Today’s inspection revealed 90% of the wiring coming into/going out of the Square D main panel are through two bushings. This is in a finished wall so I can’t see anything outside of the panel. I looked through my Code Check book and it says the wiring should be secured AMI. I’ve checked a couple of Square D boxes online but it doesn’t say anything regarding how to secure the outgoing wiring. Is having so much wiring in a bushing acceptable? I’d be concerned with the security of the wiring along with possible heat generation.
Something fishy going on here… now why would that be done?
Reloacted the panel?
A “used” panel from a city dump was installed?
I would refer it out to a Licensed Electrician for verification of safe operation!
I believe there is a limitation to the number of conductors that can be in one conduit; namely I believe you cannot run a large bundle of romex cables within one 2 inch conduit. Further research required…
Your picture appears to show only a bushing and no conduit present above the panel box.
Hey Jeffrey, I too was wondering why all the plugs. The location of the panel is on the inside next to where the meter was located on the outside, so I can’t see why they’d have to move it. The location was in a garage renovated into a utility room/laundry, but still, there shouldn’t have been any reason to move the panel.
There is an exception to allow multiple cable to enter the top of the panel through a conduit sleeve but the panel must be surface mounted along with other requirements.
Each cable needs to be secured to the cabinet. As Jim stated there is an exception for surface mounted panels but being recessed that exception does not apply.
From my understanding, a chase nipple is a fast and easy way to pull NM-cables into a box, but not code approved.
The National Electrical Code [NEC 312.5 (C)] allows one exception to the requirement for securely fastening NM-cables at panel entry, as long as the cables enter the top of a surface-mounted panel box through a non-flexible raceway that is between 18-inches and 10-feet long, and meet the following additional requirements:
Each cable is fastened within 12-inches of the outer end of the raceway.
The raceway extends directly above the panel and does not penetrate a structural ceiling.
A fitting is installed at each end of the raceway to avoid abrasion of the cable jacket and fitting remain accessible after installation.
The raceway is sealed at the outer end.
The cable sheathing is continuous through the raceway and extends a minimum of 1/4” into box enclosure.
The raceway is securely fastened at outer end.
Where installed as conduit, the allowable cable fill should not exceed permitted level in Table 1 of Chapter 9 of NEC Code, approximately 60%.
