Questions tagged [electrical-panel]
For questions about panelboards (also known as "electrical panels", "circuit breaker panels", "fuse boxes", "distribution boards", "consumer units", or "load centers"). Questions about individual overcurrent protection devices should use [circuit-breaker].
229
questions with no upvoted or accepted answers
6
votes
0
answers
118
views
Incorrect breakers in Thomas & Betts Panel
I have a Thomas & Betts panel with 40 slots and was going about trying map out the circuits when I noticed a few suspect breakers. The entire right side of the panel contains only T&B (type TB)...
- 61
3
votes
0
answers
208
views
Is it a violation of the Canadian Electrical Code to re-label circuits in my electrical panel?
I have an old house, and some of the labels for the circuit breakers are incorrect or extremely vague.
I have mapped out where the breakers actually go. I would like to use a label maker to print ...
- 141
3
votes
0
answers
2k
views
200Amp Panel upgrade, Flush panel to Surface mount
I'm looking to get my house panel upgraded from a 100 amp FPE firestarter panel to new Square D Panel. The panel I want to use is surface mount and the one built into the house in the 1970's is flush ...
- 31
2
votes
0
answers
79
views
Neutral ground bonding in main service panel
I purchased a property with a 200 amp outdoor main service panel below the power company's meter. I want to use this to run power supply to my mobile home about 30 feet away. I also want to supply a ...
- 21
2
votes
0
answers
74
views
How do I get my grounding up to code? Subpanel is missing grounding connector
I have a bit of a situation with my interior subpanel not being grounded properly.
The interior subpanel does not receive a ground wire from the main service panel where it is grounded (to the water ...
- 51
2
votes
0
answers
95
views
How can I add a neutral to my subpanel?
I have a 60a subpanel on the side of my house for the pool equipment. There are only two conductors and a ground. Originally the only things that were probably connected were the pool pump and heater, ...
- 21
2
votes
0
answers
141
views
Installing a series of FS140 surge protectors to prevent mini split board burnups
I'm having some issues with my current electrical setup. I had an electrician install a 36k Eaton whole house surge protector about a year ago, and the hvac company installed a gree mini split. Since ...
- 21
2
votes
0
answers
106
views
Trying to right-size a critical loads subpanel
I'm installing solar and would like to set up a critical loads subpanel that is fed by both the solar and my main panel. The microinvters in the kit are Enphase IQ8+. I'd like to run a few circuits ...
- 121
2
votes
0
answers
76
views
Add Subpanel? trying to identify what is possible with existing panel (no space left)
I am looking at a small kitchen renovation and would like to understand what it would take to bring everything up to code for the kitchen(NEC2017).
My current panel (square D) is original from the mid ...
- 51
2
votes
1
answer
760
views
Will in-panel whole house surge protector serve parallel main panel?
I have two Square D QO main panels split from a 320A service. They make a plug-in whole house surge protector for these panels.
Question: Would a QO plug-in surge protector placed in either panel ...
- 37.6k
2
votes
0
answers
93
views
Critque my 320A residential service design
We are on the 2020 NEC.
Going to do a new house next year. The house will have a large attached shop/garage (think 5-6 car in regards to spacing..) as well as a 5000sq/ft cold storage building. We ...
- 21
2
votes
0
answers
108
views
Temporarily daisy chaining meter pans
I'm currently getting my electrical service upgraded from 200A to 320 (400A) service. I'm doing preparation work for it -- I mounted the new meter pan along with two 200A panels. I'd like to pre-...
- 373
2
votes
0
answers
823
views
Difference in Effectiveness Between Different Whole House Surge Protectors?
I'm trying to determine the most effective type of whole home surge protection to install on a Eaton BR type circuit breaker panel. The options I've looked at are all made by Eaton: CHSPT2ULTRA, ...
- 21
2
votes
0
answers
739
views
How to water seal my exterior wall after panel install?
I’m upgrading to a 200 amp panel and I’m using a surface mount on my stucco exterior. I tried reaching my inspector but due to the pandemic he’s been unavailable.
I will be applying urethane caulk ...
- 181
2
votes
0
answers
73
views
Question about an outbuilding circuit breaker box
I have a house with an outbuilding that has its own apartment and shop in it. Right now all electricity flows through the meter on the main house. There is also a meter for the outbuilding that I want ...
- 21
2
votes
0
answers
328
views
Connecting a 200 amp sub panel to 600 amp line
I have 600 amps feeding a 600 amp main panel.
It is a GE panel, 600 amp rated bottom feed and the sub panel is less then 1 foot away.
Can i feed a 200 amp sub panel with main breaker with 4/0 wire and ...
- 21
2
votes
0
answers
202
views
NM cable routing to panel backboard / side of the service panel. Take 2. Any NEC 2017/2020 concerns?
Going off of my previous question, I wanted to get a confirmation the below is compliant with NEC2017/2020 for connecting NM cable to a main panel.
I have used a length of 12/2 NM cable to show how I ...
- 567
2
votes
0
answers
113
views
Can I install a 240v heater/air wall unit in my garage with the existing panel and wiring?
The unit says 230/208v model. It has a 20amp plug on it. 1st question My garage panel was put in 30+ years ago. It is fed from house panel with 12 gauge wire with 2 hots. Is that too weak to add a ...
- 21
2
votes
0
answers
1k
views
Adding neutral lug to older load center
In the process of installing a remote subpanel from my older backfed load center. The neutral/ground bar is attached to the service entrance via the screw midway, and the ground is at the base of the ...
- 53
2
votes
0
answers
171
views
Help me identify the components of my switchgear?
I have a basic understanding of what I need to do when the power line goes down, though sometimes different switches pop and would like to understand more of what does what. I have no knowledge in ...
- 121
2
votes
0
answers
163
views
What could be causing this weird problem with a 240v trainer?
I'm in electrical classes and we are hooking up a 240v trainer. Last year the trainer worked fine. When connected to power there is a 120v light bulb that lights up to show that power is on. ...
- 21
2
votes
1
answer
519
views
Electrical load calculation for 1,300 sq foot condo
We are considering to install a heat-pump for heating and cooling and would like to get a better idea about any required upgrades to our electrical panel and house service. Below are pictures of our ...
- 821
1
vote
1
answer
53
views
Is the power inlet near a hot tub outlet usable as it is?
I have a subpanel outside located where a hot tub once was. The hot tub was on a 60 amp breaker in the subpanel, then ran to the main panel (interlock installed) to another 60 amp breaker. There was ...
- 11
1
vote
0
answers
30
views
How to divide circuit load without subpanel
I have a project where I need to use two 12 amp circuits and they ran one 30amp breaker with 10awg cable. The load lines are 2 devices that pull 10 to 12 amps.
Can I connect both loads on to 10awg ...
- 11
1
vote
1
answer
159
views
Why is my double-pole 15 amp breaker/circuit tripping?
I live in BC, so this is about 120VAC house wiring. I have an island in the kitchen that has two outlets on it. It used to have an electric cooktop (before I installed a gas cooktop) and that 30amp ...
- 21
1
vote
0
answers
50
views
questions for old 3 wire feed to detached garage subpanel with disconnect added
i am looking for confirmation than an older garage subpanel feed was correctly wired to meet an older code and is not unsafe.
there is a 3 wire feeder from the house service in underground pvc conduit....
- 11
1
vote
0
answers
93
views
Installing a subpanel with a service entry cable feed-through a Powerwall subpanel
Based on this post on installing an EV charger, I decided to research installing a sub-panel next to an existing surface mounted indoor sub (Square D HOM2040L125PRB), which is used for Powerwall ...
- 111
1
vote
0
answers
113
views
Electrical Panel in Exterior Wall
My (Northern California) 1950s house has its (100A) main breaker panel in the back of the garage wall, above the gas riser and meter, with an access door on the outside:
As a step towards various ...
- 108
1
vote
0
answers
174
views
Feed new 200A panel from top or bottom?
I'm planning to upgrade my panel and service from 100A to 200A. I have an underground utility feed going into a 200A meter pan, this feeds a second meter pan with a Tesla Backup Switch with a 4/0 - 4/...
- 643
1
vote
0
answers
103
views
Bathroom behind meter box
We're thinking to have a bathroom fitted in our garage and understand that we'll need approval for it. However, our electricity meter box locates right behind the wall (on the external side). Does ...
- 249
1
vote
0
answers
165
views
Tesla Backup Switch not considered first disconnect?
I recently had Tesla install PV and a PowerWall battery. They installed a Backup Switch
as a means to disconnect from the grid and power my house with the solar and battery. In the picture below you ...
- 643
1
vote
0
answers
106
views
Should I be concerned about tin plating flaking off aluminum bus in electric panel?
I'm doing some renovations on an old house and noticed that the tin plating on the busbar of the electric panel is coming off (picture below). There's also rust at the bottom of the panel, so I ...
- 185
1
vote
0
answers
76
views
Can I route wire on the right side of this panel?
All existing wires to my service panel go from the left side. I want to add an EVSE circuit at slots 3 and 4. Can I do it per the first picture below routing the wire from the right side and making a ...
- 432
1
vote
0
answers
134
views
Gap size around electric panel for patching stucco?
Just had a new electric panel installed in my house. There’s about 2” of gap between each side of the panel and the stucco. My question is… should I make the gaps on each side bigger to fit in ...
- 332
1
vote
0
answers
34
views
How to connect an outdoor-rated single gang jbox to an outdoor-rated "main lug" box?
I want to attach a 120V outlet to the side of an outdoor "main lug" enclosure.
The outdoor-rated "main lug" box has knockouts on the bottom and sides.
The outdoor-rated single gang ...
- 31
1
vote
0
answers
121
views
When can a feeder be energized?
I'm installing wire (4/0-4/0-2/0-4) to an outbuilding. Because of the size of the wire, it has to bottom feed from the existing 200A panel, thus, no breaker on the upstream end other than the main ...
- 323
1
vote
0
answers
111
views
Siemens Type QN mounting screw size?
I have a QN2200R breaker without the little screw it came with that screws into the panel to hold the breaker in place. Does anyone know the size of screw or if Siemens sells a replacement screw kit? ...
- 373
1
vote
0
answers
71
views
Any reason NOT to go whole hog in surface prep for installing earth-ground bonding clamps above ground outdoors?
Background
I'm tidying up the various outdoor bonding to earth ground in my 1960s era suburban Calif. house. Bare copper wire, either 6 or 4 gauge, will connect them to the appropriate termination on ...
- 4,428
1
vote
0
answers
46
views
Acceptable to drill out 3/8” NM clamp for 10/3?
I’m trying to add a 10/3 circuit, but physical access to the knockout available in my panel is challenging due to the way it was installed. I can get a 3/8” clamp fitting in there with some difficulty,...
- 525
1
vote
0
answers
140
views
Is any damage to an electrical cable acceptable?
We had electricians over today and they struggled to pull the cable for a new subpanel. They are planing to finish tomorrow. Now that they left, I checked the cable and the plastic protection is ...
- 11
1
vote
0
answers
877
views
House built in 2010 - where's the grounding rod?
This is the main panel outside the house (a subpanel is inside the house right behind it). I was wondering where the grounding rods are (I think they've been required by code for a while?), but I can'...
- 407
1
vote
0
answers
91
views
Non Obvious Reasons a Power Meter would be in a Home Electrical Panel?
Last year I purchased a house that was built in 2012. I began looking into installing a power meter for the whole house (such as a Sense or Emporia Vue), however I discovered today there's already a ...
- 11
1
vote
0
answers
79
views
Can I have 100A main breaker with 100A main panel for solar panel?
I have an inverter with 21A output current. And will existing 100A main busbar with existing 100A center fed main breaker?
I was looking online and there are articles about NEC rules for center fed ...
- 11
1
vote
0
answers
277
views
How to route new wiring into main panel from attic via cinder block
I need to route at least 4 new circuits into my house. I am also performing a 200A panel upgrade since the current one is 50 years old. A problem I have is that the hole where the wires go into panel ...
- 87
1
vote
0
answers
94
views
240v at the breaker not the other end
I have a well pump on what I pretty sure is a dedicated 240v/60a circuit.
I have had to run a new line for part of this circuit and replace a segment. I connected the new segment at the same point ...
- 11
1
vote
0
answers
115
views
Solar "side tap" configuration
I am finalizing my configuration for a solar upgrade, and want to do a sanity check.
Jurisdiction: US, NY
The service is 200A, which routes to the meter and then to the main panel in the house. Off ...
- 1,008
1
vote
0
answers
157
views
What is involved in moving an electrical panel?
Almost a decade ago, I purchased an older home (constructed about 1955). At some point in the past prior to us living here, an indoor fuse panel was replaced with a proper breaker box... but this was ...
- 223
1
vote
0
answers
171
views
240v Dryer Periodically Losing Voltage
I've had several difficult days trying to troubleshoot an issue with my dryer, and potentially the rest of my house. I'll give the long story here with a tl;dr at the end.
Several days ago, my wife ...
- 111
1
vote
0
answers
78
views
Dish installer damaged the electric panel box
A few years ago (like 8 or 9 years) we had a television dish installer come to our house and install the dish. After using it for a couple of years we got rid of it but obviously left the dish ...
- 133
1
vote
0
answers
145
views
Partial power out when AC is on
Anytime our AC is on we lose power in a few rooms mostly the kitchen. It can be on a few days before it goes out. I’ve had 2 electricians come they both said electric panel looks great , we did ...
- 11