Older 1960's house.
The outside panel is a FPE Stab-Lok that needs upgraded.
Will be using this panel to upgrade it, which has a 125-amp main breaker:
The current box is directly to the left of the outside meter. The box currently has a 70-amp circuit that leads to a sub-panel (about 20 feet away), a 50-amp breaker for the oven, and two 20-amp 120v breakers. Grounding bar is outside but it is not bonded to copper plumbing.
Questions:
- Any issues there or will that panel and hook-up be OK?
- The 70-amp breaker will be changed out for a 100-amp breaker (since the subpanel will be upgraded to 100 amp). Is #4 copper good to run between these?
Next, the inside panel also needs upgraded. It is only 70-amp and the house will get electric heat/HVAC system (has only had window units but has had forced gas air so the vents and closet are in place). So it will be upgraded to 100-amp.
Questions:
- I'm sure that box is OK for the purpose?
- There is copper plumbing very close to this box. Is it safe to also provide bonding of the separate ground bar to the copper plumbing with the outside main panel ground bar connected to the ground rod in the ground?
- I'm seeing all kinds of conflicting info on this. I understand that the neutral and ground on the sub-panel should not be bonded / connected together correct? Some people say yes and others say no. Seen others actually connect a wire between the two, but that makes no sense to me.