Fpe Federal

US Auctions Australian Auctions Austrian Auctions Belgian Auctions Canadian Auctions French Auctions German Auctions Irish Auctions Italian Auctions Dutch Auctions Spanish Auctions Swiss Auctions GB Auctions

Best Match Items Ending First Newly-Listed Items First Price + Shipping: Lowest First Price + Shipping: Highest First

Question about a panel change out(old FPE)?

i have been asked to change 4 federal pacific electric panels. they are probably just going to be subpanels mainly, just one smaller main. i have never done a panel change before, but have installed and wired several panels in a classroom environment. my "main" question is how will i disconnect power to the main, will the owner need to schedule an appointment with the utility, and if so, will i need to be involved? my second question is, how tight should i torque the lugs? i have 10mm and 3/8 inch allen wrenches, will these be big enough? i have smaller. my final question is what if i run into knob and tube? is it legal to terminate K&T in a new panel, if not, how would i do it?

Good for you. Those circuit breakers are known to go bad.

To kill main power, have the Owner call the utility to schedule a "disconnect/reconnect". The operation is simple, and around here the utility responds rapidly (within a day or two). When completed, call for a reconnect. The Owner can designate you to speak on his behalf to the utility. There is no charge for a disconnect/reconnect (around here).

Modern panels have a label that states the torque to use to tighten the lugs. You should use a torque wrench.

I was under the impression that K&T went out of vogue before breaker panels came into vogue, so I suspect that you won't run into it. I don't know the answer to your question. However, if you pull a permit, your work will be inspected and you can always ask the inspector how to handle an unknown.

If you replace the main panel, it will need to be "service entrance rated", which makes provisions for bonding the neutral to the case (often just a bolt from the neutral bar into the case) and allows landing a bond to the electrode grounding system. The neutral is grounded only in the main panel (or somewhere between where the utility enters and the first overcurrent device, that being the main breaker). In all of the sub panels, the neutral is kept isolated from the grounds.