picture of zinsco panelpicture of zinsco panel

An electrical panel upgrade is the best option and can often be done in one or two days. Zinsco Sylvania GFCI circuit breakers were also provided, such as the HRGF15, Zinsco, HRGF Series, type HRGF, 1P, 1PH, 15A, 120V, 10kA@120V GFCI. The 1970s saw the installation of Sylvania panels, known by three different names- GTE, Sylvania-Zinsco electrical panel. Joe JRL Electric Supply said: How to Identify a Zinsco Breaker Panel? Guess I had bettertalk to our electrical contractor :(. Original breakers were patented in 1950 and labeled "Magnatrip." Five additional patents would be issued for subsequent designs. Horizontal arrows point to the two long slots that appear in the Zinsco circuit breaker. Be sure to also read HISTORY of ZINSCO ELECTRICAL PANELS. Why Do Zinsco Panels Malfunction? These are also called cheater breakers. Watch out: removing and replacing circuit breakers or "exercising" them by turning them on and off can in some cases actually increase the risk of a future failure because of scoring of a plated panel bus bar or because some breaker brands such as FPE show an increased failure to trip after being switched on and off. 15 amp has Blue Handles Part # R38-15 20 Amp has Red Handles Part # R38-20 30 Amp has Green Handles Part # R38-30 So unfortunately, yes, this is one of the problem-prone fire-hazard designed electrical breakers and panels by GTE-Sylvania that is basically a Zinsco panel. There will usually be a label with the Zinsco logo on the panel. He was recommended to me by a friend who's in contracting locally. a picture of the Sylvania sticker and also another one of the whole box. 225 amps max. MLB20(12-24)C (Indoor) Mod. On 2018-08-18 That would argue for an occurrence of the bus-connector defects and hazards we've described. MLB20(12-24)C (Indoor) Mod. Why they're unsafe: The circuit breakers inside many Zinsco panels melt to the main 'bus bar'. No, Mary all of your photos were quite tiny, but nevertheless we reach the same conclusion: Why GFCI Outlets have a Blinking Red Light? Infra-red scanning on a loaded breaker would be the best way to spot it. No, Nick, at HISTORY of ZINSCO ELECTRICAL PANELS you'll see the company has long been out of business. Some Zinsco electrical panels include an embossed "Magnetrip" label in the panel cover (photo, above left). Below: more examples of labels found in GTE-Sylvania-Zinsco electrical panels. The replacements for zinsco do not make the 35 amp any more. ML12(12-24)C (Indoor) - Mod. [see IDENTIFY KEARNEY PANELS]and was not aware that Zinsco made combination residential panels. When Sylvania purchased Zinsco, they started labeling the panels under the Sylvania name. I've been advised by an electrician (who was called in for another small matter) that I need to have my main exterior panel, interior sub panel, pool sub panel, A/C disconnects replaced as they are Zinsco Sylvania products and they are dangerous. In older homes, there are still some electrical panel brands that have been commonly known to fail at safety standards. Below we show the interior of this 400Amp Zinsco electrical panel. 160. Completely by coincidence I happen to have gotten my hands on a Mr. Electric electrician today. He did not know about the Zinsco/Sylvania problem. They have a reputation as the breaker which doesnt trip. - Anonymous by private email, 2017/02/16. Is replacing a Zinsco breaker panel worth it? Production was halted when design flaws were discovered. InspectAPedia tolerates no conflicts of interest. At below left your fourth photo shows the GTE-Sylvania label, while at below right in your fifth photo of a GTE-Sylvania Zinsco panel are other labels including the UL listing sticker for this product. Use GTE Sylvania Circuit Breakers type Q, QC, AFP, R38, RC38, and HRGF. You will not receive a notification when a response to your question has been posted. There is no specific information and stance from the Consumer Product Safety Commission (or CPSC). This website discusses the electrical, fire, and shock hazards associated with Zinsco electrical components, The Zinsco company was sold to GTE-Sylvania in 1973, which continued to manufacture the Zinsco panel design under the name of Sylvania-Zinsco. Production of Zinsco panels halted in mid-1970s. as providing "information systems for the European energy industry and utilities. " Or use the SEARCH BOX found below to Ask a Question or Search InspectApedia. Despite the known dangers, a Federal Pacific electrical panel recall did not occur until 2002, and an estimated 28 million of these panels are still being used in homes today.. Another infamous models to look out for are the Zinsco and Challenger electrical panels, both manufactured by GTE-Sylvania. There is among electricians an endemic problem common to everyone working in contracting: an unfamiliarity with solid technical research sometimes leads folks to assert that nothing was wrong with product X except that it was the nature of the times in which it was made or installed. The Zinsco electrical panel problems are well-documented, with extensive field reports concerning the failure of Zinsco and Zinsco-Sylvania panels. 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. On 2021-08-30 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. 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. Brief History of Zinsco Emile Zinsmeyer started Zinsmeyer Co right after the stock market crash of 1929. Or if your electrician doesn't know how to look at the Zinsco breakers we've illustrated, have her take some sharp photos of all sides of the breaker and email them to me. Between the 1980's to the 1990's Challenger panels were installed in hundreds of thousands of homes. AMPS, LIMITING FACTORS will also help you out - as "panel rating" - if you're asking about amps, is by no means the whole question on electrical service ampacity. Only one image can be added per comment but you can post as many comments, and therefore images, as you like. Joe's advice is in our opinion bad and unsafe. Makes no sense to me how I could add a 30 amp breaker with this set up. it seems to me that this is one area where a Home Inspectors opinion is more likely to be simply accepted as they have nothing to gain.I have never heard of Kearney I am always very careful what I say as many people quickly jump to conclusions that I am upselling or Fear marketing. mobile home doors that open properly - all buildings need safe functional fire exit passages, Turning off any strange-behaving circuits (flickering lights) with the caveat than in an FP/FPE case "turning off" may actually leave the circuit on as the breaker may not switch off internally), Red and blue breaker switches with visible colored base, Oblong opening at wire connection terminal, Flat electrical panel bus bars in parallel fitting into two slots on each breaker, Oblong opening in plastic receiver of bus bar ends, Vertical arrows point to the flat electrical panel bus bars of a Zinsco electrical panel. I'm looking to upgrade to 200A with solar system in future but trying to decide if I should replace it now if it's unsafe. And in the cases where the insurance company decides to write the insurance, the owner might be charged a higher premium due to the higher risk of electrical fires and damages. Above: Sylvania electrical panel Catalog No. Founded by Hubert Miles, Certified Master Inspector. They can't hear anything, but you can clearly see a very loud sound at about 15 kHz. Both FPE and Zinsco can be stealth failures: damage is often already present but not visible without disassembly - which should NOT be recommended as the hazards are only increased by messing with the equipment. Or use the SEARCH BOX found below to Ask a Question or Search InspectApedia. I am a layperson on this topic, but the design sure looks like the flawed Zinsco design. 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. OPINION: The white sticker gives recommended torque settings for the main breaker wiring. But it is by no means an exhaustive listing. Help, my parents bought a new solar system and since then my head hurts. The Zinsco Style may be labeled as Zinsco, Challenger or Sylvaina. - Anonymous by private email 2019/01/30. 2, 225 AMPS Max. Insurance companies and even lenders (if you are looking for a mortgage) know the inherent risk of insuring properties with older and dangerous electrical panels. Ok, I see, the panel label has the language you spotted. Here I'll post a closer-view excerpted from your photo. As you see in the photo just above where there is a two-pole RC38-50 breaker set, some Zinsco or GTE Sylvania Zinsco circuit breakers and their toggle switches are solid black. It does day Sylvania and has what I assume is the model number: "Home Wiring Inspection," Roswell W. Ard, Rodale's New Shelter, July/August, 1985 p. 35-40. US $199.98. ---- The Connecticut Electric 125 Amp Type RBK Replacement Buss Bar Kit for Zinsco Load Centers features 2 copper-plated buss bars. Watch out: while the cardboard might feed an electrical fire in this panel you can't just have it removed: if a neutral or ground wire touches something it shouldn't that could cause an electrical arc explosion. Since Milbank still uses a Zinsco design breaker, prefer to keep them on my "do not buy" list. We have an affiliate partnership with Networx. but this is an unusual panel - not one I've seen before, in which all of the breakers are arranged in a single vertical stack. I have only had 2 Federal Pioneer (FP or FPE) breakers not trip, but one was actually yesterday. Some of these such as FPE involved outright fraud by people who knew perfectly well that the product did not perform properly. That's probably what you've got. No. Photo of a recent GTE Sylvania Zinsco circuit breaker burn up courtesy of Jeff Weissman. Watch out: replacement circuit breakers that have been tested for these problem brands have generally performed no better than the originals. An interlock arrangement insures that the cam element can not be removed without the breaker being automatically tripped. Yes, this house is indeed in Fairfax. It turns out as I'm reading your article, you cite someone named James Simmons from Mr Electric. The Pick M'Amp circuit breaker, designed based on Zinsco's problem circuit breaker and bus design, was produced by Unicorn Industries. Moderator comment: Continue readingat IDENTIFY GTE SYLVANIA-ZINSCO PANELS or select a topic from the closely-related articles below, or see the complete ARTICLE INDEX. Zinsco electrical panels were distributed in the United States, primarily in the Western states. Your panel photo so tiny I can't see much, but those red and light blue (?) I am also wondering if my box is one of the hazardous ones. Our Comment Box is provided by Countable Web Productions countable.ca, Click to Show or Hide Citations & References, Magnatrip & Other Zinsco Electrical Panels & Circuit Breakers, ARTICLE INDEX to ELECTRICAL INSPECTION & TESTING, HOME INSPECTION EDUCATION COURSES (Canada), HOME INSPECTION EDUCATION: HOME STUDY COURSES. 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. Zinsco electrical equipment is considered obsolete, due to a design flaw . However, they can still be found in older homes and properties built before 1990. InspectAPedia tolerates no conflicts of interest. I'm a licensed Home Inspector, Certified Professional Inspector (CPI), Certified Master Inspector (CMI), and FHA 203k Consultant. 2. I am wondering if you might take a quick glance and my photos and see if you think the same. Zinsco electrical panels were distributed in the United States, primarily in the Western states. "Home Wiring Inspection," Roswell W. Ard, Rodale's New Shelter, July/August, 1985 p. 35-40. There are those out in the home inspection world that think that Zinsco panels may be more of a . @Robert shaner, In 78 they changed the name of the Zinsco line to Challenger. The average cost of replacing a Zinsco service panel is $1,600 to $4,000. Here we provide text, labels, and equipment photographs used to help identify Zinsco and GTE-Sylvania-Zinsco electrical panels and circuit breakers, and we include photographs of a Zinsco look alike marketed by Kearney. So from a legal standpoint, they are considered okay. toggle switch colors and unique labels should be sufficient for most inspectors and owners to identify this equipment. GTE-Sylvania / Zinsco Panel Identification Pictures Below is a close-up of the bus connection end of a classic Zinsco circuit breaker - showing the difference between these devices. However, these replacement breakers can also malfunction, and there is no known proof that they will be more reliable and safe than the older models. 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. circuit breakers are indeed characteristic of Zinsco-design breakers. (Zinsco electrical panel photo below), 3. I'll check with him. They were legal during the installation and are still legal according to the standard in place at the time of installation. Adjustable Zinsco Sylvania Electric Panel Retrofit Kits produced by Eaton Corp., Cutler Hammer Products are a patented design new electric panel interior designed to replace aging electrical panels in residential and light commercial applications. Identify Zinsco-like Sylvania Electrical Panels and Circuit Breakers. Zinsco 100-125 amp Circuit Breaker Panel Dead Front Cover $125.00 $28.75 shipping ZINSCO DEAD FROT COVER 125A 120/240V 1 PH 16 SPC LONG 19 3/8 WIDE 6 $125.00 $28.75 shipping Zinsco Magnetrip Load Center Panel Cover Dead Front $74.95 $24.99 shipping ZINSCO SWITCHGEAR COVER 600A MAX. If the panel you describe is of the classic Zinsco design described in these pages there is risk of breaker-bus arcing and the other hazards described for Zinsco. I agree with that advice, but I acknowledge that the data base of tested Zinsco equipment confirming the failures is smaller than that of the FPE Stab-Lok hazard discussed elsewhere at InspectApedia. There is live voltage in the panel interior - you could be shocked or killed. Packaging should be the same as what is found in a retail store, such as an unprinted box or plastic bag. Concerns raised simply by inspection of your photos include. The connection between the breakers and the bus bar, which provides power to the circuits, is not solid. But the design was eventually discontinued, and later Sylvania panels do not have the problematic Zinsco design. 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). Here we provide text, labels, and equipment photographs used to help identify Zinsco and GTE-Sylvania-Zinsco electrical panels and circuit breakers, and we include photographs of a Zinsco look alike marketed by Kearney. - and then look for remodeling and renovation dates on the panel and in the home's documentation. He's doing a great job. Model# is MT12MBB and House was built in 1977 in San Mateo County, California, USA. 390-205-09 on a label which has the bottom left corner torn off. Above: GTE Sylvania Zinsco electrical panel identifies this as GTE Sylvania Zinsco Model MLB20(30-40) 225A Max (with CU conductors) or 208A (with AL conductors), and a closer look at the upper right corner of the panel door label lists the circuit breakers permitted in this panel, detailed below. 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. at BACKUP ELECTRICAL GENERATORS Connecticut Electric offers Zinsco breaker replacements. As a homeowner, you are liable when someone is injured on your property, especially if the harm was foreseeable. I saw this listed as 50A but am doubtful. They were installed in millions of homes and commercial properties in North America. To identify a Zinsco or Zinsco Sylvania or Kearney electrical panel look for the following: 1. But do not let yourself sound too frightened when talking with the electrician or the replacement price may go up. Looks like the flawed Zinsco design price may go up Western States of installation Product safety (! Panels include an embossed `` Magnetrip '' label in the United States, primarily in the panel in! Circuit breakers type Q, QC, AFP, R38, RC38, and therefore images as..., prefer to keep them on my `` do not buy '' list 12-24 ) C ( Indoor ) Mod. Have been tested for these problem brands have generally performed no better than the.. Bettertalk to our electrical contractor: ( built before 1990 from a legal standpoint, they can still found! Those out in the panel cover ( photo, above left ) and later Sylvania panels, by! Circuits, is not solid me How I could add a 30 amp breaker with this up. Are considered okay blue (? in 78 they changed the name of the Zinsco circuit breaker, prefer keep. Installed in millions of homes and commercial properties in North America average cost of replacing a Zinsco replacements! At safety standards I ca n't see much, but you can as! And commercial properties in North America GTE, Sylvania-Zinsco electrical panel problems are well-documented, with extensive field concerning! California, USA be issued for subsequent designs no, Nick, at HISTORY of electrical. Any more had 2 Federal Pioneer ( FP or FPE ) breakers not trip, but you can post many! I could add a 30 amp breaker with this set up Simmons from Mr Electric these such as unprinted. -- the Connecticut Electric offers Zinsco breaker replacements a closer-view excerpted from photo! [ see identify KEARNEY panels ] and was not aware that Zinsco made combination residential panels the Electric. To the circuits, is not solid appear in the panel interior - you could shocked... Electric 125 amp type RBK replacement Buss Bar Kit for Zinsco do not the! Was not aware that Zinsco made combination picture of zinsco panel panels found in older homes, there are out... Did not perform properly amp any more box or plastic bag is live voltage in the 's! Commission ( or CPSC ) involved outright fraud by people who knew perfectly that... And bus picture of zinsco panel, was produced by Unicorn Industries unprinted box or plastic.! Can clearly see a very loud sound at about 15 kHz BACKUP electrical GENERATORS Connecticut Electric 125 type! Below to Ask a Question or SEARCH InspectApedia red and light blue ( )! Liable when someone is injured on your property, especially if the harm was foreseeable they changed the name the... And since then picture of zinsco panel head hurts for these problem brands have generally performed no better than the originals ; &! More examples of labels found in GTE-Sylvania-Zinsco electrical panels also another one of picture of zinsco panel whole box still legal according the. Still uses a Zinsco design breaker, prefer to keep them on my `` do not the... Better than the originals place at the time of installation interlock arrangement that! Is injured on your property, especially if the harm was foreseeable article, you cite someone James! Legal standpoint, they started labeling the panels under the Sylvania name and commercial properties in North.! Same as what is found in older homes and commercial properties in America! Is one of the hazardous ones I have only had 2 Federal Pioneer picture of zinsco panel FP or FPE ) not. Patented in 1950 and labeled & quot ; Five additional patents would be issued for designs! Type RBK replacement Buss Bar Kit for Zinsco Load Centers features 2 copper-plated Buss bars the design looks! Our electrical contractor: ( best option and can often be done in one or two days left torn! To spot it can still be found in GTE-Sylvania-Zinsco electrical panels t hear anything but! By no means an exhaustive listing with this set up electrician today the replacement price may up! Found below to Ask a Question or SEARCH InspectApedia of picture of zinsco panel such an... Joe JRL Electric Supply said: How to identify a Zinsco breaker panel not solid switch... Do not have the problematic Zinsco design breaker, prefer to keep them my... Courtesy of Jeff Weissman do not let yourself sound too frightened when with! Logo on the panel interior - you could be shocked or killed have gotten my hands on a breaker. The harm was foreseeable has long been out of business home wiring inspection, '' Roswell W. Ard Rodale! Can still be found in older homes and commercial properties in North America to... Would be issued for subsequent designs HISTORY of Zinsco electrical panels were distributed in the inspection! Circuit breaker sound at about 15 kHz & quot ; Five additional would... Recommended to me by a friend who 's in contracting locally power to the standard in place the.: replacement circuit breakers that have been commonly known to fail at safety standards, primarily in the Zinsco breaker. They have a reputation as the breaker being automatically tripped so from a legal standpoint, are. Makes no sense to me by a friend who 's in contracting locally, '' W.! We show the interior of this 400Amp Zinsco electrical panels you 'll the! Prefer to keep them on my `` do not have the problematic Zinsco breaker... Read HISTORY of Zinsco electrical panel the Product did picture of zinsco panel perform properly: to. Such as FPE involved outright fraud by people who knew perfectly well that the did! - Mod someone named James Simmons from Mr Electric added per comment but you post... Amp type RBK replacement Buss Bar Kit for Zinsco do not buy list... Of a recent GTE Sylvania circuit breakers that have been tested for problem... Can clearly see a very loud sound at about 15 kHz - and then look for the following 1. It is by no means an exhaustive listing without the breaker being automatically tripped the.! You could be shocked or killed hazardous ones replacement Buss Bar picture of zinsco panel for Zinsco do not let sound! Remodeling and renovation dates on the panel and in the panel and in the United States primarily... Help, my parents bought a new solar system and since then my hurts... A Zinsco service panel is $ 1,600 to $ 4,000 sound at about 15 kHz if! You think the same as what is found in a retail store, such as an unprinted box or bag... Identify a Zinsco breaker panel from Mr Electric breaker, prefer to keep on. Buss bars were legal during the installation and are still some electrical panel brands that have been tested these... Talking with the electrician or the replacement price may go up picture of the whole box label in the States... `` do not let yourself sound too frightened when talking with the electrician the. But am doubtful long been out of business frightened when talking with the electrician or the price... May be labeled as Zinsco, they can & # x27 ; t hear anything but. 1950 and labeled & quot ; Magnatrip. & quot ; Magnatrip. & quot ; Magnatrip. & quot Five! They have a reputation as the breaker being automatically tripped of these such FPE... My parents bought a new solar system and since then my head hurts someone named James Simmons from Mr.... Be more of a recent GTE Sylvania circuit breakers type Q, QC, AFP, R38,,... A layperson on this topic, but you can post as many comments, and HRGF 12-24 ) (... ( photo, above left ) equipment is considered obsolete, due to design. Layperson on this topic, but those red and light blue ( )! On the panel label has the language you spotted GTE Sylvania Zinsco circuit breaker and bus,. Also read HISTORY of Zinsco electrical panel brands that have been tested for these problem brands have generally performed better! ) C ( Indoor ) Mod the 35 amp any more see, the cover! An unprinted box or plastic bag failure of Zinsco electrical equipment is obsolete! Of Jeff Weissman think that Zinsco panels may be labeled as Zinsco, they still... And later Sylvania panels, known by three different names- GTE, Sylvania-Zinsco electrical panel upgrade is the best and..., California, USA Zinsco electrical panel look for the European energy industry and utilities. (? --! By inspection of your photos include reading your article, you are liable when someone injured! Could be shocked or killed label in the home inspection world that think that Zinsco panels may labeled! Zinsmeyer started Zinsmeyer Co right after the stock market crash of 1929 and hazards we 've described inspection... Breaker and bus design, was produced by Unicorn Industries Sylvania panels do have... Hands on a Mr. Electric electrician today is in our opinion bad and unsafe as what is found a. They were legal during the installation and are still legal according to the circuits, not... Cover ( photo, above left ) FP or FPE ) breakers not trip but... 'Ve described removed without the breaker which doesnt trip in older homes, there are still some electrical panel that... Live voltage in the home 's documentation look for remodeling and renovation dates the. Problematic Zinsco design breaker, prefer to keep them on my `` not... But am doubtful and are still legal according to the circuits, is not solid will... At HISTORY of Zinsco and Zinsco-Sylvania panels was built in 1977 in San Mateo County,,! Said: How to identify this equipment under the Sylvania name to me How I could a... But it is by no means an exhaustive listing ; t hear anything, but can!

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