Did an inspection today and discovered that the service entrance conductors bypassed the hot bus at the top of panel and was connected to a 100 amp double pole breaker on the legs of the hot bus. Is this a danger? Does this make sense?
Post a picture. But it sounds like a “backfed” breaker situation, which is typically fine. One caveat is that the breaker needs to have a hold down device installed.
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I dont think the SEC’s are the right gauge to support 200 amps. i believe they installed for future upgrade but the 100 amp breaker concerns me
There is a missing breaker retention device on the 100 amp breaker.
Kent, that is called a backfed breaker.
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Good call Jim. Retention device required.
Jim, Thank you. I was assuming this was the case as well, not having the hold down device or breaker retention device. Thank you for confirming that
That is a pretty cramped service panel. Bunched cables. Not allowed. Glean the busses for double taps.
1000%. pretty sloppy stuff here, Robert. So right. surprisingly no double taps. just a mess though
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Correct, they do not appear to be adequate for the 200amp breaker. The 200amp breaker is available in the future if the service conductors are upgraded.
The 100 amp breaker is the main disconnect now, and should be labeled as such. And it should have a hold down device since it is backfed.
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Back-fed main perfectly acceptable as long as the hold down device is installed. I would fire every one of my guys that twisted the EGC’s together like that. 
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Lol. Hard to imagine why anyone would do that, at least in this situation.
Yes that is a back-fed panel. The 100amp breaker needs to be secured to the panel, it is not. Also I have not seen a panel that would all that quantity of wafer or half-breakers. Usually the panel diagram or schematic will show where they can be placed. I would be calling for an electrician to make the needed corrections to that panel.
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Not to mention the Eaton, Bryant, Challenger, Murray and Siemens breaker conglomeration.
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That’s easy.
Someone got themselves a drill and one of these and twisted until it fit. I saw “electricians”(i.e. they were peasants the weeks before I’m sure) in China do exactly that on the one factory we built. Had three or four giant wads of grounds all twisted together like that.
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I concur. Recommend a licensed electrical contractor further evaluate, make any required corrections and act upon any recommendations therein.
There is at least one visible double tap on the neutral bar on the right. This entire panel needs to be reworked.
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You sure about that? Looks like double tapped neutrals on the right.
Or the grounding bus issues. Corroded EGCs, rusted lug screws, and pretty sure several lugs have more than 2 wires…
That’s actually the neutral bus that you’ve highlighted but you’re correct about the corrosion. EGC’s can typically have up to 3 per hole. I would guess that they’re not permitted to be twisted together in the hole.
Right now the SEC’s are only supporting 100-amps. For some reason, this panel has been downgraded to 100-amps, which is not a defect but could be an issue for the buyer–I would make sure that the customer knows that.
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