Next Up- Zinsco Panels
The next outdated electrical panel in our series is the Zinsco-brand panel, commonly found in homes built in the 1960s and 1970s. They are easily recognizable with their multi-colored breaker handles.
Why you Should Replace Your Zinsco Panel
Zinsco electrical panels are considered obsolete due to the considerable risk of failure associated with them. There are known issues with both the bus bar system and the breakers.
Issues with Zinsco Electrical Panels
The design has multiple problems:
- Faulty circuit breakers.
- An aluminum alloy bus bar that corrodes easily.
- The connection between the bus bar and circuit breaker is not solid.
- Breakers appearing to be off but still conducting electricity.
Dive Deeper into the Design Flaws
The circuit breakers utilized an aluminum U-shaped connection point to attach to the bus bar. Due to the properties of aluminum, these connections tended to loosen over time because of thermal expansion and contraction. This can result in arcing between the breaker and the bus bar, potentially causing the breaker to become permanently welded to the bus bar. Consequently, this may lead to the breaker melting down and potentially becoming electrically connected to adjacent circuits.
Additionally, the type of aluminum alloy used for the bus bar system is prone to corrosion which also leads arcing and the potential of welded in place circuit breakers.
Follow-up
Here are links to two excellent articles and the Wikipedia history of the Zinsco brand:
- Is Your Electric Panel a Fire Risk? – Great American Insurance Group
- What Is A Zinsco Panel And Why Should I Care? – Home Inspections by US Inspect
- Zinsco – Wikipedia
Conclusion:
If you have one of these panels in your home, it is advisable to plan for its replacement. Additionally, a licensed electrical contractor should inspect and thermal test it to ensure it is safe until the replacement occurs.