JD Weekley
01-29-2012, 10:47 PM
Hello, long time lurker finally wishing to ask a question :)
A home I own (built 1885), has at some point been upgraded with breaker panels sometime in the 70s I'll figure. The way the panels are currently is set up seems somewhat odd, and I'd like to have some knowledge before I pay to have an electrician look it over.
It's a two unit with up and down apartments. Two meters come into the house, each goes to a smaller breaker panel each containing four large breakers. These are Federal Pacific and the main thing is I wish to upgrade these.
These large breakers in these panels then feed:
Downstairs:
1) a breaker panel located in detached garage.
2) electric dryer service
3) Central air
4) General use panel right next to them containing approximately 30 breakers (not federal Pacific)
Upstairs
1) Misc baseboard heaters
2) Electric Stove service (not used)
3) General panel right next to them with 20 breakers (not federal pacific)
4) Unused
Typically, I see panels now with the these large "main" breakers in "one" panel and they would then feed all general use breakers and then any "sub" panels like garage etc.
Seem normal for the time? I imagine they duplicated what the old fuse panels were doing except with breakers.
Can the above configuration be kept and merely the smaller panels (with 4 large breakers) upgraded from Federal?
Just wish to know a bit so I can (somewhat) intelligently discuss this with an electrician.
Thank you for any input you may wish to offer :) Kindest regards :)
A home I own (built 1885), has at some point been upgraded with breaker panels sometime in the 70s I'll figure. The way the panels are currently is set up seems somewhat odd, and I'd like to have some knowledge before I pay to have an electrician look it over.
It's a two unit with up and down apartments. Two meters come into the house, each goes to a smaller breaker panel each containing four large breakers. These are Federal Pacific and the main thing is I wish to upgrade these.
These large breakers in these panels then feed:
Downstairs:
1) a breaker panel located in detached garage.
2) electric dryer service
3) Central air
4) General use panel right next to them containing approximately 30 breakers (not federal Pacific)
Upstairs
1) Misc baseboard heaters
2) Electric Stove service (not used)
3) General panel right next to them with 20 breakers (not federal pacific)
4) Unused
Typically, I see panels now with the these large "main" breakers in "one" panel and they would then feed all general use breakers and then any "sub" panels like garage etc.
Seem normal for the time? I imagine they duplicated what the old fuse panels were doing except with breakers.
Can the above configuration be kept and merely the smaller panels (with 4 large breakers) upgraded from Federal?
Just wish to know a bit so I can (somewhat) intelligently discuss this with an electrician.
Thank you for any input you may wish to offer :) Kindest regards :)