skip to main content

Electrical Wiring

Pacific Central Electrical Box

17 years ago

A friend of mine has an old fuse box made by Pacific Central and needs a fuse holder for the box. I tried every combination on Google with absolutely no results.

Anybody ever hear of the box or where I could get a fuse holder?

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (13)

DavidR
17 years ago
Are you sure that's not Federal Pacific?
joed
17 years ago
Very unlikely you will find a fuse holder for any type of fuse box. Your freind is most likely going to need to upgrade to a breaker panel.
Related Discussions
Replacing electric central furnace with heat pump
Q
Comments (3)
andrew I am also opposed to ductless since you have a ductwork system in place. not certain why it would even be considered. however, dealer will need to perform a professional load calc for correct sizing for split system and make an evaluation of your ductwork system as far as adequate sizing both supply and return lines, leals, insulation qualities, etc. these are my minimum specs for a new HP system. both outside and inside units should be replaced to have a properly matched system. 15 SEER, 12.5+ EER, 9 HSPF best matching VS air handler full BTUs in both cooling and heating for your rated size R-410a refrigerant(same as Puron) scroll compressor preferred electronic demand defrost preferred thermostat with "dehumidify on demand" feature staged backup heat strips new and correctly sized refrigerant lineset you want a thorough inspection of your ductwork system. size, overall condition, supply and return lines, insulation qualities, leak test, etc. any hot/cold spot issues in your home should be addressed. I would only use authorized dealers for the various brands that provide quotes. see mfg websites. I would look at Trane/AmStd,Rheem,Carrier/Bryant. a pad for the outside HP condenser is relatively inconsequential whether poured(which I prefer) or preformed. matching new and correctly sized refrigerant lineset would be required along with a good thermostat. you will also need a backup heat strip for those cold days which I will assume presents no problem. IMO
...See More
New Pool in Central Texas
Q
Comments (13)
When the pool company (Ocean Quest) submitted the plans to the Hidden Glen HOA for approval, two committee members came over to look at the backyard to make sure that the project wouldn't create run off into neighboring yards. We had approval from them in about three days, so they were very quick about it. We're not in a MUD, and city inspectors are a one day turn around. The hoe ram is really efficient in busting the limestone. He can bust and remove it faster than the trucking company can haul it off. Here's a photo of progress after two days of excavation: From Pool Build
...See More
Federal Pacific electric panel
Q
Comments (20)
coolvt: "With the talk about these "won't trip".....were these things UL listed, and if so, how did they ever past muster?" I've heard the stories about the FPE panels before, but never really understood what it was about. This thread inspired me to do some Google research. The results have been very interesting... In several hours of reading, it appears that the best-documented failure mode of the FPE panels is this: Some of the double-pole breakers, when presented with a fault on only one pole, will jam internally when they try to trip. The jam prevents the breaker from tripping, and once it occurs, the breaker will not trip under any circumstances. One test found that around half of the double-pole breakers they tested exhibited this failure mode. It only happens to double-pole types (and maybe to types with 3 or more poles, although I haven't found anyone who has tested same). It's also possible that a jammed breaker will remain closed on one or both poles even after the handle is moved to the "OFF" position. There doesn't appear to be any easy way to tell a good breaker apart from a bad one, other than subjecting it to an overcurrent (definitely not recommended for the DIY'er). Another failure that is pretty well documented is that the bus bars and connectors on the breakers (they are push-in types) do not hold good contact over time. The connectors on the breakers lose tension; the contacts heat up, and the rather thin bus bars can melt or burn. Also, it appears that the bars themselves can shift and cause breakers to come loose. Apparently there are a lot of breakers that are only being held in by the panel cover. There are a number of anecdotal reports of single-pole breakers that failed to trip under significant overload. However, unlike the case with the double-pole breakers, I haven't found any testing that has uncovered a mechanism by which this can occur. Oddly, in most of the reports I've found on the single-pole breakers, the culprits were 20A ones. There is also mention in a few places that the panels did not offer enough space for wire routing, and that some practitioners bent incoming large-gauge feed wires excessively in order to make them reach the terminals, resulting in failures later when the over-stressed wires pulled loose. One site mentions that the panels did not meet the 1981 NEC spec for wire bending room, which is possible since the design predates 1981 by quite a few years (going back to the '60s apparently). As for the question of the UL cert: about a year after Reliance Electric bought out FPE in 1980, they issued a press release acknowledging that FPE had engaged in fraudulent practices in obtaining at least some of their UL listings. There are different reports in exactly how this was done; at least two ex-FPE insiders claim that FPE had a rigged test setup for their UL-witnessed tests. Reliance ceased manufacture of FPE panels in 1981, but there was quite a bit of product in the distribution pipeline at the time which was not recalled. Also, a company in Canada which had rights to the design continued to manufacture them until some time in the 1990s.
...See More
Federal Pacific Electric
Q
Comments (2)
This site is probably the most informative one I've found about FPE hazards. I personally have had mixed experiences with FPE. I grew up in a 24-unit apartment complex that was all FPE. In my 16 years there, I have memory of an electric baseboard heater, an electric water heater, and two electric ranges that shorted/otherwise_failed_and/or_emitted_a_lot_of_smoke and never tripped breakers. Also, one breaker that was manually flipped OFF did not actually open the circuit, as the plumber changing the water heater discovered when he tried to cut the wires, blew a hole in his wirecutters, and tripped the main breaker (GE), blacking out the entire apartment. All of the breakers I have seen malfunction were double-pole. Given my own experience, I personally would replace the box if at all possible.
...See More
mike_73
17 years ago
I don't think he will find parts anywhere unless you can find someone that sells used equipment. I personally would not buy anything used like that being as old as it would have to be. it is probably going to be time to upgrade to breakers, which will be much safer than fuses and will help if he ever sells the property, since buyers don't want to see fuses anymore.
baymee
Original Author
17 years ago
Thanks for the advice, I will pass it on.
bus_driver
17 years ago
"which will be much safer than fuses---". From a strictly technical perspective, that is not true. Fuses can be less convenient and will invite tampering if no suitable replacement is at hand when needed. Breakers must first sense an an overload and then react to it. Breakers can fail in either or both of those functions and leave the circuit powered. Fuses that fail simply open the circuit. Occasionally a seller on eBay will offer components from older electrical panels. Buyers of existing homes typically do not prefer fuses, but many of them (perhaps mistakenly) think that the presence of circuit breakers also includes general upgrades to the electrical system.
baymee
Original Author
16 years ago
Yes, it's Federal Pacific installed in '77. The guy told me wrong. Any fuse holders available for that?
bus_driver
16 years ago
Occasionally a seller on eBay will offer components from older electrical panels.
mike_73
16 years ago
Tampering is the one main reason fuses are not as safe. I grew up in a house built in the 40's that was never upgraded and still has not been to my knownege, since its still in the family. My dad used to try to do his own electrical work and upgrades but he was well known for being a cheap skate, taking short cut and engenering his own ways the do things. I have seen him change out fuses that blew for higher amp ones so they wouldn't become overloaded and blow again. I bet every circuit in that house is over powered at the fuse box with wiring not of sufficent gauge to support it. that is the reason why insurance companies are often not covering homes that don't have breakers. they see them as less than safe due to tampering.
DavidR
16 years ago
With a Fusetron adapter in each fuseholder, overfusing becomes just about impossible. In theory I suppose that if you were really determined to be foolhardy, you could rip out the adapter, but you're apt to really gore up the fuseholder doing that.
baymee
Original Author
16 years ago
I don't understand why insurance companies would be against fuses. They blow right away, while circuit breakers can hang up and delay with arcing.

It's just as easy to install a 20 amp breaker on a 15 amp circuit to stop nuisance tripping as it is to put a larger capacity fuse in place.
bus_driver
16 years ago
One of the times that I really was an opportunist was the case where a highly intoxicated fellow was watching a Saturday ballgame on TV. The non-tamp fuse (Type S) failed for some unknown reason. In his stupor, he thought that only part of the fuse was in his hand and attacked what he thought was the rest of it (in the panel) with hammer and screwdriver. On Monday, he soberly wrote a big check for his newly-installed breaker panel. I have a Trico remover for those Type S adapters that does remove them without damage to the panel. Had a case where a homeowner mistakenly believed that if 15 amps was good, 30 was twice as good. So he had personally installed, in good faith, 30 amp non-tamp adapters in every plug fuse holder in his panel. I changed all of them to the proper type for the conductor size. Caution: The very last of the residential fuse-type panels would accept only Type S fuses, but the fuseholders had no adapter inserts. Attempting to change them will destroy them.
mike_73
16 years ago
Baymee I argee that its not that tough to swap a 15 amp breaker for a 20. most homeowners are not as apt to do that for some reason the average Joe that doesn't know much about electrial will not even unscrew the cover on a breaker panel for fear of getting shocked or not knowing how it works other than resetting and turning it on or off. I was even like that at first. I had done lots of work with outlets, switches, fans and light fixtures, even wired up new circuits from scratch but never got into the panel until a few months ago. I had to educate myself and ask for some advise from some of the employees in our mantiance department at work before I got up the confidence, so its not as easy for anyone to think about doing like changing a fuse is.

Fuse boxes are also old and have not been installed much since the 70's. insurance companies are starting to want to see that a home's systems have been updated in the last 25 - 30 years.
fa_f3_20
16 years ago
I've never seen or heard of a residential-type breaker exploding and shooting fire across the room the way the fuse box in my dad's old rental house did some years ago. We were lucky that all three of us (my dad, my brother, and I) happened to be in the room, saw it happen, and managed to put out the fire with a CO2 bottle before it set the house on fire. Otherwise, I wouldn't be here today to type this.

No way in hell would I ever live in a house with fuses now.

Related Stories

GARDENING GUIDES Top 10 Native Plants for the Pacific Northwest

More than just gorgeous and adaptable, these standout plants convey a sense of place

TASTEMAKERS Schoolhouse Electric Powers Up Timeless Lighting

By Vanessa Brunner

Enduring lighting designs from this storied home furnishings company mix practicality, simplicity and beauty

LIFE Get the Scoop on High-Design Litter Boxes

By Becky Harris

Unavoidable doesn't have to mean unpleasant; cats and guardians alike will purr over these terrific design solutions for the litter box

HOUZZ TOURS Houzz Tour: Eclectic Jewel Box Loft in Philadelphia

By Vanessa Brunner

Refurbished vintage pieces and layers of pattern and color jazz up a spacious industrial loft

LIVING ROOMS How to Convert Your Wood-Burning Fireplace

By Laura Gaskill

Learn about inserts and other options for switching your fireplace from wood to gas or electric

GREEN BUILDING Going Solar at Home: Solar Panel Basics

By Christine Tusher

Save money on electricity and reduce your carbon footprint by installing photovoltaic panels. This guide will help you get started

DECORATING GUIDES 10 Ways to Hide That Air Conditioner

By Mariana Pickering (Emu Building Science)

Feeling boxed in designing around your mini-split air conditioner? Try one of these clever disguises and distractions

LANDSCAPE DESIGN Great Design Plant: Retreat to the Shade of Hardy Catalpa

By Jocelyn H. Chilvers

Big foliage and a towering height provide a shady respite in summer, but that's not all hardy catalpa offers dedicated gardeners

LIFE How to Prepare for and Live With a Power Outage

By Lisa Frederick

When electricity loss puts food, water and heat in jeopardy, don't be in the dark about how to stay as safe and comfortable as possible

BATHROOM DESIGN Warm Up Your Bathroom With Heated Floors

By Tiffany Carboni

If your bathroom floor is leaving you cold, try warming up to an electric heating system

Sponsored

More Discussions

Is Hubbell the only UL listed pop-up outlet for NYC Kitchen island?

4

Where to place outlets in primary bathroom?

11

challenging lighting situation - under upper flight of stairs

13

Why would only one outlet be working and no others on the same breaker

4

Mystery circuit breaker keeps tripping

3