I need to replace my mothers main electrical panel while I’m visiting her. She has an FPE Stab-Loc 200 amp panel that is out of space and should be replaced anyway. This is in Los Angeles, California. I currently live in Pennsylvania and have found that readily available panels are different in LA. I do prefer Cutler Hammer CH series and Square D QO series. I really would prefer the CH panel due to personal preference and already having plenty of AFCI and GFCI breakers. The big box stores and the 10 or so electrical supply houses that I called only have the Murray, Square D Homeline, and Cutler Hammer BR series panels. Generally they aren’t really even the dimentions that I want. I hadn’t even inquired yet about special ordering. I only have a few days left to deal with this. I guess that I should have brought a panel with me.
As a backup I’ve already bought a Homeline unit. It was the only 200 amp unit that I could find in stock that is sort of close to what I need. It’s still not quite right and with only 30 spaces will be completly full if no doubled breakers are used. I really want a 42 space CH unit, and if I can find one will return the Homeline.
Does anyone know where to get one of these in the Los Angeles Area? Preferably not at the retail $900+ dollars.
Thank you for any leads.
Replies
Why don't you do a subpanel, either next to the original box or someplace near where a bunch of breakers are used, like the garage or kitchen?
Remember, rain is not so much an issue out here. Adding another box, even on the surface of an exterior wall, is hunky dory here.
I just replaced my 100 amp panel with a 200 amp main and a 125 in the garage, which also controls the kitchen. While I was making the change, the whole house feed through a single 40 amp breaker... and it never tripped.
Rebuilding my home in Cypress, CA
Also a CRX fanatic!
Oh, good Lord, no. But I can give him two dollars and an assault rifle.
Actually it already has a subpanel right next to it that I want to get rid of. The sub panel is likely the original main panel and the obsolete breakers randomly blow with very little load on them. The FPE main is a fused type with only 20 slots. The whole thing is kind of a mess. If I'm putting in the effort, I would just prefer to replace the whole works with one good current model panel.
The strange thing is, that Lowes where I live stocks the 42 slot CH panel as a value pack (includes breakers) and both HD and Lowes stocks a selection of QO panels.
You've tried looking for a corporate web site to find a dealer locator, right?
And you've called information for 800 numbers, looking for corporate support that way? That would be 1-800-555-1212.
That's your ad on Craig's list, right?
I can't think of any other ways to find it. Except maybe calling a few local electrical contractors.
Best wishes.
Yep, got the list of "authorized dealers" in the area. Only have called the first 10 up to this point. On Monday, I'll try the rest. Also Home Depot may be able to get it, but they can't check until Monday.
I was just hoping someone here knew exactly were to go.
Can't you buy what you want there before you leave? Then mail it too your mothers house?
A panel like that is around a hundred bucks. Does the four hundred include the AFCI's?
.
"Everything is under control. I'M gonna go make some pies now." Dinosaur 07
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JPONTneuaF4
http://www.grainger.com
"As a backup I've already bought a Homeline unit. It was the only 200 amp unit that I could find in stock that is sort of close to what I need. It's still not quite right and with only 30 spaces will be completly full if no doubled breakers are used."
Are you sure that it is not a 30/40 panel. 30 slots, but 10 of then will take tandems and that gives you 40 poles. Those are very common size.
BTW, 42 breaker panels, while availalble, or very rare for single phase panels.
And it is probably too late for you, but I will post it for lurkers.
Cutler Hammer makes a retro fit kit. Consists of new guts and cover. It comes in several sizes and both CH and BR series.
Great for where the panel is "builtin" and replacing it would mean more than just a little DW patching.
It needs to be special ordered.
.
A-holes. Hey every group has to have one. And I have been elected to be the one. I should make that my tagline.
The retrofit kit would be great, I'll check into that also. Yes you are right about the 30/40 specs on the Homeline panel. I know that it can work, but it's not ideal. Also it is about 3" shorter than the original, meaning moving a difficult to move large diameter conduit. A panel as long or longer than the original would be a bit easier.
You can find info on the kit here.http://www.inspect-ny.com/fpe/fpereplace.htmThe last time I went to look I could not find it on Eaton's web site.But googling some of the terms and/or part number in the flyer downloaded from the inspect-ny found it on Eaton's site..
.
A-holes. Hey every group has to have one. And I have been elected to be the one. I should make that my tagline.
That's good stuff to know Bill. Thanks.
.
"Everything is under control. I'M gonna go make some pies now." Dinosaur 07
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JPONTneuaF4
Yes, I only sumbled on it by accident.Now I do handyman work and won't replace a panel for others. And I know that you do commercial (bank) work. So this would not be marketed to either of us.But it does seem to be a hidden product.BTW, the typical things that I do is to hang fans, install GFCI. run a line for a DW.Was at Lowes and ran into a guy trying to find a 10 amp breaker and he and the clerk could not find one. Told him that there would not be on i a house. Gave him my card.So after a week he gives me a call and I go look. Well it has a label on the front of the break 10ka interruping.But then I start to look for the problem(S). Tripped the pproblem breaker and just wiggling the panel was enough to get some arcs in some of the wirng.Tried to move some wires in the panel to see which cable went to that breaker. More arcing and it was 3 layers deep.At that point I backed out and said you need a whole rewire job..
.
A-holes. Hey every group has to have one. And I have been elected to be the one. I should make that my tagline.
Yea I probably would never need anything like that but might run across someone that does. That's why I like to keep up. I'm always getting asked about stuff like that by different people. Knowledge is always good.
.
"Everything is under control. I'M gonna go make some pies now." Dinosaur 07
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JPONTneuaF4