FPE circuit box in home we want to buy. Worried about it since they've been known to catch fire. Any Ags willing to take a look at it tomorrow or Wednesday? Located in The Colony. Not sure if we need to ask the seller to replace or how much it would cost to replace.

Our option period ends Wednesday.

We had a FPE breaker replaced and moved to the opposite side of the same wall (interior of closet --> exterior of house) back in 2013 in BCS for $1750.

You're looking at a minimum $1,000 for a new panel just about anywhere.

Mine was about $1500 a few years ago. I'd just ask for them to do it as part of the contract or at least get a credit for it.

Do it yourself if you are at all handy. You can buy a panel and breakers at HD or Lowes. Probably $500 or so for all. Just cut off power to the house and go to town.

$349 for this 200 a MB loadcenter with a few breakers at HD



LInk

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Do it yourself if you are at all handy. You can buy a panel and breakers at HD or Lowes. Probably $500 or so for all.

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That's making an awful lot of assumptions, if not wishful thinking. It *could* be fairly easy, but FP panels generally equals older house, and older house equals rolling the dice when you get into the panel.

The Colony will let homeowners do MEP work. If you have the seller replace it, I'd stipulate that it has to be done by a licensed electrician. My money says if the current HO knew what they were doing, they'd have replaced it already.

I had mine replaced for $975 this year. Didn't move box or do larger panel.

If you aren't paying cash your lender will most likely require it be replaced before closing anyway because insurance companies won't touch FP.

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Do it yourself if you are at all handy. You can buy a panel and breakers at HD or Lowes. Probably $500 or so for all. Just cut off power to the house and go to town.

$349 for this 200 a MB loadcenter with a few breakers at HD



LInk

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Bad idea. You want a licensed contractor.

Should be in the 1500 ballpark depending on variables such as moving if in a no longer allowed location. Good time to check on size as well. With all of our modern electronics youay want to upgrade to 200 amps if it isn't.

I agree with above. Depending on your abilities, Id prefer to do the replacement myself before letting a licensed electrician do the work, but I would FAR prefer a licensed electrician do it than the current homeowner for various reasons.

Either way, Id get it the f--- out of my home. LOL.

I'm probably borderline BSC and wouldn't swap out a panel, especially because it's been around long enough so that more than a few changes have been made over the years.

You'll need to check with the electric provider in the area. They may not do a service disconnect unless the work is performed by a licensed electrician - or at least they might not turn the power back on.

I would tackle this myself. It is not that hard if you take your time and understand electricity.

Thank you all! I am not handy enough to feel comfortable performing this work. We are going to ask for allowances to be made to afford a professional to come out and do the work. All they can say is "No."

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You'll need to check with the electric provider in the area. They may not do a service disconnect unless the work is performed by a licensed electrician - or at least they might not turn the power back on.

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meh, just pull the meter, disconnect, plug it back in. They probably won't notice the 30 second outage.

Better yet, throw a metal rod at the utility lines and wait for it to trip. Then pull the meter.

As will.mcg said above, no insurance company in the state will write a new policy on a structure containing an FPE box. This MUST be addressed in the sale before you can close. I know, cause I tried everything to get it excluded and failed.

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I would tackle this myself. It is not that hard if you take your time and understand electricity and the NEC

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fify

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meh, just pull the meter, disconnect, plug it back in. They probably won't notice the 30 second outage.

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1. It would be two "30 second" outages. One to disconnect, and one to reconnect.

2. You either have a remotely read smart meter, or a good ol' fashioned dumb meter. Pull the smart meter, it's gonna tell on you. Pull the dumb meter, and there's a decent enough chance the meter reader notices you popped a seal. Now google meter tampering and theft of electric service.

Good luck using your new prosthetic arms after the ones you have now are amputated by the surgeons in connection with your electrocution.

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As will.mcg said above, no insurance company in the state will write a new policy on a structure containing an FPE box. This MUST be addressed in the sale before you can close. I know, cause I tried everything to get it excluded and failed.

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What ins co?

Curious I have never heard that.

You sure you want to try removing and replacing the meter and the service panel with the potential of an arc flash?

Arc Flash Demo

Arc Plash Demo #2

Better think about it long and hard and be well protected!!!

I got quoted from literally every single agency in BCS. None of them would insure a structure with an FPE panel. Just one of hundreds of explanations off of google: http://swartzelectric.biz/why-federal-pacific-electric-panels-need-replacing/ .
They've been involved in several multi-billion dollar lawsuits. Four people got real jail time for fraudulently representing that the panels met UL standards when they knew they didn't. Literally thousands of people are dead because of FPE panels. Correct move is to tear out and replace.

I call them out on every inspection I find them on. Most inspectors I know do the same. Can tell lots of stories of cases where they looked fine and had issues. Just not worth the risk for 1500 bucks.

My agent didn't ask me about the panel when I signed up. There are tons of houses with these where I live. Is there something hidden in policy saying you aren't covered for damage caused by an FPE? Doesn't really matter to me now since I replaced mine but I am curious.

They are by far the most common panel brand in houses around from the 50s to the 70s.

I had not heard of insurance companies actually refusing to cover them. Not sure how they would manage that unless they specifically asked or inspected the house themselves (which they don't do as far as I know.)

May be a case of they raise the flag if they find out by chance. Which would make me hesitate to call and ask them, since they can and will make demands to change things to continue coverage if they feel like it.

So, not sure how to answer your question.

USAA asked me all sorts of questions about the electrical system based on the age of the home. They asked me about knob & tube, aluminum wiring, and the age of the electrical panel. They did not specifically mention FP by name, but I knew that was why they asked the question.

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As will.mcg said above, no insurance company in the state will write a new policy on a structure containing an FPE box. This MUST be addressed in the sale before you can close. I know, cause I tried everything to get it excluded and failed.

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This is not true, but definitely replace the panel.

i think our replacement cost around 1400, but we also installed a whole home surge protector at the same time which added a little to the cost.

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USAA asked me all sorts of questions about the electrical system based on the age of the home. They asked me about knob & tube, aluminum wiring, and the age of the electrical panel. They did not specifically mention FP by name, but I knew that was why they asked the question.

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I think most companies ask about K&T, and aluminum, on homes over 50 years old, and won't insure those.

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FPE circuit box in home we want to buy. Worried about it since they've been known to catch fire. Any Ags willing to take a look at it tomorrow or Wednesday? Located in The Colony. Not sure if we need to ask the seller to replace or how much it would cost to replace.

Our option period ends Wednesday.

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not sure where The Colony is but if near Houston/Cypress call Mark with Luchak Electric 281-450-2673

UPDATE: the seller is going to replace it. Along with a few other things. Great news. Thanks for all the help. Closing in the 20th.