Chris Weekly
05-06-2016, 08:25 PM
Recently saw a home that had been doubled in size - with additions-from 1500 feet to 3000 ft.². It's panel was a 100 amp rated panel from the manufacturer (see photo) - suitable for the smaller house but highly questionable for the new larger house. A 125 amp circuit breaker was installed - apparently to accommodate the addition for a main breaker at this panel, without upgrading the panel itself. And a 60 amp circuit breaker was installed for a second panel for general lighting, receptacle, and appliance circuits.
I reported the panel was over fused and a potential safety hazard. Not only this, but there was only a total of 14 general lighting and appliance circuits for the entire house-the new kitchen alone having only two circuits. Lots of electrical problems as I saw, but primarily the fact that the 100 amp rated-panel had a 125 amp main circuit breaker installed.
The owner says her contractor and his 'electrical guy' said it was okay, and apparently the local A HJ approved this. The owner is pretty upset with me, because the buyers backed out - okay, not only for this but many other reasons-heating and AC systems were original and not upgraded to represent the new 3000 ft.² house, roof flashing problems, attic inaccessible, foundation wall not backfilled, etc, etc, etc.
Is there even a remote possibility that this electrical setup could possibly be an approved installation?
I reported the panel was over fused and a potential safety hazard. Not only this, but there was only a total of 14 general lighting and appliance circuits for the entire house-the new kitchen alone having only two circuits. Lots of electrical problems as I saw, but primarily the fact that the 100 amp rated-panel had a 125 amp main circuit breaker installed.
The owner says her contractor and his 'electrical guy' said it was okay, and apparently the local A HJ approved this. The owner is pretty upset with me, because the buyers backed out - okay, not only for this but many other reasons-heating and AC systems were original and not upgraded to represent the new 3000 ft.² house, roof flashing problems, attic inaccessible, foundation wall not backfilled, etc, etc, etc.
Is there even a remote possibility that this electrical setup could possibly be an approved installation?