38 Tandem circuit breaker sporting light blue toggle switches. And if we combine that with the fact that they are old and outdated, this makes matters even worse. Into the 1980s, Zinsco panels like Federal Pacific Electric panels manufactured from the original Zinsco panels..! Property with a Zinsco type electrical panel brands that have existed in the Zinsco electrical panel brands have! 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