Plastic Panel box and breakers

[Michael Bronner]

Interesting panel box in today's home. In all my years I have never seen a plastic box and breakers. How common is this elsewhere around the country and is anyone aware of any concerns or the history of this thing since it seems to be so uncommon? It was a Square D.

Thanks in advance30449

[Dom D'Agostino]

I think its called Trilliant or similar. Nearly impossible to get those goofy quarter turn screws to hold the cover on when reassembling the dead front.

I see them in homes built in the early to mid '90's, but not very common.

Dom.

[Terry Beck]

Dom was correct, it was called, "Trilliant". I ran across one a year or so ago - my post was Square D *PLASTIC* electrical panel (http://www.inspectionnews.net/home_inspection/electrical-systems-home-inspection-commercial-inspection/35319-square-d-%2Aplastic%2A-electrical-panel.html)

I found short reference to it at Active Rain (http://activerain.com/blogsview/2598547/the-electric-panel-is-marked-trilliant-and-it-s-all-grey-plastic-is-it-alright-)


Trilliant was a trendy-looking new electric panel design that Square D, one of the largest producers of panels and breakers, introduced in the early 1990s. The equipment looks like what Apple Computer might create if they went into the electrical equipment business.

Most European service panels are plastic and it is probably the way all panels will be in years to come, but they were not well accepted in the American marketplace back then, and the line was discontinued after a few years. We know of only one safety problem with the Trilliant panels: the surge protectors designed for installation in the panels were recalled in September, 1995. Otherwise the panels are satisfactory.

Trilliant’s only downside is that, like any discontinued product line, replacement breakers and other panel components are hard to find, and expensive when you can find them.

[Rollie Meyers]

The SQ D Trilliant breakers are quite expensive if you can find them, GE also built/builds a small non metallic load center.

[Robert Dalga]

Interesting...never saw one before (in my 20 yrs of inspecting); but I have always thought why don't they make plastic covers for electrical panels? It sure would make my job a bit more safe (removing and reinstalling the cover). Has anyone ever been 'poked' before either removing or re-installing a panel cover?

[ROBERT YOUNG]

Interesting panel box in today's home. In all my years I have never seen a plastic box and breakers. How common is this elsewhere around the country and is anyone aware of any concerns or the history of this thing since it seems to be so uncommon? It was a Square D.

Thanks in advance30449


I just inspected one and I am in Montreal Quebec Canada.
I was a little taken back but all was good.

GE load center 125 amp. built in 2006.

Can't find the images yet.
I post more later.
Regards.

[Marshall Brown]

One of the remarkable things about this community is that after 20 years as a construction project manager and another, almost, 15 as an inspector I still can learn things.
Thanks for the info.

[Kyle Montgomery]

Never seen one, I don't like it