How do you tell if you have a Federal Pacific panel?

You can tell if you have a Federal Pacific panel by looking for several identifying marks on the panel itself, but you should not open the panel cover if you are not qualified and should have a licensed electrician confirm. First, check the panel door or inside label for the name Federal Pacific Electric, FPE, or Federal Pacific Electric Company, often with Stab-Lok printed on the label, as Stab-Lok was their breaker design. Federal Pacific panels often have breakers with red, orange, or striped handles that are labeled Stab-Lok and have a distinctive design where breakers stab into the bus bar. The panel may be in a home built between 1950 and 1985, as that was when Federal Pacific panels were widely installed. Look for a label inside the panel door that says Federal Pacific Electric Company, Newark, New Jersey. The breakers may have the name Federal Pacific or FPE on them. If you see Federal Pacific or Stab-Lok on the panel or breakers, you likely have a Federal Pacific panel. You should not remove the panel cover yourself due to shock risk. Take a photo of the panel label and show it to a licensed electrician or home inspector who can confirm. Many home inspectors flag these panels during home sales because of their known safety issues and high failure to trip rates.