Old House, Old Panel and Breakers

Business Farming
1

I’m in Panama, my house was build by the US Army, this used to be Ft. Clayton Army base.

My panel and breakers are very old and can’t find replacements in the local market. It is even difficult to find them on eBay and the few ones are very expensive.

The panel and breakers are General Electric. The panel has a metal label that says:

General Electric
Type: NLAB Style: 2
AMP: 225 Plant: P
120/240 V: 1 PH: 3
PANELBOARD NO. 929579
Plainville, CONN, MADE IN USA
And the rest is mostly unreadable

A 2 pole 20 Amp breaker says:
General Electric
Type TQ BREAKER
CAT. NO. TQ1120

I can find breakers with model TQ1120, but they are different, so I don’t understand how they can be the same model and not be compatible.

The breakers have some “legs” or bars and must be screwed to the panel. They are not like moderns breakers that just plug into the panel.

2

Go to Nyamakima and you’ll be sorted…
You may have to use a Panamax vessel to get there.

3

You have to remember that when making a garage, you mostly want to avoid humid spaces. My father wanted to make a garage 2 years ago for the family car, but then he chose to build a garage roof. That way, he can maneuver the car much easier when he wants to leave. He made the base of the pillars out of concrete to be sure they would resist for a longer period. After we finished, he was soo proud that he mounted house number signs to the garage pillars. It might be better not to build an entire garage.

4

Why not look for a tech.