No law or recall requires it. The CPSC closed its 1983 investigation without a recall, but independent testing found Stab-Lok breakers failing to trip at rates no safety device should show. Our advice is to plan the replacement, and to treat it as urgent if you see heat or scorching.
This guide is part of our Electrical Panel Upgrades service in Dallas–Fort Worth.
No law, recall or code requires every Federal Pacific panel to be removed. The Consumer Product Safety Commission closed its 1983 investigation without ordering a recall. But independent testing since then found Stab-Lok breakers failing to trip at rates no safety device should show, and a breaker that does not trip gives no warning until something overheats. Our advice as electricians is to plan the replacement on your own schedule, and to treat it as urgent if there is heat, scorching or a loose breaker.
Was there ever a Federal Pacific recall?
No. On March 3, 1983, the CPSC announced it was closing its investigation of Federal Pacific Electric Stab-Lok circuit breakers because 'the data currently available to the Commission does not establish that the circuit breakers pose a serious risk of injury to consumers' (CPSC news release, March 3, 1983). The same release said commission staff had insufficient data to accept or refute the position of Reliance Electric, which then owned FPE. It added that a full assessment would cost several million dollars, which the agency decided not to spend given its budget and other known hazards.
Read that carefully. The CPSC did not find the breakers safe. It said it did not have enough data to decide either way, and it stopped looking. Its advice to consumers was general: know which outlets are on which circuit, do not overload circuits, disconnect products that malfunction, and find out why a breaker trips instead of just resetting it.
What did independent testing find?
Most of the failure data comes from Jesse Aronstein, a consulting engineer who has studied Stab-Lok breakers since the early 1980s and has testified in litigation over them. His report "Hazardous FPE Circuit Breakers and Panels" (May 25, 2007 update, hosted on InspectAPedia) tests breakers from 28 panels that homeowners had removed. At 135% of rated current, a UL test point, 21% of the half-width single-pole breakers (55 of 268) and 8% of the full-width single-pole breakers (6 of 77) failed to trip. For two-pole breakers the figures were 33% (13 of 39) and 35% (29 of 81), and 18% and 9% of those two-pole breakers jammed, meaning they did not trip at any overcurrent he tested.
Those are Aronstein's numbers, not the CPSC's, and they come from an engineer who has served as an expert witness on this equipment. They fit the reason electricians distrust these panels. Two-pole breakers protect the air conditioner, dryer, range and water heater, and when a breaker fails to trip on an overload, nothing stops the wire from overheating. The same report cites a New Jersey class-action ruling that FPE committed fraud by applying UL labels to breakers that did not meet the UL test requirements.
| What the source says | Source |
|---|---|
| Investigation closed with no recall. The available data did not establish a serious risk, and staff could not accept or refute the manufacturer's position. | CPSC, 1983 |
| Breakers from 28 home panels: 8–21% of single-pole and 33–35% of two-pole breakers failed to trip at 135% of rating; 9–18% of two-pole breakers jammed (May 2007 update) | Aronstein report |
| FPE and Zinsco panels have a reputation for being problematic. Evaluation by a qualified electrician is recommended. | InterNACHI |
| Texas home inspectors are not required to operate breakers or verify that they work | TREC, 22 TAC 535.229 |
How do I know if my panel is a Stab-Lok?
Read the label on the panel door or the inside of the cover. Do not remove anything to do it. The International Association of Certified Home Inspectors (InterNACHI) lists these names as Federal Pacific identifiers:
- Federal Electric
- Federal Pacific Electric
- Federal NOARC
- Federal Pioneer
- FPE
- FPE-Stab-Lok, or Stab-Lok on the label or on the breakers
Do not take the dead front (the inner cover the breakers poke through) off to look. The incoming service conductors behind it stay live even with the main breaker off. If the label is missing or painted over, we can identify the panel on a visit. Of the cities we work in, Arlington is where we find them most.
Is it illegal to have a Federal Pacific panel?
No. It is legal to own and to keep using one. The panel is not illegal. The problem is that nobody can confirm from the outside that its breakers will trip, and neither can a standard home inspection.
Will a Federal Pacific panel hold up a home sale?
It usually comes up at the inspection. Texas home inspectors work to the Texas Real Estate Commission's standards of practice (22 TAC 535.229). The standards list the panel deficiencies an inspector must report, but they do not require the inspector to operate breakers, verify that breakers work, or remove covers the inspector judges hazardous. They do not name any panel brand. A buyer's inspector can identify a Stab-Lok panel but cannot tell you whether its breakers would trip. Many recommend an electrician's evaluation, which is also what InterNACHI advises for FPE and Zinsco panels.
Buyers also ask about insurance. Each carrier sets its own underwriting rules, and we will not guess at yours. Ask your agent before closing whether the panel brand affects the policy, and get the answer in writing.
If you are selling, replacing the panel before you list takes it off the buyer's repair request. If you are buying, an electrician's written quote during the option period gives you a real number to negotiate with.
Can a Federal Pacific panel be replaced the same day?
The visit and the written quote can be the same day. We work 7 AM to 7 PM, Monday through Friday. The replacement itself depends on three things outside the house: the city permit, Oncor disconnecting the service so the panel can be changed safely, and the city inspection. Once those are scheduled, most panel swaps take one working day on site. A service upgrade at the same time, a new meter base or grounding corrections can add time.
If there is heat, a burning smell, scorch marks or a breaker that feels loose, do not wait for a convenient date. Call the same day and we will tell you what to switch off in the meantime.
What does replacing a Federal Pacific panel cost?
These match our Federal Pacific replacement cost guide and our panel upgrade page. They are typical ranges. After we see the panel, you get a written flat-rate quote, or a detailed itemized one if you prefer.
| Scope | Typical price |
|---|---|
| 100 A to 200 A replacement, all in | $2,200–$4,800 |
| Same-amperage replacement | Quoted after an on-site evaluation |
| 400 A service | Quoted after an on-site load calculation |
| Meter base or grounding work | Included in the quote when the service entrance needs it |
Panel prices vary with material costs, the size of the panel and service, and how complex the site is. At one end is a straightforward swap to a single 200-amp panel. At the other is a 400-amp service with an added 200-amp panel feeding a separate building, such as a shop or a guest house. Most homes fall between the two, which is why every quote is written after we see the panel, the meter base and the grounding.
Is a Zinsco panel the same problem?
The failure is different, but the answer is the same. On a Zinsco, the aluminum bus degrades where the breakers clip on, so the fix is a new panel, not new breakers. InterNACHI says to look for a blue and silver Zinsco label inside the panel and an embossed Magnetrip label at the top of the panel face. Our Zinsco guide covers it in detail, and our permit guide explains what the city inspects after a panel change.
Not sure what's in your panel?
Same-day visits, 7 AM to 7 PM, Monday through Friday. Written flat-rate quote before any work. TECL #40628, Master Electrician #214180.
Federal Pacific panel questions
No law, code or recall requires it, and the CPSC closed its 1983 investigation without a recall. Independent testing by engineer Jesse Aronstein found Stab-Lok breakers failing to trip at high rates, especially two-pole breakers. Most electricians, Clements Electric included, recommend a planned replacement, and an immediate one if there is heat, scorching or a loose breaker.
No. In its March 1983 release the CPSC said the available data did not establish a serious risk, and that its staff had insufficient data to accept or refute the manufacturer's position. It also said a full assessment would cost several million dollars, and it chose not to fund one. It closed the investigation without finding the breakers safe or unsafe.
New breakers still sit on the original panel, bus and connections, so they do not settle the question the way a new panel does. A 1970s panel also rarely has the capacity or breaker spaces a house needs today. For both reasons, Clements Electric quotes panel replacement on Federal Pacific equipment.
Texas inspectors follow the TREC standards of practice (22 TAC 535.229). These require reporting specific panel deficiencies, do not name brands, and do not require the inspector to operate breakers or verify they work. Many inspectors note an FPE panel and recommend an electrician's evaluation, which is what InterNACHI advises for FPE and Zinsco panels.
A 100-amp to 200-amp replacement typically runs $2,200–$4,800 all in, including the panel, breakers, permit, inspection and labor. It is an estimate: material costs, the meter base, grounding and how complex the job is move the price. A same-amperage swap or 400-amp service is quoted after an on-site evaluation, and every job gets a written quote before work starts.
