On Sat, 28 Jan 2012 15:42:22 -0500, RBM wrote:

On 1/28/2012 3:14 PM, wrote:
On Fri, 27 Jan 2012 20:15:55 -0800 (PST), Evan
wrote:

On Jan 27, 10:37 pm, wrote:
On Fri, 27 Jan 2012 22:15:13 -0500, Ed wrote:
On Fri, 27 Jan 2012 14:38:29 -0600,
wrote:

My existing panel is a Federal Pacific from the 1960s. The other day I went
to reset a breaker, and it popped out and fell on the floor. It's time for
a new box, and I'm looking for a brand recommendation if there's sufficient
differentation between available boxes and breakers. If they're all pretty
much the same, that's fine too.

Was the wire it feeds still attached? Are you sure the panel needs
replacing because you had a bad breaker? That seems like you are
buying a new car because of a flat tire. But then again, you know
better the reason the breaker fell out since you were there.

If the panel is from the 60's, so is everything in it and probably
feeding it. Now is a good time to check everything that may need
upgrading before making a final decision.

The electrician we use at wok prefers Square D, but there may be
others just as good. I don't buy them often so I don't have much
experience with the differences.

Up here, Seimens is the brand of choice for most electricians. (every
one I asked about changing mine)

I see a lot of Seimens switchgear and metering centers as
well as breaker panels in commercial buildings... Square D
would also be a good name too...

Bolt-on breakers are better than snap-in types but those panels
and the breakers that are used with them cost a little bit more...

~~ Evan
And don't associate "square D" necessarily with quality. The Square D
Homeline? panel is the replacement for the FPE. Both made by the same
company, by the way. Schneider Electric builds both Square D and FPE.

Square D was known for their high quality, and Federal Pacific was known
for their low quality long before Schneider had anything to do with them.
ANd all I'm saying is THINGS HAVE CHANGED. The high end Square D is
still good stuff - but they are putting the Sqare D name on the FPE
quality product now as well. Just because it says Square D on it does
not mean it is the quality product you have come to associate with
Square D.