This appears to be due to the fact that the company went out of business prior to these discoveries. I've not heard complaints about Zinsco. Where is the master breaker for the Zinsco power panel. When Zinsco was sold to GTE Sylvania in 1973, the company continued to make panels that included Zinsco somewhere in the name. 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. Zinsco or GTE-Sylvania panels were popular electrical panels installed in homes throughout the 1970s. Split Bus Panels. The photo above shows a common Zinsco breaker panel with the front hinged cover open. Suffice it to say, I am of the opinion that when properly installed and unmodified, FPE and Zinsco are no more “unsafe” than any other panel of the same era. Zinsco panels went on to be a very popular brand of electrical panels for several decades, often labeled with the name “Magnatrip” on the cover. If the existing Zinsco breakers are OK, then replacing then is totally up to you. Zinsco is now defunct, but many homes still have these panels. An old Zinsco Service Panel is a potential safety hazard! See our blog posts Who is the manufacturer of those "bad" electric panels ? Federal Pacific and Zinsco Electrical Panel Recall. 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 … One problematic panel in particular, Zinsco, was widely installed as early as the 1950's and through to the 1970's. A friend had a house inspection done on a house she bought. Zinsco Power panel. If you have an electrical issue, the power can result in a fire due to the melted wires. and Why are Zinsco and Sylvania-Zinsco electric panels a problem? Due to the Zinsco brand being purchased by Sylvania in the 1970s, Zinsco equipment is sometimes also labeled as “Zinsco-Sylvania” (and “Zinsco/Sylvania”) or even “GTE-Sylvania-Zinsco”. While there are varying opinions regarding the reliability of Zinsco equipment and its ability to consistently provide reliable electrical system protection, there are documented reports of some Zinsco equipment overheating and/or failing Panels were known to fail, while still conducting power. If you are in the market to buy a home in the greater Portland area, conducting a thorough inspection of the electrical panel and electrical system to ensure there is not a Zinsco and Sylvania electric panel is crucial in making a sound property investment. You will not find an official recall of the Zinsco electrical panel and equipment. Apparently I do not have one in the power panel itself. After hundreds of similar incidents, it was found that Zinsco panels were to blame for frequent electrical shocks, short circuits, and fires. Zinsco or Zinsco-Sylvania is the name given to a brand of electrical panel that was commonly installed up to the mid-1970's. What makes Zinsco panels so unsafe is that the circuit breakers inside the enclosure melt to the main bus bar, meaning the breaker doesn’t have the ability to ever trip. “We have recently located these panels in several homes of our clients in the Severna Park, MD area, so residents should definitely be sure to check their panels and call us with any concerns” says co-owner Dave Crawford. Electrical panel replacement costs vary considerably depending on geographic area of the location where the panel is to be replaced, panel size, location, access ability, and complexity of wiring to be removed and reconnected. The Zinsco company was sold to GTE-Sylvania in 1973, which continued to manufacture the Zinsco panel design under the name of Sylvania-Zinsco. to learn more. These defects are often impossible to see until the breakers are removed — something a licensed electrician, and not a home inspector, should do. Production was halted when design flaws were discovered. The circuit breakers of this panel often melt. Zinsco Magnetrip Panels and Circuit Breaker Problems. Thousands of homes around the country may still have these malfunctioning and known hazardous electrical panels installed. Quotes & comments from licensed electricians. Zinsco electrical panels do not meet current safety codes and requirements. Zinsco Panels. Inspect Your Sylvania Electrical Panel. Hazards of Zinsco Panels. The main electrical distribution panel is a Zinsco brand panel. Zinsco Electric Panels . She asked me to review the results. A current series 1 pole circuit breaker will cost $28.00 and a current series of another brand is about $4.00 The existing circuit breaker panel was made in the sixties. It was a very popular product and installed throughout North America. But the design was eventually discontinued, and later Sylvania panels do not have the problematic Zinsco … Well, maybe not. There is no question that electrical issues, especially those related to panels themselves, rank high on the list of home inspection findings. The Zinsco panel is one of the most common brands of dangerous electrical equipment we see. The panel is rated at 150 AMPs. To identify a Zinsco panel, look for a vertical line of color-coded circuit breaker handles down the middle of the electrical box. The company, renamed Zinsco in 1943, was sold in 1973 to GTE-Sylvania who continued to manufacture breakers and panels to the original Zinsco design. Zinsco or Zinsco-Sylvania is the name given to a brand of electrical panel that was commonly installed up to the mid-1970’s. Zinsco was established as a brand in 1943 when the son of the Zinsmeyer Company took over his father’s electrical business. Zinsco … Zinsco History One of the many Zinsco logo variations. The Zinsco brand is no longer in existence, but many homes still have their originally installed Zinsco electrical panel. Nonetheless, I know it needs to be replaced but right now can't afford it. Zinsco panels were quite popular during the 1970's. The Zinsco electrical panels would not receive the UL listing in today’s world. Replacing the panel is likely a project for next summer. However, it is no longer in production. Both of these brands of electrical panels were in widespread use for decades and as a result, millions of homes could be impacted by this recall. Worst case, fire. srechkin (Simon Rechkin) December 29, 2019, 12:50am This Zinsco combination Meter Socket / Electrical Distribution Panel just about burned my friend's house down. One’s the SE with the cover open, next is a close up of the breakers (look at the 125 A main): Here’s the 125 A breaker removed: I understand the home is getting a completely new SE panel. Another infamous models to look out for are the Zinsco and Challenger electrical … House Power Panels (HPP) installed in the 1960s may need to be replaced by Duke Energy at no cost to the customer. I noticed that the inspector recommended that the electrical panel be replaced because it's a Zinsco from 1980 and has been recalled. Interesting thing is, it seems my surrounding neighbors haven't replaced their panels yet either. Typical costs to replace a Zinsco, Kearney, or Sylvania-Zinsco electrical panel. The first time I tried to remove Zinsco circuit breakers from a panel box, every circuit breaker in the panel box was tack welded to the power bus. Zinsco panels and breakers don't make good contact with the bus bar and cause heatand melting. They have the same electrical issues as Zinsco panels Challenger – Challenger panels built and installed in the 1980s and 1990s were found to have an issue where they were overheating under normal conditions at … Zinsco was bought out by GTE/Sylvania in the early 70's, and the product line was continued for some time. Throughout the 1970s, especially in the Western United States, it was common to have a Zinsco panel installed in a new building. Equally need to know are the methods required to make safe and secure. With multiple breaker manufacturers in competition, and the increase in the typical number of circuits, many employed the “split-bus” panel to save cost. This made the Zinsco brand hugely popular with contractors and millions of Zinsco service panels and load-centers were installed through the 60’s and 70’s. The Zinsco panels also have a history of problems with the breaker to bus bar connections, and corrosion at the busbar because certain components of the panel contain aluminum. Federal Pacific and Zinsco are both manufacturers of electrical panels that were recalled in a class action law suit from 2002. Why they’re unsafe: The circuit breakers inside many Zinsco panels melt to the main ‘bus bar’. This prevents the breaker from tripping if there is an overloaded circuit or a short. The only real change was the Sylvania logo, which was added to the panel. There is a "master breaker" There is a "master breaker" somewhere. Although Zinsco no longer exists, this panel is still in numerous homes. Yes, there is a history of problems with some of the Zinsco breakers mostly having to do with the twin style circuit breakers that can have arcing problems at the connection with the main panel buss. Our homes were built in 1965. The Zinsco Panel was very popular during the 1970s. Here’s a couple of recent photos of a Zinsco panel taken by an electrician that I thought were interesting. This company made many different types.Most have this silver foil label with the Zinsco name, others are called Magnetrip, others have the Zinsco name stamped in the enclosure. DanH | Nov 25, 2016 01:11pm | #19. Zinsco circuit breakers are notorious for arcing and welding to the aluminum power buses. Due to the deficiencies found in these panels and the adverse effects the panels can cause, Zinsco electrical panels should be replaced. There are gray areas, and one of the major gray areas is the Zinsco Electric Panel. Two other panel brands that are not insurable are Federal Pacific and Zinsco-Sylvania. The Zinsco brand was established in 1943 when the son of the Zinsmeyer Company took over his father’s electrical business. Production was halted when design flaws were discovered. In addition, Zinsco panels typically have the logo at the top of the panel. Zinsco Electrical Panel Recall December 27, 2017. A good perspective of how a wiring system works is useful knowledge when you start doing electrical work. They were later manufactured for a time by Sylvania and Yeah I know about the recall. Zinsco Panel Recall While Zinsco too was part of a major recall and lawsuit, the company no longer exists. It was also sold under the Kearney brand name. If you have a Federal Pacific panel, Stab-Lok breakers, or certain Zinsco panels, call a qualified electrician in your area. Here is the downside of buying the New Zinsco type circuit Breaker. It was a very popular product and installed throughout North America. Was also sold under the Kearney brand name their panels yet either as brand. 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