- Nov 12, 2009
- 324
- Pool Size
- 15000
- Surface
- Plaster
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- Pentair Intellichlor IC-40
Semi-long story so my apology. When telling my management a story I always have to provide them a Bottom Line Up Front (BLUF):
BLUF: Go out to your home electrical service panel. If it was made by federal electric, call an electrician and spend some $$ to replace it.
About a year ago I had the cable TV company out for some work. At my house the cable system enters the structure next to the electrical service. The service tech mentioned I should replace my service panel, but didn't act like his hair was on fire about it or anything. My service panel was original to the house in 1978 and was made by Federal Electric.
Fast forward a bit and I had a circuit breaker fail "open". This is much better than failed "closed" BTW. I tried to find a local source for a new breaker, but HD & Lowes said they had nothing (but said nothing more than that either). Looking online, I found this site. That got me worried and I found an electrician to replace the panel, and he confirmed that was a wise move if I cared at all about my family or self.
Had my pool finished a few months ago, and while the electrician was here I mentioned the previous service panel and he offered that he probably would have refused to add in the the additional draw for the pool even if he had a 220 circuit breaker to fit - he thought them that unsafe.
I told him about the failed open breaker and he said I was lucky since most of them had failed closed, which in turn started the house fires, etc. We just had a GFCI circuit trip on the front outside outlet, which reminded me of the issue all over. Thought I might share in case anyone else didn't know about the problems inherent in the make/style of my old service panel/breakers.
Bottom Line: I like the people on this site and would hate to lose any, so go check the OEM of your electrical service panel and replace it if needed.
BLUF: Go out to your home electrical service panel. If it was made by federal electric, call an electrician and spend some $$ to replace it.
About a year ago I had the cable TV company out for some work. At my house the cable system enters the structure next to the electrical service. The service tech mentioned I should replace my service panel, but didn't act like his hair was on fire about it or anything. My service panel was original to the house in 1978 and was made by Federal Electric.
Fast forward a bit and I had a circuit breaker fail "open". This is much better than failed "closed" BTW. I tried to find a local source for a new breaker, but HD & Lowes said they had nothing (but said nothing more than that either). Looking online, I found this site. That got me worried and I found an electrician to replace the panel, and he confirmed that was a wise move if I cared at all about my family or self.
Had my pool finished a few months ago, and while the electrician was here I mentioned the previous service panel and he offered that he probably would have refused to add in the the additional draw for the pool even if he had a 220 circuit breaker to fit - he thought them that unsafe.
I told him about the failed open breaker and he said I was lucky since most of them had failed closed, which in turn started the house fires, etc. We just had a GFCI circuit trip on the front outside outlet, which reminded me of the issue all over. Thought I might share in case anyone else didn't know about the problems inherent in the make/style of my old service panel/breakers.
Bottom Line: I like the people on this site and would hate to lose any, so go check the OEM of your electrical service panel and replace it if needed.