Replacing a Federal Pacific Breaker Panel w/ 40 Circuits?

I have to replace an old Federal Pacific () breaker panel being used in a 20 unit apartment building. Each apartment has two single 40amp breakers in the current panel. Also, the panel is 50 inches high and 12 inches wide. The height is crucial because there are four banks of electrical meters next to the panel and the wiring comes in at all four levels. The original cover of the FP box is missing, so I don't know how many total amps the new panel needs to be. Is anyone familiar enough with these old FP panels to suggest a replacement panel that is 48-50 inches in height and will handle 40, 40 amp breakers? Many thanks.

 

That would be wrong. Assuming each apartment has a subpanel that should be one 2-pole breaker.

Assuming each apartment does have a 40 amp feed it is too little to meet today's electrical needs so probably every thing need to be replaced, especially if the subpanels are FPE.

 

This is well beyond the scope of a DIY project.

 

We looked and in the basement panel, each unit has two wires and two separate 40 amp breakers. There are also breakers in the individual apartment units (20 amps in there).

 

Are the breakers in the main panel handle tied? Do you mean subpanels with 20 amp breakers? How many breakers in the subpanel? Can you please post pictures your description isn't making much sense. http://www.doityourself.com/forum/li...-pictures.html

Of course as PCBoss said this is not a DIY project. All we can do is help you understand what an electrician will need to do.

 

The height of the FPE panel versus a new panel is no big deal, a pull box of the same depth and width can easily be added under a new panel to get the required height. The contractor you choose should have no problem with this or calculating the load to determine the amperage of the new panel.