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Thread: Amp Rating
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07-15-2015, 06:20 AM #1
Amp Rating
This is a service panel in a 1968 home. I have a few questions for the sparky's. 1) What is the reasoning for designing the panel this way? 2) What is the Amperage rating? 3) Do the four breakers need to all be tied together, tied together like a quad breaker with two inside tied together and two outside tied together or 1&2, 3&4 tied together?? I understand that the two outside breakers will need to be replaced. Thanks for any advice.
Similar Threads:Last edited by Tom Rees; 07-15-2015 at 07:56 AM.
Tom Rees / A Closer Look Home Inspection / Salt Lake City, Utah
http://acloserlookslc.com/
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07-15-2015, 07:28 AM #2
Re: Amp Rating
Not having seen one of those before, and not having the wiring schematic from the label (I could not find a wiring schematic on the internet) ...
1) What is the reasoning for designing the panel this way?
- Appears to be a split bus panel (I have not seen a split bus panel like that one before, possibly Jim Port or one of the electricians has)
- Usually, the reason for a split bus panel is cost (cheaper as no main is required, but that has mains)
2) What is the Amperage rating?
- There are two 60 amp breakers for the two mains - one for the upper section bus and one for the lower section bus
- BOTH the top and bottom mains have the handles broken off
- the top two main breakers should be tied together for the upper section bus
- the bottom two main breaker should be tied together for the lower section bus
- those four breakers need to be replaced, preferably with two internal trip double pole breakers (no handle ties needed)
- the mains (buses) are rated for 200 amp per the label, but you can't really just add the two 60 amp mains together and get 120 amp, you would need to do a load calculation to see what the service size is, so ... just note that there are two 60 amp mains which need to be replaced
3) Do the four breakers need to all be tied together or tied together like a quad breaker with two inside tied together and two outside tied together?
- see answers in 2) above
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07-15-2015, 07:59 AM #3
Re: Amp Rating
Thanks Jerry, I see a lot of panels but have never seen one quite like this, had me scratching my head.
Tom Rees / A Closer Look Home Inspection / Salt Lake City, Utah
http://acloserlookslc.com/
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07-15-2015, 01:48 PM #4
Re: Amp Rating
Just a WAG but that may be intended for duplex type setup when one service provides power to two different areas. Definitely broken and I agree the two top breakers appear to need to be a common trip and the bottom two on a common trip with the possibility of all four being tied together. Very unusual setup, new to me also.
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07-15-2015, 04:15 PM #5
Re: Amp Rating
Tom Rees / A Closer Look Home Inspection / Salt Lake City, Utah
http://acloserlookslc.com/
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07-15-2015, 07:22 PM #6
Re: Amp Rating
Never seen anything like that one. The wiring diagram on the label would be the real key.
All answers based on unamended National Electrical codes.
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07-15-2015, 07:39 PM #7
Re: Amp Rating
Tom Rees / A Closer Look Home Inspection / Salt Lake City, Utah
http://acloserlookslc.com/
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07-15-2015, 08:42 PM #8
Re: Amp Rating
I can deal with the out of focus aspect, however ... ... the part I need to see is the part behind that white conductor.
The other diagrams/schematics to the right may give a clue in conjunction with the schematic behind the white conductor we cannot see.
I am sure sure it is some type of split bus panel, but why it is that way is the question.
The service entrance conductors terminate into the terminal block on the left, from there there are manufacturer installed conductors which go to the 4 breakers.
There are two options:
1) and the most likely option - there are supposed to be two separate mains, the top pair and the bottom pair (of the four mains)
2) and the least likely option - they were all connected together as one main for the entire panel (but that doesn't make sense ... of course, neither does that configuration even with two separate mains)
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07-16-2015, 05:54 PM #9
Re: Amp Rating
On the original photo you posted I could clearly see 200A under mains.
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07-16-2015, 06:52 PM #10
Re: Amp Rating
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