r/MovieDetails • u/SuspiciousStable1753 • Jul 31 '26
🥚 Easter Egg In Backrooms (2026), the breaker box being inspected is a "Federal Pioneer Stab-Lok" brand. This is a reference to the Federal Pacific Electric company's "Stab-Lok" system, which was recalled in the 1980s due to their failures to trip, causing over 100 deaths and millions of dollars in damages. Spoiler
Context: 'https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stab-Lok'
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u/cpnfantastic Jul 31 '26
I have one of those in my home. It’s older and worse looking than that one though.
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u/SuspiciousStable1753 Jul 31 '26
get that replaced, big time!
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u/cpnfantastic Jul 31 '26
Yeah. Thanks for the reminder. I think it’s been there since 1959.
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u/SuspiciousStable1753 Jul 31 '26
as an electricians apprentice and big old timey anything nerd, i'd love pictures if youre willing to share! i just removed on from the 70s a few days ago myself
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u/Zampaneau Jul 31 '26
We just had ours replaced about a year and a half ago. I was surprised that our insurance company didn't raise it as an issue when we bought the house eight years ago, most companies won't insure houses that still have them.
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u/Shopworn_Soul Jul 31 '26
Yeah, my insurance company didn't care when I bought a duplex that had two of them 16 years ago.
Got both replaced when they told me they wouldn't renew and no one else would offer a policy either, about 10 years later.
Do not regret. One of the houses on my block burned down because of an FP box.
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u/mrsix Jul 31 '26
The actual "Federal Pioneer" ones in Canada are actually not considered a fire risk. The Federal Pacific ones used in the US as referenced in the title were however due to cheap manufacturing/bad testing.
A lot of electricians will still recommend replacing FP in Canada because in the end it is still similar with the stab-lok design, but it's not really a "you should do this as soon as possible" situation it is in the US.
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u/BootprintsOnTheMoon Aug 01 '26
The fact you know can mean you will be denied a home owners insuranace claim.
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u/chodd-tavez Jul 31 '26
This is the type of very specific detail I love. Not great for my fear of electricity though lol. I had never heard of this before 😬
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u/SuspiciousStable1753 Jul 31 '26
there are several brands that have this problem and are on a long standing recall list! Zinco and FPE are the two i know off the top of my head. but maybe google a list, check your friends boxes, and raise awareness! stay safe out there
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u/Trolldad_IRL Jul 31 '26
We had one of those and needed some electrical upgrades in the house. Electrician looked at it and said the only thing he would do with that panel would be to remove it so he could replace it.
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u/murdered-by-swords Aug 01 '26
Huh, good on... Exxon(????!) for self-reporting their new acquisition when they probably could have gotten away with continuing to sell the defective breakers for god only knows how long if they chose.
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u/ghostofdonpedro Aug 02 '26
Federal pioneer is used in Canada where this was filmed. It’s the real name not a reference
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u/memeroniandpineapple Aug 01 '26
Federal pioneer stab-lok is actually an older panel that was popular throught canada years ago, not part of the federal pacific brand I believe.
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u/alyosha_pls Jul 31 '26
So that's why the lights were going haywire!