The “next higher breaker size” rule only refers to rounding up when the ampacity falls between two standard sizes. Since 175a IS a standard size you can’t round up.
Thank you
What is the difference between service (meter ) box 200 amps and service panel 100 amps /
One is the meter can the other is the service panel.
Thank you
About 100 AMPS…
But see Roy gotcha covered.
This thread is very old. Just hinting 
So does that make it no longer relevant? I think not. Not hinting, saying! :neutral:
Hell, I might reply to a post thats 5 years old if I find the information incorrect or needs clarification for my family of HI friends…Just Sayin;)
You have a point. Correct info is the key! 
Resurrecting the dead!
Don’t take it personally. :twisted:
Just to beat a dead horse here and bring this thread that I stumbled upon back to life. I think the confusion with Roy’s posts stems from the fact that in Canada, we have a line cover over the service entrance conductors that has to be removed in order to see them. Where as in the States, once the dead front is removed, they’re visible. I personally remove the line cover in order to view the se conductors. I have to disagree with Roy that the utility approved it, so it’s good. I have seen tapping to the main service lugs and undersized wiring that was evident of unpermitted, improper upgrades. However I do also think that removing the line cover can be potentially hazardous due to the way slot of them go into place and are accessed and it’s not necessarily something that should be the responsibility of a hi, although I personally do it. I think the way the us panels are setup is a safer environment for home inspectors, but not necessarily for home owners, who shouldn’t be in there anyway.
That would explain a lot … I see the sheathing and marking on my service entry wires at least 65% of the time because when I remove the deadfront they’re very visible OR because in an unfinished basement they are usually visible from the top of the panel to where they exit the basement wall and enter the conduit or meter base.
This is what you see when you remove the dead front of a “Canadian” panel. And trust me, those screws can be hard to get at when a panel is jam packed full of wires. Other brands like CH/Eaton, it’s sort of a balancing act to hold the line cover in place and line up the two screws and hope it doesn’t slip and hit the lugs.
Just me but that seems like an awfully big waste of gutter space not to mention the entire section of bus at the top is still energized when the main is closed just like in the photo.
Instead of fussing over code issues, it might be more useful to our clients to look at all the installed stuff that will draw power, like a 100 Amp service with electric water heater, electric dryer, electric range and a 3 ton AC. What happens on a hot day when mom is trying to cook a meal and do the laundry at the same time? Not a rhetorical question btw. I know what happened
House was built to code but the result was inadequate.
Yes there is much debate as to whether or not H.I.'s are qualified enough be opening panels. I would say yes if the H.I. has the proper training. Given that I have seen so many panel issues, I think it is in the best interest of the client if we open and inspect the panel. Look at (not measure) the wires coming in.
Some of the issues I have seen are itemised below:
-
40 year old house burnt down and was rebuilt 5 years earlier to the inspection. Inside the panel was a hot wire with parts (2" long) of the insulation stripped off. There was a flash when I stuck my hands in. Client and agent ran. Got black tape from a neighbour temporarily correct.
-
Knock out found sitting between wires next to breaker in a 10 year old house. Apparently in 10 years no one went in this panel so it was undisturbed for 10 years. Removed it with a pliers.
And of course many more interesting finds. So I remove all panel covers look at, and take pictures whether there is an issue or not.
Sounds like you are doing more than “observing and reporting”. That is where you “cross the line” as an inspector!
In the first case if I had not put my hands to see better behind the wires I would not have seen the that one side of red wire was stripped and running about 2 millimeters and parallel to the ECG. After the flash etc, I could not leave it that way and slept OK knowing the condition, so I did a temporary fix and notified the agent and client, also asked that the client notify the selling agent.
In the second case pretty much the same argument. Could take pics and walk away leaving as is. But remember, the knock out been there for 10 years and have not moved. Should it move after the inspection and the house burn down I don’t think the Fire Marshall would be thrilled at my pics.
So yes I did cross the line and I think most H.I. do from time to time. Both cases were thin lines and were crossed only just a bit.