Electrical service question

[bgmike8]

So im looking at a new location...
First of all, why is there no main breaker? Is this normal? Is this okay?

And yes i realize there is 12 gauge 20 amp wiring on 30 amp breakers. I told the owner and recommended to replace breakers with 20 amp to protect wiring

 

[bgmike8]

Wtf? @Renfro is gone?

 

[MidnightSun72]

So im looking at a new location...
First of all, why is there no main breaker? Is this normal? Is this okay?

And yes i realize there is 12 gauge 20 amp wiring on 30 amp breakers. I told the owner and recommended to replace breakers with 20 amp to protect wiring

I'd hope that is a sub panel to the actual main panel with the feed from the meter.

In case that really is the main panel and those hots are coming in off the streets then if you touch them you will be hooked up to literally unlimited amps, which is a really bad way to spend time.

 

[Hugo Phurst]

What he said.

That's some scary shit you have there, I'd consider it an "emergency situation". Call an Electrician.
Not only will that kill you, it'll hurt as you cook/die.

 

[bgmike8]

I'd hope that is a sub panel to the actual main panel with the feed from the meter.

In case that really is the main panel and those hots are coming in off the streets then if you touch them you will be hooked up to literally unlimited amps, which is a really bad way to spend time.

Yes it appears thats right from the electric company. That conduit goes right outside on the side of the house.

What to do?

 

[Apalchen]

Wtf? @Renfro is gone?

Been wondering myself.

As far as that electric box it looks like a subpanel

 

[bgmike8]

Im understanding the sub panel thing... But i dont think it is. I will have to travel to double check.
The story is that the old owner rented to them before they purchased and he was a shitbag.
Also puttimg all 30 amp breakers in there seems stupid too.

So assuming thats the only panel... Whats next?

 

[MidnightSun72]

Im understanding the sub panel thing... But i dont think it is. I will have to travel to double check.
The story is that the old owner rented to them before they purchased and he was a shitbag.
Also puttimg all 30 amp breakers in there seems stupid too.

So assuming thats the only panel... Whats next?

shit bag or not I don't really know how they could have pulled this off without a main panel. Normally you gotta call your electrical company, they cut the power at the pole. You swap panels and then an inspector OKs it and calls the electrical company. Then the electrical company can turn the power back on.

 

[Lordhooha]

So im looking at a new location...
First of all, why is there no main breaker? Is this normal? Is this okay?

And yes i realize there is 12 gauge 20 amp wiring on 30 amp breakers. I told the owner and recommended to replace breakers with 20 amp to protect wiring

Looks like a sub panel off the main panel. My shop is like that too.

 

[rkymtnman]

So assuming thats the only panel... Whats next?

rewire the whole thing to code.

 

[Roy O'Bannon]

Looks like a sub panel to me to. Some of that wire looks real old.
On the other end of the wire feeding it should be the main panel or at least a disconnect with breakers or fuses. Nothin wrong with those panels. If you wan to "main breaker" one you can put up to 125a breaker in there and feed it like that.

The other thing that bothers me is. If it isn't the main disconnect then you can't be tying neutrals and grounds to the same bar ( that strap across the top connects them ).
Need one more conductor in the pipe for the grounds back to the main panel or disconnect. Not exactly new code. Not like it wont work, they just wont let you do it like that anymore. Could run a #6 copper back to the main disconnect and put a ground terminal bar in the sub panel. They screw right to the holes in the box, you just have to find two that line up.

If you need a bigger panel, now is the time.
Call a pro

 

[bgmike8]

Looks like a sub panel to me to. Some of that wire looks real old.
On the other end of the wire feeding it should be the main panel or at least a disconnect with breakers or fuses. Nothin wrong with those panels. If you wan to "main breaker" one you can put up to 125a breaker in there and feed it like that.

The other thing that bothers me is. If it isn't the main disconnect then you can't be tying neutrals and grounds to the same bar ( that strap across the top connects them ).
Need one more conductor in the pipe for the grounds back to the main panel or disconnect. Not exactly new code. Not like it wont work, they just wont let you do it like that anymore. Could run a #6 copper back to the main disconnect and put a ground terminal bar in the sub panel. They screw right to the holes in the box, you just have to find two that line up.

If you need a bigger panel, now is the time.
Call a pro

Im seeing 3 big black wires. One goes over to the neutral/ground.
Is that incorrect?
Is that 2 hots and a neutral?

 

[rkymtnman]

Im seeing 3 big black wires. One goes over to the neutral/ground.
Is that incorrect?
Is that 2 hots and a neutral?

yep.

is there a disconnect on the outside of the house? or can you trace where the feed lines come from?

 

[bgmike8]

yep.

is there a disconnect on the outside of the house? or can you trace where the feed lines come from?

I will buddy. Ill get back here when i do.

 

[Hotshotmaple]

Absolutely has to be a sub panel, good news is you will be able to run 220 volts if you choose to

 

[bgmike8]

yep.

is there a disconnect on the outside of the house? or can you trace where the feed lines come from?

Ok i checked it out today. Im no pro but i can very clearly see where the power comes off the pole>to the top of house> into conduit or pipe and down to the meter> out of meter and into basement> exactly where the previous subpanel is.

There is no shut off. There is no main breaker.
Not sure how this is going on.
This is a 2 bedroom house. I dont see any other places where power could come from.
Homeowner has never seen another panel.

Somehow the owner before the last obtained bank financing.. So how could an inspector pass this?
Anyway, what to do?
Regardless of the forthcoming grow op, they definetly need to replace most of those 30 amp breakers with 20 amp to match their wiring.

 

[MidnightSun72]

Well since there is literally no way for you to work on that safely you have one choice. Get an electrician who will have the power cut from the property while he swaps out and wires in a new panel. There's not that many circuits in there. They cut the power at 7am. You'll be done before 2pm likely. After that you'll have a main breaker so you can safely add your grow circuits. If there is a way you can get your grow circuits wired and checked by the electrician that would be ideal too, but I get it if you don't want people knowing about it at all

 

[bgmike8]

Well since there is literally no way for you to work on that safely you have one choice. Get an electrician who will have the power cut from the property while he swaps out and wires in a new panel. There's not that many circuits in there. They cut the power at 7am. You'll be done before 2pm likely. After that you'll have a main breaker so you can safely add your grow circuits. If there is a way you can get your grow circuits wired and checked by the electrician that would be ideal too, but I get it if you don't want people knowing about it at all

Well if im going to be having the power company cut the power, should i just go ahead and upgrade to 150 or 200 amp service?
Basically just one more wire to run right? I mean 3 but just from the meter to the new panel right?

 

[MidnightSun72]

Well if im going to be having the power company cut the power, should i just go ahead and upgrade to 150 or 200 amp service?
Basically just one more wire to run right? I mean 3 but just from the meter to the new panel right?

Yes just upgrade your feed from the meter yes. I did the same thing. I went 100amp to 200amp service.

 

[rkymtnman]

i agree with midnite sun. pay somebody and tell them to "upgrade to code from the meter to this panel". and have them look at all the circuits: who knows waht other wiring mistakes are going on. unless you are renting this place, than f' it. if you own it, i'd spend the $.