TOPIC: I finally got my first FPE panel.

No sense picking through a turd just to find the corn right!

LOL

4 for the price of one.

http://www.ismypanelsafe.com/fpe.aspx

We have whole neighborhoods here with FPE boxes.  They are all over Northern VA.  There has never been a single fire in any of them that I have heard of, and I pay attention.  There may have been scorches and such that I have NOT heard about, but I don't know what I don't know.

I lived in a house with a 27 year old FPE box when I moved in, all aluminum cables (unlike the picture above).  We lived there for 12 years.  There was never a breaker that did not trip when it should.  There was never a scorch.  No evidence on any breaker in the box of overheating.  Before me an electrician lived there (27 years!), and raised his family, as I did mine.  Before me, he had no problems.

I have read all of the literature and have to warn people about these boxes, but personally I have never seen a problem with any one that I have inspected, except for the normal double taps and such, and that has to be 2 or 3,000 boxes.

I also warn people of the GSD500, etc., GE dishwashers, similarly without problems.  But I have to warn them.

On my agreement my son inserted a line, at my request, about recalls and notices and such being the responsibility of the buyer, as there are too many for me to keep up with. 

But as to the FPE boxes, I simply don't have any personal experience.  I HAVE seen frying in copper boxes with copper wiring.  So, where are the warnings!!

I have seen cooked panels in every make and Mdl.
I take them on a case by case basis.

For those that can't evaluate them, leave it alone. It's not in your SOP requirements to start with!

Everyone concerned seems to think this reporting is over the top unless you have "substance" of a significant issue.

Want to be working HI next year?
Report what matters (only), not what folks make up at that other site..

I don't mention them unless I see some signs of problems.  I had one in the house I just sold with no problems.  The inspector that inspected my house for the buyers didn't mention it either.

I would think not metioning anything would open you up for problems. Just because every panel does not have a problems, does not mean it is safe. That would be like the car companies having a recall and only fixing the cars with the obvious issue presented. They fix them all to hedge off any further problems and lawsuits. Unfortunatlly there is no more blood in the fpe turnip is there. I know you can't say it will positively burn down the home, but if I was buying a house with that panel, I would want to know what the deal was. This is part of the job. The other factor to consider is the availability of parts. You have a very had time finding them anymore. Personally any panel that is 40 years old could use an upgrade anyway.