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  1. #1
    Join Date
    May 2014
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    California
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    Default Zinco - Main Service Panel ?

    Folks - I came across this for the first time since inspecting and I'm hoping someone could help me with identifying this particular model of a residential Main Service Panel. I tried to Google it, but no luck. Did an inspection on a 1963 farm house and found this in the closet in an outdoor breezeway.

    The equipment was made by Zinco (Company logo not shown in picture). The service feed can be seen coming in on the left, with the service meter on upper portion of the panels, and about 4 circuit breakers below.

    I admitted to the Realtor that I've never seen this type of setup, and he said the same thing - that he hasn't either. I attempted to operate one of the breakers, but stopped myself short (remembering I'm not suppose to do that)!! The breakers appeared to move "up ad down", and had no amperage rating that I could see ? The handles levered outward, looking as though you could pull out the whole assembly.

    Inside the house was a Zinco power panel .... with a few things wrong and called out in the report. Any input is certainly appreciated.

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  2. #2
    Join Date
    Mar 2007
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    Santa Rosa, CA
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    3,154

    Default Re: Zinco - Main Service Panel ?

    Zinco, not Zinsco? I am afraid I haven't heard of the former.

    That's a heck of a service equipment panel for a residence!

    You could just say you are unfamiliar and defer...

    Department of Redundancy Department
    Supreme Emperor of Hyperbole
    http://www.FullCircleInspect.com/

  3. #3
    Join Date
    May 2014
    Location
    California
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    10

    Default Re: Zinco - Main Service Panel ?

    Gunnar - I stand corrected. It is a Zinsco, ... just forgot the "s" when spelling it. And yes, I agree - it is a heck of a service equipment panel. I wrote in the report that I am unfamiliar with this particular panel setup. Since there was a Zinsco distribution panel inside the home, I recommended upgrading the panel and possibly removing all of this and stream lining down to one panel only. In my opinion, this setup was over-kill. One of the breakers fed this distribution panel inside he house

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  4. #4
    Join Date
    Feb 2009
    Location
    Southern Vancouver Island
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    4,607

    Default Re: Zinco - Main Service Panel ?

    That is a big commercial unit that should be in a museum somewhere.
    The plan might have been to run power from there out to the barn and other outbuildings.
    I wonder if the farmer got a deal or if he got taken to the cleaners?

    John Kogel, RHI, BC HI Lic #47455
    www.allsafehome.ca

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Sep 2008
    Location
    so so, California
    Posts
    1,867

    Default Re: Zinco - Main Service Panel ?

    Hey Robert,
    We suggest the replacement every time. Good or bad.


  6. #6
    Join Date
    Aug 2011
    Location
    Bennett (Denver metro), Colorado
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    Default Re: Zinco - Main Service Panel ?

    Quote Originally Posted by Marc M View Post
    Hey Robert,
    We suggest the replacement every time. Good or bad.
    Now you've gone and done it. The FPE/Zinsco lovers are going to picket you.

    If you choose not to decide, you still have made a choice.

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Sep 2008
    Location
    so so, California
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    1,867

    Default Re: Zinco - Main Service Panel ?

    Quote Originally Posted by Lon Henderson View Post
    Now you've gone and done it. The FPE/Zinsco lovers are going to picket you.
    I know huh? I'll never know when to keep my mouth shut..


  8. #8
    Join Date
    May 2014
    Location
    California
    Posts
    10

    Default Re: Zinco - Main Service Panel ?

    John - I agree with you, that it should be in an electrical museum somewhere. Marc - "Good or bad, no matter what" isn't really a definitive or sound input when writing the Inspection Report , but I get the jest of what you're saying. I was hoping someone has seen this ancient relic before and could enlighten me on this type of panel.


  9. #9
    Join Date
    Aug 2011
    Location
    Bennett (Denver metro), Colorado
    Posts
    1,461

    Default Re: Zinco - Main Service Panel ?

    Quote Originally Posted by Robert Schenck View Post
    John - I agree with you, that it should be in an electrical museum somewhere. Marc - "Good or bad, no matter what" isn't really a definitive or sound input when writing the Inspection Report , but I get the jest of what you're saying. I was hoping someone has seen this ancient relic before and could enlighten me on this type of panel.
    I saw another Zinsco today. It had several issues beyond being a Zinsco, but it can be frustrating when an electrician says "It's working fine" and is ignorant of the problems and potential problems with them. There is lots of information out there.

    Is My Electrical Panel Safe? - Important Information About Federal Pacific Electric, Zinsco and Outdated Electric Panel Boxes

    If you choose not to decide, you still have made a choice.

  10. #10
    Join Date
    Mar 2007
    Location
    Fletcher, NC
    Posts
    28,042

    Default Re: Zinco - Main Service Panel ?

    I haven't seen one like that before either - and I can't read the name on the label ... do you have a photo of the name?

    Some old breakers do not reset when turned off, so ... it may have been a very costly lesson to learn had you turned one off!


    Jerry Peck
    Construction/Litigation/Code Consultant - Retired
    www.AskCodeMan.com

  11. #11
    Join Date
    Mar 2007
    Location
    Santa Rosa, CA
    Posts
    3,154

    Default Re: Zinco - Main Service Panel ?

    Quote Originally Posted by Marc M View Post
    Hey Robert,
    We suggest the replacement every time. Good or bad.
    Quote Originally Posted by Lon Henderson View Post
    Now you've gone and done it. The FPE/Zinsco lovers are going to picket you.
    Quote Originally Posted by Marc M View Post
    I know huh? I'll never know when to keep my mouth shut..
    HECK NO! WE DON'T HAVE A PROBLEM WITH OLD ZINSCO!
    DOWN WITH MARC!
    DOWN WITH MARC!
    DOWN WITH MARC!



    Department of Redundancy Department
    Supreme Emperor of Hyperbole
    http://www.FullCircleInspect.com/

  12. #12
    Join Date
    Dec 2007
    Location
    Chico,Ca
    Posts
    454

    Default Re: Zinco - Main Service Panel ?

    To my knowledge there are no issues w/ Zinsco fusible switchboard units, unlike their plug-in circuit breakers, that switchboard is a oldie though, seeing the SMUD meter it has to be in the Sacramento area, The Zinsco loadcenter pictured has long outlived it's usefulness if there was such a thing as a Zinsco/Sylvania product that was ever useful.


  13. #13
    Join Date
    Aug 2009
    Location
    Oklahoma
    Posts
    16

    Default Re: Zinco - Main Service Panel ?

    Looks like older version of this from a commercial building built in 1977.

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