Should I repair or replace my Zinsco electrical panel?
If you have a Zinsco panel, the first option is to replace the whole electrical panel, including the breakers. This is the most costly option. However, the most frequently recommended and the best course of action safety-wise.
What is a Zinsco panel?
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.
Do replacement Zinsco breakers perform better than their predecessors?
I have found no data suggesting that replacement Zinsco breakers, if they can even be located, perform any better than their predecessors, not to mention the price gouging that goes on when buying obsolete electrical equipment.
Are Zinsco solar panels safe?
As time has passed, electricians and home inspectors have discovered that certain Zinsco panels often can fail to operate properly and may leave homes and homeowners at risk to both fire and electrical shock. These panels can work fine for years, but as homes have increased energy demands, these panels may overheat and portions of it melt.
Are all Zinsco panels unsafe?
Zinsco panels are considered dangerous not just by electricians but also by industry experts. In the beginning, the panels were manufactured with copper bus bars and the clips on the breakers were copper as well. Back then, only three materials were allowed to be used as electrical conductors: gold, silver and copper.
Are new Zinsco breakers safe?
One of these electrical panels is known as Zinsco. Zinsco breaker panels are dangerous and no longer considered safe to use. Zinsco breaker panels are known to not trip in the presence of overcurrent or short circuits. Due to the type of aluminum used, Zinsco breakers can melt and fuse to the bus bar.
Why are Zinsco panels bad?
Zinsco panels may have significant design flaws. This presents an issue because aluminum wiring rusts, which can decrease the effectiveness of the electrical conductor. Additionally, aluminum wiring can lead to overheating and interfere with electricity flow. The bus bars are damaged and destroy easily.
Why are Zinsco breakers so expensive?
The reason why Zinsco/compatible breakers are so gosh darn expensive is because Zinsco panels are obsolete and have a somewhat checkered field failure history -- while they do not suffer as badly from the issues that plague FPE's line of non-breakers, the Zinsco breaker line still has some of the same problems: namely ...
Are Zinsco panels illegal?
Zinsco panels may not meet today's updated safety codes. Production of Zinsco panels halted in mid-1970s. Experts say that Zinsco panels produced during this time would not receive today's UL listing. They would not be allowed to be sold to the general public because they no longer pass current safety codes.
Were all Zinsco panels recalled?
While Zinsco too was part of a major recall and lawsuit, the company no longer exists. Thousands of homes around the country may still have these malfunctioning and known hazardous electrical panels installed.
How do I change a Zinsco breaker?
0:5410:47How To Replace A Zinsco Breaker - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipSo we're going to turn off the main breaker here this shuts off all the power. So this is a 125 amp.MoreSo we're going to turn off the main breaker here this shuts off all the power. So this is a 125 amp.
What breakers are interchangeable with Zinsco?
While Zinsco panels support Sylvania breaker replacement and GTE Sylvania circuit breaker replacement, you need to be mindful of vendors that sell purportedly effective replacements under these brand names. They're very likely fake.
Is Zinsco still in business?
Currently, Zinsco electrical equipment is considered obsolete due to a design flaw in which the circuit breaker's connection to the bus bar becomes loose, causing arcing and subsequent overheating.
The dangers of Zinsco Panels
Zinsco electrical panels were manufactured starting in the 1930s and were sold over the next four decades. During the 70s, design flaws became an issue for the equipment and production was halted, although many panels continued to be sold. These flaws caused both fire and electrical shock risks.
Replacing Zinsco Panels
If you have a Zinsco panel and breakers, you should really consider having a licensed electrician give it a thorough inspection. Prairie Electric will inspect the panel, breakers, and connections coming in from the outside. We perform panel replacements for residential and commercial applications, giving your building a clean bill of health.
What is Zinsco electrical?
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. Production was halted when design flaws were discovered.
What is the overall design of a breaker panel?
The overall design of the panel includes aluminum bus bars, which are subject to corrosion and overheating as energy demands increase. Once a breaker becomes taxed, subsequently melting to the bus bar, there is an inability of the breaker to adequately trip, and power continues to surge into the panel and associated downline circuits.
Can electricians replace parts?
Even if an electrician tells you, he can replace parts, it would be wise to still opt for total panel replacement. The greatest reason being, the safety standards that were acceptable in the 60’s and 70’s are much more stringent today and would never be approved for use.
Can Zinsco panels be shut off manually?
At this point, the panel is not able to be shut off manually and power is continuing to be supplied to the panel until the service can be terminated or wires melted. It’s important to note other branded electrical panels manufactured at approximately the same time as the Zinsco panels have not had the same failure rate to date.
Replacement Electrical Panels: for Replacement of Zinsco or Zinsco-type Sylvania Electric Panels
How should Zinsco electrical panels be repaired: Options for Replacing Zinsco Electric Panels & Zinsco-Sylvania Electric Panels. Zinsco electrical panel replacement alternatives. Field reports on performance of CE or other Zinsco replacement circuit breakers.
Electrical Panel REPLACEMENT COST Typical cost of the traditional Zinsco or Zinsco Sylvania Electrical Panel Replacement
A number of factors affect the actual cost of replacing an electrical panel, including base labor cost variations in different geographic areas, costs of electrical permits, and the specifics of a particular installation: working space, wire lengths, condition of old wiring, and other factors.
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What to do if branch circuit wiring is questionable?
As far as the safety of the electrical system, if the branch circuit wiring is questionable, the best thing to do is to evaluate it with a voltge drop tester, fix it up, and add circuits as needed to alleviate overloads. That may necessitate replacing the panel to accomodate more circuits.
Is a square D panel good?
Actually, there's little need for concern with a Square-D panel that has Square-D breakers in it. Square-D breakers have an excellent reputation for reliability, and their short circuit response is one of the best (quickest). Square-D (the QO line) is expensive, and you get what you pay for.
Do old panels need breakers?
Old panels often have too few breakers for the necessart circuits. For example, since Zinsco went to the "great scrapyard in the sky," we've come to recognise a need for at least two kitchen circuits. An old house will often have problems with breakers tripping, as too many appliances are used at once.
What are the design flaws of Zinsco panels?
Some of the problems include: • Certain components of the panel contain aluminum. • The connection between the breakers and the bus bar is often not solid.
When did Zinsco stop producing?
Production of Zinsco panels halted in mid-1970s. Experts say that Zinsco panels produced during this time would not receive today’s UL listing. They would not be allowed to be sold to the general public because they no longer pass current safety codes.
Why are Zinsco circuit breaker panels dangerous?
Experts Have Identified Two Major Reasons. Experts report that Zinsco circuit breaker panels may have two major faults that could pose a danger: 1.) Zinsco panels may not meet today’s updated safety codes. Production of Zinsco panels halted in mid-1970s. Experts say that Zinsco panels produced during this time would not receive today’s UL listing. ...
How long does an electrical panel last?
With regular maintenance by a licensed electrician, experts say that today’s electrical panels can function properly and protect homes for 30 years or more.
Can Zinsco panels be stopped?
Once that happens, it cannot be stopped or shut off manually. Electricity will burn until it runs out of fuel or the wires melt. The panel could overheat and catch fire, causing serious harm to a home and its occupants. Zinsco panels may seem to work properly for years.
Can you see Zinsco panels?
Learn More here and also here. Problems with certain Zinsco panels cannot be seen by the naked eye. Even after the cover of Zinsco panels has been removed, everything can seem to be in fine working order. Upon exploring its components, electricians find that breakers cannot be removed from the bus bar. They’ve welded together, which indicates that ...
