New answers tagged electrical-panel
0
votes
upgrading from 50 amp service to 100 amp service to a new box . Can I run 50 amp breaker out of it to supply my old box like it was originally?
There are some definite "it depends" that we can't possibly guess:
Really bad panel types that should be replaced ASAP (Federal Pacific, etc.). For safety reasons, best to move all the ...
6
votes
Wiring single-phase A/C to a 240V 'wild leg'?
Primary issue: there are no 240V straight rated single pole breakers in the QO line
Your first problem is that you can't just use a single pole breaker for this job, as all single pole QO(B) breakers ...
- 72k
3
votes
Accepted
200A Meter Socket Ground / Bonding Strap
Leave it there
Since meter sockets sit upstream of the service disconnecting means, and thus the system neutral-ground bond, they're required to be bonded to the neutral. So, don't mess with that ...
- 72k
0
votes
200A Meter Socket Ground / Bonding Strap
Experts may have a more specific answer for your particular situation, as it can get extremely technical, plus NEC version can make a difference, as well as local and/or utility rules. (Listing your ...
16
votes
Accepted
Can I hookup a electric cooktop on 20 Amp breaker?
You may want to either talk to the manufacturer or go look at an actual unit in Home Depot.
The specs of 12.5A, 1800/750 + 1200 only make sense if this is a 240V unit. 1800 (largest of burner 1) + ...
0
votes
Are these pigtails inside the panel and outside a junction box allowed?
It always amazes me how creative the trades can be in screwing up. As a Code Enforcement Officer, Building Codes, I was also the Authority Having Jurisdiction. AHJ is the final approval for ...
- 11
1
vote
Water heater or a bad breaker?
Have patience with internet only electricians they most likely have never seen a 12kw water heater,
yes tanked electric.
If this is what you have I would be looking at the elements first they ...
- 95.5k
7
votes
Accepted
Is my garage subpanel safe for 100 amps?
Your panel was wired improperly in the first place. But we can save it.
What they did was combine two cables to get enough wires to do the job. That's not allowed. I would call it "cheap" ...
5
votes
House Wired Incorrectly? - MWBC
Yes, this is a big problem. Your understanding is correct. With full-size breakers (which is the case for everything in this picture), the hot legs alternate, so by skipping a space with an MWBC you ...
3
votes
Is my garage subpanel safe for 100 amps?
No, it is not safe for 100A. Your 6Ga wire is rated for 55A maximum (if the cables are NM-B or UF-B, 65A in the unlikely even that they're SE or USE). It would be a code violation to attempt to ...
- 2,782
1
vote
What can cause a partial and temporary loss of power?
I have experienced similar situations on three different places. All of them where related to "false contact" or some wires in the main feed being broken or damaged due to traffic accidents ...
- 109
1
vote
Would a 120/240 V whole house surge protector work with 120 V single phase?
For anyone finding this post now years later, it appears the newer version of the DEPD80 will not work on 120v. This model has just one LED and it does not light up when powered from one leg.
- 11
2
votes
Accepted
Must SEU cable between the meter and load center be in conduit?
The NEC would permit this, but Washington State code doesn't
The Washington State electrical code amends NEC 230.43 to prohibit the use of SE cables for service conductors within buildings. Since you ...
- 72k
3
votes
Accepted
Wire type from meter base to panel, conduit end to end, underground, and through a crawl space
I would go one size up in Aluminium, to 250 kcmil. 4/0 Aluminium is technically under the 200A at 75ºC in the ampacity chart. There may be a carve-out in the NEC for service feeders specifically but I'...
- 1,341
2
votes
Accepted
Different vintages breakers in main panel
Top left doesn't look like a Murray. It looks like a GE maybe -- and it's an A/C unit! Alien breakers are most common on A/C units because the contractors don't care and aren't electricians.
As far ...
3
votes
Accepted
Can I reuse an existing grounding rod and water pipe ground location?
Panel to first electrode needs to be uninterrupted, but from there you can use connectors
Since the existing grounding electrode conductor is large enough and in good enough condition, you can go ...
- 72k
1
vote
How to identify which live wire go with which neutral wire?
1 - Finding the room behind every live wire
To find which neutral goes to which live wire, I first found where each live wire went.
To do so I just switch on every light. Then one by one I unpluged ...
- 111
2
votes
Grounding electrode conductor
Go ahead and use a bare wire
NEC 680.25 on feeders specifically calls out equipment grounding conductors, so you're fine using a bare copper grounding electrode conductor for your pool subpanel. Note ...
- 72k
6
votes
Can neutrals be landed in an old panel which acts as a junction box?
Current flows in loops. It's not like air tools where air only has to go one way. Electric current has to come back too in a full loop.
Neutral is the return path that carries 100% of the current - ...
0
votes
Why are multiple AFCI breakers tripping randomly in my new home?
I've heard of AFCI breakers tripping due to nearby ham radio operations. In a video of the phenomenon, breakers would begin to trip at random, often several in rapid succession when the radio was ...
14
votes
Add service entrance barriers to live electric panel - tips?
Contact your power company. Say:
"Am I correct that my smart meter has a large contactor in it, so that you can remotely shut off my power with a few keystrokes on your computer?"
And
"...
8
votes
Add service entrance barriers to live electric panel - tips?
There's a couple of ways to play this, assuming you don't want to just YOLO this and shove them on with your bare hand (not the greatest idea)
Ask your utility to kill the power to your house for a ...
- 19.7k
5
votes
How to identify which live wire go with which neutral wire?
First, neutrals will generally be in the same conduit pipe as the partner live wire.
To identify the neutrals, plug a load into each circuit and turn the load on. Lift all the neutrals off the ...
3
votes
How to identify which live wire go with which neutral wire?
I'm relying on your statement that you know which wires are neutrals, but not how they are paired with lives and I will assume the neutrals on the new panel go to a common bus, so you can install them ...
- 16.9k
1
vote
Can i run a 30amp rv outlet with gfi outlet with 30 and 20 amp breakers in box off my main 100amp breakers
The 20A breaker opposite the main breaker cannot be moved or changed, however if it is powering a bog-standard 4500W water heater it needs to be changed to 25A. (siemens QP225). If it is a 3800W ...
3
votes
Accepted
Understanding bad electrical panel wireing
That is not ok.
The neutral wire from the second breaker ought to be blue. This is "just" a code violation, altough a severe one and an indication of shoddy workmanship and further issues.
...
- 330
Top 50 recent answers are included