Originally Posted By: anatol polillo This post was automatically imported from our archived forum.
Fellow Inspectors,
Today I saw a new (to me) configuration, sorry no picture, but I will describe it as best I can.
100 amp Main panel Cutler Hammer. The service conductors came in at the bottom and went into a double breaker at the bottom of the panel on the right side, no marking as to size, but seem to take the wire just fine. I normally see the conductors attached to the bus at the top, with the main breaker just below. There were other problems with the wiring in the panel so I recommended Sparky. I have seen split bus boxes before, but this did not look right to me. Any Ideas??
Originally Posted By: jmyers This post was automatically imported from our archived forum.
Anatol,
If you mean the main breaker rating was not stamped on the breaker, that in itself is a violation.
It sounds to me like they just took the standard CH series panel and moved the main breaker to accomidate the SE cable entering the bottom of the panel instead of the top.
However, if that would be the case, the breaker amerage should be clearly written on the main breaker.
Originally Posted By: jpeck This post was automatically imported from our archived forum.
That was a “back fed” breaker (where breaker is fed to its terminals instead of where it is plugged into the bus bar), and all back fed breakers must have some type of retaining clip or screw to hold them to the panel and bus bar. Removing a back fed breaker, without turning it of, exposes live breaker parts where the breaker clips onto the bus bar.
Even when turned off, then removed, if the breaker is accidentally turned 'on', those breaker parts will become energized.
As to the breaker size, that must have a marking on it somewhere you can see it, usually on the handle.
You can back feed a main, however, the panel must be designed for that. Some panels have lower ratings for the breaker tabs of the bus bar than what the panel is rated for. I.e., you could have a 200 amp panel, and the breaker tabs may be limited to 150 amp max.