Hot wire to screw

[Jeff Eastman]

..............

[Shannon Guinn]

That's a pretty funky little panel that appears to have some age on it. I can't recognize from the picture what brand it or the breakers are but I've not seen a breaker that's listed for this type termination. Maybe it was done in a hurry on fri evening a long time ago, or maybe it was what goes on in vegas stays in vegas.:D

[Jerry Peck]

Looks like a Zinsco, which says enough about it right there, however, for your question, that is because that breaker has a binding head screw terminal instead of a set screw type screw terminal.

[Jerry Peck]

Jerry, is what you said improper or okay?

Depends.

If you are referring to the binding head screw terminal, they are allowed for conductors #10 AWG and smaller - only, and that is on a 20 amp breaker so it is okay there as long as the wire is #10 or smaller and it looks like it is.

If you are referring to being a Zinsco ... well, I think you know what we think about those things ...

So ... *regardless* of what is wrong or not wrong with that panel, and being as it is a Zinsco (at least it looks like it to me - could be a Zinsco, Sylvania, Sylvania Zinsco, or whatever, but it has that Zinsco look to the breakers and bus bars), that kind of says more than enough right there ...