I don’t remember seeing a panel install quite like this. Any potential dangers with the wires so close to the neutral busbar and feeders? Any input or insight would be helpful. Thanks
FYI, Looks like missing bushings up top.
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Good eye; I did note that during my inspection.
First thought that comes to mind with that orientation is… You must be in Canada!!
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Do you have a pic further back? Why does it appear you have two neutral feeders? One for a subpanel?
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Haha, I also haven’t seen this orientation in my area before. It is southern California
Yes sir, there is a subpanel in the garage, just behind this main.
Is this a split bus panel with two back feed breakers? It looks like two neutrals on top with the bonding screw still intact.
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The NM cable on the upper left has no connector and given it’s comparative length I would guess that it was added later (they do make NM cable connectors that can be installed from the inside of the panel)… Also there is an open KO. The neutral bar area is sloppy as is most of the panel. Could 50 years of vibration cause the insulation against the neutral bus cause the insulation to fail? Maybe.
Since the neutral is not bonded and there is a separate EGC bus this is likely setup as a sub-panel.
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WTH?
Could you help us with a far out full context picture, a legible photo of the rating panel, approximate age of home?
Job one here is compare with vendor instructions and understand where the main parts of the panel are supposed to be (L1 L2 Neutral, Neutral Bar, Ground Bar, Neutral-Ground bonding screw, etc). Like are those two black cables ever so close actually neutrals going to subpanels? Note this is a plug on neutral panel per your picture.
Square D energy center. Isn’t cheep. 3,499.00 USD.
Has 51 available spaces for 61 available circuits.
Several issues. Cable bushings, the lack thereof, neutral bus crosses over 2x120V power buses addons.
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Thanks Robert for your helpful thoughts here
Thanks for your feedback Bryce, my apologies on the inadequate amount details and pictures. I appreciate your feedback as it helps me grasp this panel and all its components more fully.
Really helpful Robert. Could you unpack this comment for me a bit more and any potential causes?
I hope he is not talking about the adapter lugs for the two large neutrals in the first photo
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Who?.. …
I still can’t quite believe this is a U.S. model panelboard. All the square D panelboards I’ve seen are the ugly blue, gray, etc colors that are common. The white color I’ve only seen from the canadians on this board. I remember reading a post a little while ago of one of these panelboards had a like a separating piece that pevents conductors from crossing bus bars and such, so I’m wondering if that is missing in this case. Forgot to bookmark it and cant find it now. Anyone remember?
In larger homes, they run 2 - 200 amp panels in parallel, but they are usually separate boards. I’m wondering if this panel board is basically a combination all in one board that serves the same purpose.
The ungrounded 4x SECs come in at the middle of the panel to power the top and bottom sections of the panel.
Looks like robert’s seen this before, which means the whole canadian import theory may not be too far off the mark. Can we get a model number on this panel so some research can be done? @earmendariz
Would be helpful if the OP had provided a clear picture of the rating label, or at least the model number.
It’s hard for me to remember always, I get focused on the “defect”. But super important to have a context photo, a label photo, and a detail photo all.
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My first thought.