No main shut off switch in 2013 townhouse electrical panel

jruscoe · November 7, 2019, 2:25am

2013 townhouse. Electrical panel has no main shut off switch, only individual breakers. Assuming this was legal as it was signed of by the city. Should this be called out as a safety issue or just a suggestion to add? What is code today?

srechkin · November 7, 2019, 2:31am

You were probably looking at a remote distribution (sub) panel. Did you locate the area with the meters?

jruscoe · November 7, 2019, 4:41am

No. This was the main panel.

Best regards,

Jon Ruscoe

Home Run Inspections,LLC

CCB# 221100

WWW.homeruninspectionsor.com

ndegaris · November 7, 2019, 4:43am

Agree with Simon, do you have pictures you can upload

srechkin · November 7, 2019, 4:43am

That would be wrong in 2013, a disconnect is required. Post pics of the meters & panels.

jruscoe · November 7, 2019, 4:46am

This is the main panel of the townhouse.

srechkin · November 7, 2019, 4:49am

It’s wired as a sub-panel. Why do you believe it’s the main (service) panel?

jruscoe · November 7, 2019, 5:00am

because this is the only panel in the house

srechkin · November 7, 2019, 5:03am

Did you locate the SEC? meters? being the only panel “inside” does not make it “main”.

jruscoe · November 7, 2019, 5:06am

I inspected a new construction townhouse yesterday and it had the same panel in the garage with a main disconnect.
Forgive me but I’m fairly new. SEC? Meters?

srechkin · November 7, 2019, 5:21am

Consider retaking the electrical course offered by nachi, you don’t want to get yourself in trouble.

jruscoe · November 7, 2019, 5:24am

ok will do. Can you help with this question? What should I be also looking for if this is not the main panel?

srechkin · November 7, 2019, 5:26am

There is going to be a disconnect by the meter enclosure. Usually it’s on the exterior side of a building.

jruscoe · November 7, 2019, 5:28am

I walked the whole exterior. There is no other panel, whether interior or exterior. There is no disconnect by the meter. Only the meter itself.

srechkin · November 7, 2019, 5:29am

There just needs to be a disconnect with OCPD, so a breaker, not another “panel” in a sense you understand. I’m pretty sure you missed it.

Post a pic of it

jruscoe · November 7, 2019, 5:30am

unfortunately I didnt take a picture of the meter.

jruscoe · November 7, 2019, 5:31am

Any chance you have a picture of what you are talking about so that if I go back out to the site I can look for it?

srechkin · November 7, 2019, 5:35am

Yes, there are different versions of it, try this:

https://www.google.com/search?q=main+disconnect+meter&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X

jruscoe · November 7, 2019, 5:35am

Can you explain why they would put the disconnect on the outside of the building and not in the townhouse main panel? That seems like a safety hazard in itself?

jruscoe · November 7, 2019, 5:37am

There were non of these. Only the basic round meter. I would have noticed any of these boxes