Originally Posted By: Steven Brewster This post was automatically imported from our archived forum.
I inspected this home today and observed this Walker 100 amp main panel. Lots of issues, but my question, is this panel approved to connect a subpanel to the lugs suppling the fuse buses? Kind of like a triple tap. This feeder appears to be a 6 stranded 3 wire which is only rated for around 65 amp and the disconnect for the subpanel is the main 100 amp. Help if you can! By the way, the EGC is connected to galv. water pipe—that has been repaired near the entrance with PB. Some ground!
Originally Posted By: rmoore This post was automatically imported from our archived forum.
My thoughts until the real sparkies (Bob & Greg) chime in…
I don't see fuse panels often, and don't know whether you can double tap the lugs load side of the main fuse blocks, but clearly the #6 feed is overfused. Even more so as the circuits in the sub-panel appear to have the potential for the full 100-amps (if not more). Even if the dbl-tap is allowed, and they had used #2 Cu, then the whole system would seem to be overloaded (besides being outdated). What size were the SECs?
I assume you know that the sub-panel grounds are also wrong.
I would report what I know is wrong and would be making a stromg recommendation for upgrade to a new 200-amp, properly grounded service panel.
-- Richard Moore
Rest Assured Inspection Services
Seattle, WA
www.rainspect.com
Originally Posted By: Thomas Ogryski This post was automatically imported from our archived forum.
Steven,
You're right, there are a lot of issues in those photos. One of my first concerns when I see a 30 amp plug fuse is that it actually is connected to #10 wire. There are instances where the fuse size / wire size do not match up, but that doesn't generally apply to most circuits in a dwelling.
There were some fuse panels that had provisions for making a code compliant tap. They usually had a box lug on each busbar. The connections shown in your first picture would not be in compliance. The tap conductors would need to terminate in a circuit breaker (60 amps in this case). There is also a requirement that the tap conduuctors be suitably protected from physical damage, and in a change for 2005 that protection would have to be an approved raceway or other approved means.
The sub panel is not grounded at all as near as I can tell and the neutral is being used for the connection of an equipment ground.
The black cable on the right side of the sub panel looks more like rubber cord than NM cable.
As far as upgrading this to 200 amps, I agree with this only frrom the point of view of getting a panel that is big enough to consolidate all these circuits in one enclosure.
Originally Posted By: pabernathy This post was automatically imported from our archived forum.
Ok…
Without going into too much detail as we need to keep it HI related. The taps you see are wrong because they are not approved methods listed in 110-14 and well...other places of the NEC as well.
IS taping wrong....well if approved and done correctly not a problem as long as the SE is sized correctly and the enclosure is approved for such a tap much like trailer panels are done.....
In your case you have MANY things going on here and from the first point that the sub panel is not grounded correctly and no floating neutral that would be your MAJOR write up on this panel and note it has other issues that should be reviewed by a licensed electrician.
Tapping is extending the busbar so to speak which is still governed by the rating of the main breaker or OCPD but the second MAJOR issue you should also note is the 100A rating of the sub.......100A rating on a 65A wire is not good.....and if it was actually being fed from a 50-60A breaker it would be fine...but it NOT...so again a major issue that needs to be bought into play here....
These are general observations you have made and should be noted for your client....I wont go into jackets coverings and amount in the panel and so on......always stick to the major issues and this panel has (2) major onces at the least.
The running of wires to a terminal and wrapping around it for means of tapping is not approved methods in THIS installation.
-- Paul W. Abernathy- NACHI Certified
Electrical Service Specialists
Licensed Master Electrician
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Originally Posted By: Steven Brewster This post was automatically imported from our archived forum.
Thanks,
I recommended evaluation/repair by a lic. electrician and pointed out the overfusing, grounding issue in the sub, triple tap on load bus, improper ground of service, etc. Just did not know if the connection on load side bus was allowable.