Originally Posted By: mlong
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http://www.nachi.org/bbsystem/usrimages/P/P10100341.jpg ]
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Mark Long
Peace of Mind Home Inspections
http://www.pomhi.net
http://www.nachi.org/bbsystem/usrimages/P/P10100341.jpg ]
Originally Posted By: bking
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It is ok to backfeed a breaker if the wire size is correct and the breaker must have a retaining clip to keep it from coming out of the panel.
the picture is too small to see anything else.
Originally Posted By: rmoore
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Mark…
What Bruce said plus...If the breaker in the main panel feeding the sub-panel is a 30-amp, then the #10 is adequately protected and the 60-amp back-fed breaker would be OK (with a clip...which I can't see).
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Richard Moore
Rest Assured Inspection Services
Seattle, WA
www.rainspect.com
Originally Posted By: mlong
This post was automatically imported from our archived forum.
| rmoore wrote: |
| Mark...
What Bruce said plus...If the breaker in the main panel feeding the sub-panel is a 30-amp, then the #10 is adequately protected and the 60-amp back-fed breaker would be OK (with a clip...which I can't see). |
I have to admit, I didn't check to see if the breaker is clipped, and I don't know where the feed is coming from. There are two main panels in this house, one for the main house and one for an apartment, and neither are marked, so I didn't determine what feeds the sub panel. Plus neither cover is removable because they have both been boxed in, not that that would help much. I suppose I could determine what feeds the sub with a little deductive reasoning, and some trial and error switching the breakers on and off, but correct me if I'm wrong, standard practice is not to turn breakers on and off.
For the sake of discussion, let's say I determine that the 60 amp breaker is clipped and it is protected by a 30 amp breaker in the main, there is also a 50 amp breaker in the sub that is feeding a dryer with 10 ga. Is that OK?
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Mark Long
Peace of Mind Home Inspections
http://www.pomhi.net
Originally Posted By: jpope
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| mlong wrote: |
| There are two main panels in this house, one for the main house and one for an apartment. . . |
Where there two meters? Or was there a parallel service?
It's quite possible that there was only one "main" and two "subs."
| mlong wrote: |
| For the sake of discussion, let's say I determine that the 60 amp breaker is clipped and it is protected by a 30 amp breaker in the main, there is also a 50 amp breaker in the sub that is feeding a dryer with 10 ga. Is that OK? |
Not very practical but it would work. The concern would be the actual feed breaker. If it's more than 30 amps you would burn up the #10 before tripping the 50 at the dryer. . .
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Jeff Pope
JPI Home Inspection Service
"At JPI, we'll help you look better"
(661) 212-0738
Originally Posted By: mlong
This post was automatically imported from our archived forum.
| jpope wrote: | ||||
Where there two meters? Or was there a parallel service? It's quite possible that there was only one "main" and two "subs."
Not very practical but it would work. The concern would be the actual feed breaker. If it's more than 30 amps you would burn up the #10 before tripping the 50 at the dryer. . . |
There were, in fact, two meters, each feeding a 200 amp service panel.
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Mark Long
Peace of Mind Home Inspections
http://www.pomhi.net
Originally Posted By: rmoore
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| Quote: |
| For the sake of discussion, let's say I determine that the 60 amp breaker is clipped and it is protected by a 30 amp breaker in the main, there is also a 50 amp breaker in the sub that is feeding a dryer with 10 ga. Is that OK? |
For the sake of discussion only, and from a safety aspect, then as Jeff said...yes (unusual, but yes). Most dryers only require a 30 amp circuit, so basically everything would be protected by the feeding breaker. Nuisance tripping might be a problem though.
HOWEVER...as usual, there's often a big difference in the theory (which is fun to discuss) and what we are able to know and report. In this case, what you do know is that you have 2 blocked main panels and a sub that appears to be overfused and/or overloaded. I'd report something along those lines and recommend access be made for full evaluation by a licensed electrician.
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Richard Moore
Rest Assured Inspection Services
Seattle, WA
www.rainspect.com
Originally Posted By: mlong
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Thanks for the advice guys!
–
Mark Long
Peace of Mind Home Inspections
http://www.pomhi.net