June 21st, 2016

​Two days in a row, I found overheating conditions in a Federal Pacific Electric panel with my FLIR IR camera.

One of the defects that the FPE are known for is that they do not always trip when they are over heated...

​The branch circuit should have tripped long before it got over 300°F!

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​Whether or not the service lug is overheated can really be debated. (Second picture) The big book of rules, NEC Paragraph 7.1.4.2.2 says the temperature rise on a wiring terminal at a point to which the insulation of a wire is brought up as in actual service shall not exceed 50°C (90°F). Ambient temp was about 70°F, so, technically, it is not overheated until it is at 160°F. However, there was virtually no load on the connection and the other lug was 40°F cooler. With those items factored in, I advised that a certified electrician be called in to make the appropriate repairs. 

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