Federal Pacific Electric
company was one the most common manufacturers of electric panels or circuit breakers back in the 90s. Millions of homes were equipped with their eclectic panels across the United States.
If you take most of the old homes in Pullman and Whitman county (specially built between the late 1950s to early 1990s), they might be supplied with Federal Pacific Electric Panels.
Later on, they were recalled due to a potential threat of electric hazards. And before I get to what that is, let me give you a quick glimpse of how a panel works for your safety.
How does an electric panel work?
Electric panels are often called “breakers,” which is an electrical system that divides the electrical supply into individual circuits. So it provides safety for each electric line in your home.
It is where you can find several breaker switches for different devices in your home. There will be a lever to turn off the entire system (primary circuit) in case of emergencies.
Now, the circuit breaker switches are safety tools. If one becomes overloaded, then it will automatically trip (or break) to avoid electric flow. Each breaker can only accommodate a specific amount of electric current. And if it overflows, the breaker shuts the flow to prevent overheating, which may result in a fire hazard.
So that is an overall picture of how the electric panel works.
Why did the Government recall Federal Pacific Electric Panels?
Back in the day, there were reports of electrical fire incidents at homes. The consumer product safety commission began an investigation in the early 1980s, and took electrical experts onto their team. They inspected countless homes where the Federal Pacific Electric panels were installed from 1960. This investigation finalized that 51% of those tested breakers wouldn’t trip to an overload. That means, if there is a malfunction anywhere in the home, the panel remains “ON”.
Most homeowners at that time didn’t even know about this.
When a breaker doesn’t trip, a potential amount of electric current from the external electrical supply rushes into a home’s panel and circuits. Once that happens, we cannot shut it off manually using the lever. The electric current burns until the wires melt. The electric panel box can catch fire. That leads to potential damage to the appliances and the humans.
Not only that, insurance companies may require a higher premium if you have a Federal Pacific Electric Panel at home.
What are the next steps?
If you find that your home is equipped with a Federal Pacific Electric panel, here’s something you need to understand.
The circuit breaker panel is the heart of a home’s electrical system. It continuously allocates and receives electricity. So there are high chances of an outbreak if someone inexperienced handles the panel. It’s always wise to call up an expert to do the job for you.
In Pullman and the Whitman County area, our Artizan Electric professionals have safely replaced dozens of Federal Pacific Electric Panels over the years.
We have experience in identifying potential hazards, and we’ll make sure to eliminate all the possibilities of safety hazards and get you and your family one step closer to comfort.
Call us today at (509) 339-9991 to do a full home inspection.
Federal Pacific Electrical panel troubleshooting.
If your circuit breakers keep tripping or flickering lights in some places in your home, that means that something needs to be done with the electrical panels. As we mentioned earlier, these problems are hazardous and take a lot of training and experience to handle. So we highly recommend you not to do any troubleshooting yourself and always call an expert.
The Wrap-up
As you understand from this post, most old homes in Pullman and Whitman County are still equipped with the senior generation Federal Pacific Electric Panels, which the government recalled.
If you happen to identify one in your home, contact professional electricians at the earliest. It’s always better to replace the panels with a highly secure and new-age electric panel system. Because the board is the heart of the circuit in a home, if it is inspected and maintained accordingly, the chances of safety hazards will only get slimmer. Therefore creating a secure environment for you and your family.
At Artizan Electric, our professionals have the expertise to handle any problem with your entire circuits.
We also provide electrical wiring and repairs, electrical safety inspection, lighting design, electrical vehicle charging station installation, and old baseboard heater replacement, just to name a few.
If you might encounter any emergencies related to electricity at home, don’t hesitate to contact us. We’re available 24/7 for emergency services.
Call us today at (509) 339-9991 to do a full home inspection.