Residential electrical service panels take power from the electrical grid and distribute it to the outlets and fixtures in your home. If you experience a power surge, the breakers or fuses in these panels will stop power from flowing through your circuits to prevent damage to your wiring and home appliances.
Old, faulty, and malfunctioning service panels can be dangerous. These devices can cause shocks or electrocution and put your home at risk of fire. If your home was built before 1990, it’s important to replace your outdated and unsafe main electrical panels.
Which Electrical Panels Are Most Likely to Be Unsafe?
Identifying outdated electrical panels can help you avoid future trouble with your electrical system. The panel types listed below are commonly known to cause problems:
Split-Bus Electrical Panels
Today’s electrical panels have a single metal bus that connects to each individual circuit breaker to provide power to your entire home. If you turn off the main breaker, you’ll shut off power to the bus and prevent electricity from flowing through your home.
Split-bus electrical panels have two buses and up to six breakers labeled “main” instead of a single main switch. Power enters the panel at the top and flows to the main breakers, which supply large electrical loads. A two-pole circuit breaker in the upper bus bar section feeds power to the lower breakers, which supply power to 120-volt lighting fixtures and outlets.
Split-bus electrical panels became obsolete 40 years ago when electrical codes stopped allowing multiple disconnects. These older circuit breakers can be dangerous if they deteriorate and stop working properly.
If you look inside your electrical box and see that your breakers are divided into two groups without a single disconnect breaker, you probably have a split-bus panel. An electrician should inspect and repair or replace the panel to ensure your electrical system is safe.
Zinsco Panels
During the 1970s, many contractors installed Zinsco electrical panels in new homes, and many are still in use today. These panels can be problematic if the circuit breakers inside of them melt and stick to the main bus bar, which prevents them from tripping when there’s an overload or a short circuit. If a power surge bypasses the panel and causes your wiring to overheat or melt, it could start a fire in your home.
If you see the name “Zinsco” on your electrical panel, you should replace it. It’s also helpful to know that some Zinsco panels were rebranded as GTE-Sylvania panels, but not all GTE-Sylvania panels are Zinsco panels. If your electrical panel is labeled “Sylvania” or “GTE-Sylvania,” have an electrician check it out to make sure that it’s safe.
Federal Pacific Electric (FPE) Panels
If your home was built between 1950 and 1980, its electrical panel may have been made by Federal Pacific Electric. FPE panels were installed in millions of American homes, but unfortunately, the circuit breakers in these panels are unreliable. These breakers often fail to trip when there’s a short circuit or circuit overload, which can lead to fires. The circuits have also been known to let power flow through them when they are in the off position, which can cause shock or electrocution.
If you see the name “Federal Pacific Electric” on the cover of your breaker box or the name “Stab-Loc” on the circuit breakers inside, you should replace your electrical panel.
Fuse Boxes
Fuse boxes are an old electrical panel technology that predates circuit breakers. They contain fuses that burn out or melt to stop the flow of electricity if there is a power surge or a short circuit. This protects your wires from overheating when a circuit draws too much electricity.
Fuse boxes can be safe when they are properly utilized, but they can be an inconvenience in modern homes with high energy demands. Fuse boxes tend to feed homes with fewer circuits, leading some people to plug multiple electrical appliances into a single outlet. That can overload the circuit and cause the fuse to blow. Since you must replace spent fuses to restore power, many people try to modify their fuse boxes by replacing lower 15-amp fuses with higher 20-amp fuses. This can cause wires to overheat and create a fire hazard. Even worse, some homeowners replace the fuse with a piece of metal to allow electricity to flow through the circuit, which can cause your wires to pull large amounts of current and start a fire.
If you see little glass cylinders inside your electrical panel, you have a fuse box. Unless you use very little electricity to run your home, you should probably replace your fuse box with a modern electrical panel.
Signs Your Electrical Panel is Outdated
Old, bad electrical panels often give off telltale signs that let you know you need to take action. If your breakers or appliances are behaving strangely, it’s time to call a licensed electrician to check things out. Here are some signs that your panel may be faulty or outdated:
Your Breakers Trip Frequently
If your breakers trip whenever you turn on an air conditioner or another high-wattage appliance, you may need to update your electrical panel to fulfill your household’s electrical demands. If you’re suddenly resetting your breakers more frequently, or if they seem to trip for no reason, you should schedule a home safety inspection right away to see if you need to repair or replace the panel.
Your Breakers Won’t Reset
If your breakers trip quickly after you reset them or fail to reset at all, then you could have a faulty electrical panel. Call an electrician to inspect the panel and fix the problem.
You See or Smell Evidence of Burning
Overloaded circuits can melt insulation, wires, and other electrical components, causing burnt odors inside your breaker box that signal trouble. Likewise, black spots or burn marks on your electrical panel can be signs that your circuits are overheating, which can lead to a fire. These serious problems need an electrician’s attention.
You Hear Crackling or Hissing Sounds from Your Breaker Box
If your electrical panel is making crackling, hissing, or popping noises, or if it sounds like something is frying inside, your panel may be in danger of malfunctioning completely, which can create a fire hazard. If you hear these sounds, call your electrician to look at your panel right away.
You Experience Electric Shocks
If you feel a tingle or a shock when you touch a light switch or an outlet, a faulty or outdated electrical panel could be causing the problem. Electrical shocks can cause serious injuries and fatalities, so get an electrician to inspect your panel.
Your Appliances Are Overheating
Malfunctioning breakers can send too much electricity to your appliances and cause them to overheat. If you notice that several of your appliances are experiencing problems at the same time, you should bring in an electrician to check the electrical panel and trace the problem to its source.
Updating Your Electrical Panel Can Keep Your Home Safe
If you’re experiencing trouble with your electrical system, Mister Sparky can help you resolve the issue. Our licensed residential electricians will be happy to inspect your electrical panel and repair or replace it as needed.