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  1. #1
    Join Date
    Mar 2007
    Location
    Alabama
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    77

    Default Federal Pacific as a service disconnect

    Good Afternoon,
    I understand that there have been threads pertaining to this issue, but I did not read anything that associated itself to a Federal Pacific brand disconnect switch. I have 4 of them at an apartment complex.
    The compressors are rated at a maximum breaker of 20 amps, these are 60amps. the wiring appears to be a #10 conductor on the feed side and #12 on the load side. There are cobwebs and general dust/dirt inside the disconnect itself but I did not notice any corrosion on or around the conductors.
    Any comments or questions would be appreciated. I do not see many of these.
    Thanks.

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  2. #2
    Ron Bibler's Avatar
    Ron Bibler Guest

    Default Re: Federal Pacific as a service disconnect

    I would not want that in my home...Sorry but you may want to call a electrical contractor and get all that mess corrected...

    Its just old...

    Best

    Ron


  3. #3
    James Duffin's Avatar
    James Duffin Guest

    Default Re: Federal Pacific as a service disconnect

    If the data plate says a 20 amp max breaker and these are 60 amp I would go with that as a repair item. The type of breaker really does not matter at this point.


  4. #4
    Join Date
    Mar 2007
    Location
    Plano, Texas
    Posts
    4,245

    Default Re: Federal Pacific as a service disconnect

    Quote Originally Posted by David D. Whitt View Post
    Good Afternoon,
    I understand that there have been threads pertaining to this issue, but I did not read anything that associated itself to a Federal Pacific brand disconnect switch. I have 4 of them at an apartment complex.
    The compressors are rated at a maximum breaker of 20 amps, these are 60amps. the wiring appears to be a #10 conductor on the feed side and #12 on the load side. There are cobwebs and general dust/dirt inside the disconnect itself but I did not notice any corrosion on or around the conductors.
    Any comments or questions would be appreciated. I do not see many of these.
    Thanks.
    I can't tell much from your pictures but those look like FP stablok breakers and are not rated properly for the condensing unit. But many disconnect switches at the outdoor unit are just that, switches, and not breakers. The 60 amp rating is just the maximum service rating, maybe not the breaker rating at all. Is there a properly rated breaker at the upstream panel?

    More importantly, is there FP Stablok panels serving as the breakers in the units. I would call for total replacement if the main panels are FP.

    Jim Luttrall
    www.MrInspector.net
    Plano, Texas

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Mar 2007
    Location
    Oregon
    Posts
    2,365

    Default Re: Federal Pacific as a service disconnect

    The fact that this is in the "fireplace" section is a funny coincidence.... Realistically, it's probably a good place for it.

    It looks really old and should probably be replaced.... my main question would be if there is a properly sized upstream breaker in the main panel? If so, this disconnect doesn't even need to have overcurrent protection (which it well may not given it's FP).


  6. #6
    Join Date
    Mar 2007
    Location
    Las Vegas, NV
    Posts
    222

    Default Re: Federal Pacific as a service disconnect

    David, Is your date wrong on your camera? Your images are dated 2009. If you are taking pictures currently you may inadvertently be creating a potential legal problem for yourself.

    Beacon Inspection Services
    Proudly Serving the Greater Henderson and Las Vegas Valley Area in Southern Nevada!
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  7. #7
    Join Date
    Mar 2007
    Location
    Alabama
    Posts
    77

    Default Re: Federal Pacific as a service disconnect

    Quote Originally Posted by Matt Fellman View Post
    The fact that this is in the "fireplace" section is a funny coincidence.... Realistically, it's probably a good place for it.

    It looks really old and should probably be replaced.... my main question would be if there is a properly sized upstream breaker in the main panel? If so, this disconnect doesn't even need to have overcurrent protection (which it well may not given it's FP).
    I did not realize that it was under the fireplace section, I am loosing my mind. I was looking at another post i had created and......well .......uh........yea. Thanks for letting me know.
    Quote Originally Posted by Bob Knauff View Post
    David, Is your date wrong on your camera? Your images are dated 2009. If you are taking pictures currently you may inadvertently be creating a potential legal problem for yourself.
    Yes I have not set the date, but since you think that there may be some difficulty in the future, I will set it.

    Thanks guys

    David D. Whitt
    1st Steps Home Inspections

  8. #8
    Join Date
    Mar 2007
    Location
    Las Vegas, NV
    Posts
    222

    Default Re: Federal Pacific as a service disconnect

    Do as you wish with the date on your pics but if they are ever called into question legally, it'll be difficult to prove you took them at a different date than what shows in the image.

    Beacon Inspection Services
    Proudly Serving the Greater Henderson and Las Vegas Valley Area in Southern Nevada!
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  9. #9
    Join Date
    Mar 2007
    Location
    Fletcher, NC
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    28,032

    Default Re: Federal Pacific as a service disconnect

    Putting dates on photos is not a good thing, they really mean nothing as anyone can put any date on the photo then want to.

    The file will have a 'photo taken' or 'file created' date, but even that can be manipulated.

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

  10. #10
    Join Date
    Mar 2007
    Location
    Las Vegas, NV
    Posts
    222

    Default Re: Federal Pacific as a service disconnect

    This may be a good question to ask a lawyer about rather then speculate here. In past legal seminars I have attended, attorneys have recommended HI's date the photos for a stronger case if push comes to shove. Of course anything can be Photo shopped but aside from that it's pretty good proof of date.

    Beacon Inspection Services
    Proudly Serving the Greater Henderson and Las Vegas Valley Area in Southern Nevada!
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  11. #11
    Join Date
    Mar 2007
    Location
    Fletcher, NC
    Posts
    28,032

    Default Re: Federal Pacific as a service disconnect

    Quote Originally Posted by Bob Knauff View Post
    Of course anything can be Photo shopped but aside from that it's pretty good proof of date.

    Do not even have to Photo Shop anything, simply reset the camera date - the desired date will show on the photo.

    It really is not "proof" of anything.

    What counts more is the file creation date, but, as I said, if you have computer hacker skills you can even change that date (so I've been told, and I've been told it was easy if you knew how), but that is a better date than the date on the photo.

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

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