2. misc-audio
  3. 188459-20253

Is it time for new breakers?

Based on online reading, breakers last from 30 to 40 years assuming they don’t get tripped or suffer surges often. Less than that if they have tripped often, run "hot" or in a lightning prone area without suppression.

So, if your breakers were installed before 1984 it’s time to re-assess them.

Separately, some homes before then were built with Federal Pacific panels and those need to be removed ASAP, and anything else which used the stab-loc design. 

Definitely get whole-house surge suppressors. They won’t prevent every surge but will keep your fire alarms, Wifi thermostats, automated light switches and compute controlled washing machine running longer.

As of the 2020 NEC Arc-Fault breakers were required, and the 2023 requires even more devices be GFCI protected. Fortunately if you skipped the first generation AFCI, the second generation (CAFCI) is smarter and more reliable.  All of these are important safety upgrades you might as well make.

erik_squires
erik_squires OP
16,186 posts
 

@carlsbad2 Your friend got lucky, as were you.

I do want to warn readers that breakers do get a little warm in use. The breaker that runs my HT system gets to around 80 degrees or so. It’s considered normal.

Even if you don’t have a thermographic camera or thermometer, it’s worth touching every breaker and the exterior of your panel a couple of times a year and feeling for anything warmer than a puppy’s belly. :)

My house had been a rental for about 15 years before I bought it.  At some point I made up my mind to replace all the switches and most of the outlets, and I'm so glad I did, cause there was a lot of things to discover. 

hilroy48
162 posts
 

Federal Pioneer had a reputation in the 80's for being the worst in the industry, our company never installed them.

erik_squires OP
16,186 posts
 

Here's a full report on Federal Pacific:

 

 

erik_squires OP
16,186 posts
 

Also, here:

 

 

erik_squires OP
16,186 posts
 

Honestly had no idea they were one of the "big 5" manufacturers of panels, or that stab-lok design was still in use up until 1990.

More to discover