What type of circuit breaker can I use for my Sylvania type qfp ? It is a 20 amp single pole breaker

Question

Circuit breaker replacement for GTE Sylvania power box.

Answer 1

The QFP is the configuration of the main breaker, you won't find that in a 20A size. The match you are looking for a branch circuit is a Type Q.

Sorry, you'll find no good news here. GTE/Sylvania acquired Zinsco, then realized they bought a defective product line and dealed it off to T&B who orphaned it. There are a few 3rd party companies like Connecticut Electric that make replacements that can be used if the panel itself is in good shape, but bottom line is that panel has got to go.

You can read a fairly short summary of the design flaws on Wikipedia. Particularly note the line that says:

Even worse, it can cause the breaker's contacts to fuse together, thus preventing the breaker from tripping even in an overcurrent situation, thereby causing a potential fire hazard.

Edit: After seeing your edit adding picture we can see it is a ground fault, so like it says on the breaker that would be an HRGF20. I don't think you can buy a new breaker of this style. I stand by my comment about panel needing replacement.

Answer 2

You've got BIG problems:

Zinsco breakers

These are known problems. And I wouldn't be a bit surprised if you are already having problems and just don't know it, because:

50A Backfed Main

I originally thought that 1 - Main Disconnect on the list was a mistake, and that it actually referred to a true main breaker above all the branch breakers. But I don't see any wires on the main breaker, and the first branch breaker is 50A. So it looks to me like you have a 50A breaker feeding everything. That presents two possibilities, neither very good:

• 50A service and wires - That would mean that to upgrade to a modern, safe, panel you would need new feed wires. Which you might very well anyway.
• Larger service and higher usage and 50A breaker doesn't trip - This is really, really scary. But with all those heaters and range and dryer and so on, it is quite possible.

If your usage does indeed go over 50A on a regular basis (at least in the winter) then this needs to get fixed ASAP. Why? Because a breaker nominally designed for 50A that doesn't trip could have a more severe actual failure instead. Which would not be pretty.

Breaker List is Totally Wrong

Look at the left side diagram: there are 40 spaces. Each space is a breaker - either a single breaker or half of a double-breaker. As is often the case, basically all your 30A or larger breakers are actually double-breakers. But each of those is only listed as one breaker in the list. I believe the correct list (sorry if I can't decode all the names correctly) is:

1/2 - Main Disconnect (50A x 2)
3/4 - Range (30A x 2)
5/6 - Dryer (30A x 2)
7/8 - Living Room Heater (20A x 2)
9/10 - Bedroom (?) Heater (30A x 2)
11 - Upstairs Bedroom (20A)
12 - South Wall Kitchen (20A)
13 - Garbage Disposal (20A)
14 - North Wall Kitchen (20A)
15 - Living Room (20A)
16 - Laundry & Hall (20A)
17 - Refrigerator & Stove Hood (20A)
18 - Downstairs Bedroom (20A)
19 - Living Room (20A)
20 - Washing Machine (20A)
21 - Bathroom Lights (20A)
22 - Not in Use
23/24 - Upstairs Heat (30A x 2) - note that I moved this because this is a 30A x 2 which makes sense for heat, and otherwise there are too many breakers - *it could be something else*
40 - Bath & Outside Recep

This is probably not 100% correct, but closer to reality than what is currently listed.

I think a full panel replacement is in your future.