How to Identify FPE Stab-Lok

Locate your circuit breaker panel or panels. They are usually found in your garage or basement, but you may have an additional panel outdoors for your air conditioner. Open any doors or enclosures that protect or cover the circuit breaker panel.

Look for any name tags or manufacturer information on the panel itself, on the sides of any individual circuit breakers or on the inside door of the panel enclosure.

Note any labels that include all or part of any of the following names: "Federal Pacific," "Federal Pacific Electric Company," "Stab-Lok Load Center," "FPE Federal Pacific," "Federal Noark," or "Federal Electric Products Company." The labels may be red with a lightning bolt logo, or they may be simple black on white or yellow paper tags.

Check for any circuit breaker switches with red indentations on the top edge of the switch as well as for a main breaker that is installed at the top center of the breaker panel. These features usually indicate FPE "Stab-Lok" circuit breakers.

Contact an electrician for an estimate of the costs involved in changing any FPE "Stab-Lok" circuit breakers or load boxes that you may have in your home. Check your local electrical codes before attempting to install any new circuit breaker panels yourself as some locales require such work to be done only by or under the supervision of a licensed electrician.