Zinsco Electrical Panels Fire Hazard

Sylvania panels were used in the us in the 60s and 70s.

Zinsco electrical panels fire hazard. This means the breaker can t ever trip even when there s a. They were zinsco panels bought out by sylvania and the only major change in the. Production was halted when design flaws were discovered. Zinsco or gte sylvania panels were popular electrical panels installed in homes throughout the 1970s.

These panels normally have a zinsco sticker at the top and color coded circuit breaker handles. Since a breaker panel is critical in helping to prevent a house fire finding installed electrical equipment with a known history of defect or failure can be a serious issue warranting immediate attention. At one time zinsco electrical panels were commonly installed in homes in certain parts of the country. This zinsco electrical panel article discusses the electrical fire and shock hazards associated with zinsco electrical components circuit breakers electrical panels including certain sylvania electrical panels and breakers which are in fact of the same product design and origin.

However previously purchased panels were still being installed for a time after that. Zinsco electric panels could leave property owners at risk for both fire and electric shock as a result of failing to operate properly as much as 25 of the time. It was a very popular product and installed throughout north america. In 1963 zinsco introduced the r 38 twin breaker which was the only twin circuit breaker that also made contact on both bus bars for 240 volts in a single breaker space.

As time has passed electricians and home inspectors have discovered that certain zinsco panels often can fail to operate properly and may leave homes and homeowners at risk to both fire and electrical shock. Here we outline safety precautions that should be taken by building owners where zinsco and gte sylvania zinsco electrical panels are installed and we outline some indicators that a problem may be occurring with this equipment. In the 1970 s the manufacturing of zinsco panels came to a stop. Safety hazard warnings for zinsco gte sylvania zinsco kearney electrical panels circuit breakers.

There are structural issues with the breaker contact points that cause zinsco electrical panels to overheat resulting in fire. These electrical panels have been abandoned by the industry and it is difficult to find an electrician that will service this. Zinsco or zinsco sylvania is the name given to a brand of electrical panel that was commonly installed up to the mid 1970 s. Zinsco electrical equipment is extremely dangerous because of its tendency for overheating.

Zinsco is now defunct but many homes still have these panels. This made the zinsco brand hugely popular with contractors and millions of zinsco service panels and load centers were installed through the 60s and 70s.