ECN Forum Forums General Topics of the Trade General Discussion Area First time happening to me.

Today i accidently touched hot and the grounded wire. Bam,sparks,smoke...However. the 15Amp breaker did not trip.This is the first time i have seen this happening.

All i could make out from the cover plate:
AMERICAN ELECTRIC or AMERICAN (something)
It started with AMERICAN.

Advised the client to change the subpanel.

Edward.

Wise choice.

Maybe the "grounded" conductor wasn't (at least at the panel) effectively grounded?

Did it pop the OCD at the main panel? (depending on the branch OCD size)

I frequently have this problem on Federal Pacific and Zinsco panels. Customers freak out when I give them a demostration and I usually end up with a job for a panel change out. As a sidenote: I usually install Square D QO series panels.
Bob

American Electric manufactures replacement or reconditions old breakers for FP panels.

Roger

[This message has been edited by Roger (edited 02-21-2004).]

I pinched a wire once with a wireway cover. The #10 THHN burned clean thru, the GE breaker never did trip.

It happens.

GJ

There was a company called American Switch later Zinsco/Amercan Switch.

Take a look at this web page on FPE "No Trip" brakers.
http://www.inspect-ny.com/fpe/fpepanel.htm

Was that one of these?

My father used to work for Federal in Newark NJ back in the early 1950's doing accounting type work. He used some of their stuff when he built our house, and I don't think he would have used a stab-lok panel if he was aware of any issues with them. That panel got replaced with a Square D QO panel recently.

why exactly do the FP breakers not trip? what`s the background? Mechanic damage or Production fault?