60 or 100

Originally Posted By: dmacy
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http://www.nachi.org/bbsystem/usrimages/5/54005_Parma_016_Small.jpg ]


[ Image: http://www.nachi.org/bbsystem/usrimages/5/54005_Parma_017_Small.jpg ]


Also recommend raising the exterior mast of off the roof surface. Is 3 ft the correct height?


[ Image: http://www.nachi.org/bbsystem/usrimages/5/54005_Parma_005_Small.jpg ]

Thanks Dave


Originally Posted By: jpope
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I’m trying to follow the conductors and it appears that there is no service disconnect.


It looks like the SEC enters the center box through the back and runs to the box on the left where they attach to the lugs at the bus bars.

From there, the 60 amp breaker feeds the fuse block at the center panel.

What makes you think that this is a 60 amp or 50 amp service?


--
Jeff Pope
JPI Home Inspection Service
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Originally Posted By: gbeaumont
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JPI wrote:
I'm trying to follow the conductors and it appears that there is no service disconnect.


Thank god for that I have just spent 10 mins going cross eyed looking at it and I am not geting it either.

"Recommend further evaluation by a licensed electrical contractor"

Regards

Gerry


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Gerry Beaumont
NACHI Education Committee
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Originally Posted By: dmacy
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Jeff


The main service entrance wires are 100 amp copper but they feed to a 50 amp FPE breaker that is labeled the main.

The service wires do run quite a distance dont they Gerry? Dont understand why they did that when they installed the FPE box.

It looked to me that this being a 1955 built home that they had a 60 amp fused service than in the 60's or 70's they added the FPE panel.

I did recommend further evaluation by a licensed electrician.

I have an additional question. How many times do you find that the panel rating doesnt match the service rating? I have been lax at looking at this when determining service amperage.

Thanks for your replies.

Dave


Originally Posted By: Steven Brewster
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A lot! The service amperage should be sized by the cable feeding the panel not by mfg. ratings. I see a lot of 125 amp rated panels that have 60 amp rated service cables and disconnects. Theses breaker panels were installed to replace old 60 amp fuse panels.


Originally Posted By: pabernathy
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I see the other areas are being covered so I will address the connection point of the service mast.


AS long as the drip loop portion is minimum 10' above the predestrian area it should be fine. The lines do not appear to be going over any roof structure and no windows or so on are near it.

I would not cite anything actually wrong with that location based on what I see...now the condition of the conductors and so on my be another story but my eyes are not that good...lol

Also some local AHJ's will allow this also because the gable rafter creates a structural necessity for attachment above the weatherhead and is allowed in the NEC.

However- What did concern me is it looks like the actual service drop lines are possibly going over the actual edge of the house which then would require a 8' in clearance for a span of not less than 3' in all directions from the edge of the roof. ( ie: if the pitch is 4/12 or less....) and this looks like a low slope roof line.


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Originally Posted By: phinsperger
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jpope wrote:
...it appears that there is no service disconnect.


If you shut off all the breakers in the left panel does this qualify under the 6 switch to disconnect? We don't have that rule up here so I don't know for sure. Just curious


--
.


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Hinsperger Inspection Services
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Originally Posted By: pabernathy
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Paul,


It would if the panel is labeled as such for it's intent.


However from what I can gather on this picture the intend of the panel on the left is supposed to be a sub-panel format without a main breaker setup because of the main lug locations ( IMHO )

Now nothing in the 6 disconnect ruling that I am aware of would disregard the downstream circuit breakers and from what i can gather the entire system is protected by the 60A breaker in the far left panel.....

Each breaker MUST be labeled in a 6 disc. grouping which should be noted on THAT specific panel.

I will say without looking at it in too much detail because I do not like giving comments on pictures that I can't physically be at to grasp..

I would make sure the middle panel ( which becomes the Sub-Panel ) is done correctly..ie. seperation of neutrals and grounds and I notice the GEC comes into the middle panel.....In all cases I am aware of the GEC should be run into the MAIN panel which in this setup is really the one on the left....and the 4 wire requirement for the Sub-panel should take care of the grounding and neutrals in the middle panel....

All seems Half A@@ed backwards to me...but again what do I know....


--
Paul W. Abernathy- NACHI Certified
Electrical Service Specialists
Licensed Master Electrician
Electrical Contractor
President of NACHI Central Virginia Chapter
NEC Instructor
Moderator @ Doityourself.com
Visit our website- www.electrical-ess.com

Originally Posted By: pabernathy
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Gerry…didn’t I see you on a episode of House Detectives…lol



Paul W. Abernathy- NACHI Certified


Electrical Service Specialists


Licensed Master Electrician


Electrical Contractor


President of NACHI Central Virginia Chapter


NEC Instructor


Moderator @ Doityourself.com


Visit our website- www.electrical-ess.com