Results 1 to 27 of 27
  1. #1
    Join Date
    Mar 2007
    Location
    Chicago, IL
    Posts
    2,797

    Default 2X tap at FPE panel

    Anyone happen to know if these terminals on a 1950s FPE panel are allowed to be 2X tapped with dissimilar material/sized conductors (feeders to an equally nasty FPE load-side panel)? I realize it's HIGHLY unlikely, but I've been fooled before...

    (And ... yes, replacement of the whole mess will be recommended....)

    Similar Threads:
    ***IMPORTANT*** You Need To Register To View Images ***IMPORTANT*** You Need To Register To View Images
    Crawl Space Creeper
    Michael Thomas
    Paragon Property Services Inc., Chicago IL
    http://paragoninspects.com

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Mar 2007
    Location
    Santa Rosa, CA
    Posts
    3,154

    Default Re: 2X tap at FPE panel

    Michael,

    As far as I know, none of FPEs terminals allowed double-tapping.

    Department of Redundancy Department
    Supreme Emperor of Hyperbole
    http://www.FullCircleInspect.com/

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Feb 2009
    Location
    Southern Vancouver Island
    Posts
    4,607

    Default Re: 2X tap at FPE panel

    That's an ugly mess. It looks like three red wires are double-tapped in there to provide a 240 volt feed to the conduit on the lower right. Probably added by an unlicensed handyman. That means there is a red neutral somewhere that may not be marked as such. There is plenty of reason for replacement there.

    John Kogel, RHI, BC HI Lic #47455
    www.allsafehome.ca

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Jul 2008
    Location
    Snowbird (this means I'm retired and migrate between locations), FL/MI
    Posts
    4,086

    Default Re: 2X tap at FPE panel

    Quote Originally Posted by Michael Thomas View Post
    2X tapped with dissimilar material/sized conductors
    In and of itself is a no-no.The rest is gravy. Unless otherwise indicated, the default is one per. Without an indication, no double tap, period; but ...disimilar material or dismilar size, disimilar type - not allowed.


  5. #5
    Join Date
    Oct 2010
    Location
    Southwest US
    Posts
    585

    Default Re: 2X tap at FPE panel

    The arcing and overheating is likely to be less at the double tap than at the bus, so it is not lkely to make a bit of difference. It does give you a good reason to call in an electrician and blame any future problems on them


  6. #6
    Tom Camp's Avatar
    Tom Camp Guest

    Default Re: 2X tap at FPE panel

    Michael,
    It appears there is many problems with this panel.
    1. It appears to be an ungrounded FPE panel which should be recommended to be replaced.
    2. The larger red wires at the main lugs appear to be feeding something which may not be protected by a breaker.
    3. I also noticed other double taps at the lower breakers.

    Inspections Done Right
    Colorado Springs Home Inspections
    Colorado Springs - Home Inspections, Commercial Inspections, Radon Inspections, Mold Inspections


  7. #7
    Tom Mcdonald's Avatar
    Tom Mcdonald Guest

    Default Re: 2X tap at FPE panel

    Didnt we beat the double tapping issue to death about a month ago?


  8. #8
    Mitchell Toelle's Avatar
    Mitchell Toelle Guest

    Wink Re: 2X tap at FPE panel

    FPE= bad
    double tap= bad
    ungrounded= bad


  9. #9
    Join Date
    Mar 2007
    Location
    Ridgewood, NJ
    Posts
    237

    Default Re: 2X tap at FPE panel

    Quote Originally Posted by Mitchell Toelle View Post
    ungrounded= bad
    Mitchell, Can you explain the ungrounded part. Thanks


  10. #10
    Join Date
    Feb 2009
    Location
    Southern Vancouver Island
    Posts
    4,607

    Default Re: 2X tap at FPE panel

    Quote Originally Posted by neal lewis View Post
    Mitchell, Can you explain the ungrounded part. Thanks
    There is no visible grounding conductor coming into the panel. However, the panel is in Illinois, and grounded, most likely, by the conduit.

    John Kogel, RHI, BC HI Lic #47455
    www.allsafehome.ca

  11. #11
    Join Date
    Mar 2007
    Location
    Santa Rosa, CA
    Posts
    3,154

    Default Re: 2X tap at FPE panel

    Quote Originally Posted by Tom Mcdonald View Post
    Didnt we beat the double tapping issue to death about a month ago?
    Tom, this board exists to beat issues to death repeatedly. We like dead horses!

    Department of Redundancy Department
    Supreme Emperor of Hyperbole
    http://www.FullCircleInspect.com/

  12. #12
    Join Date
    Jul 2008
    Location
    Snowbird (this means I'm retired and migrate between locations), FL/MI
    Posts
    4,086

    Default Re: 2X tap at FPE panel

    Quote Originally Posted by neal lewis View Post
    Mitchell, Can you explain the ungrounded part. Thanks
    Not Mitchell here, but as pertaining to the discussion I took it (ungrounded - bad) to mean as pertaining to the conductor(s) being "hots" being 2x tapped.

    Quote Originally Posted by John Kogel View Post
    There is no visible grounding conductor coming into the panel. However, the panel is in Illinois, and grounded, most likely, by the conduit.
    Bonded, John K. Lets not muddy the waters, and not all of Illinois has such tight restrictions and limitations on wiring methods otherwise permitted by Chapter 3, its mostly the NE portion of the state, but I digress.

    Terminology differences between the US (NEC) and Canada (Canadian Electrical Code) I believe may be confusing you J.K.

    As in, 2x taps of Ungrounded conductors (hots) versus 2x taps of grounded conductors ("neutrals"), versus 2x taps of grounding conductors ("bonding").

    Distinctions with differences.

    Last edited by H.G. Watson, Sr.; 10-23-2010 at 07:27 AM.

  13. #13
    Join Date
    Oct 2010
    Location
    Southwest US
    Posts
    585

    Default Re: 2X tap at FPE panel

    No, John was talking about whether the panel was GROUNDED, not whether it was BONDED.

    Just so you know, HG:
    GROUNDED. Connected to earth or to some conducting body
    that serves in place of the earth.
    BONDING. The permanent joining of metallic parts to form
    an electrically conductive path that will ensure electrical continuity
    and the capacity to conduct safely any current likely to be
    imposed.


  14. #14
    Join Date
    Jul 2008
    Location
    Snowbird (this means I'm retired and migrate between locations), FL/MI
    Posts
    4,086

    Default Re: 2X tap at FPE panel

    Quote Originally Posted by Benjamin Thompson View Post
    No, John was talking about whether the panel was GROUNDED, not whether it was BONDED.

    Just so you know, HG:
    GROUNDED. Connected to earth or to some conducting body
    that serves in place of the earth.
    BONDING. The permanent joining of metallic parts to form
    an electrically conductive path that will ensure electrical continuity
    and the capacity to conduct safely any current likely to be
    imposed.
    I get "it" (and the nuances of the different uses of terminology in the two countries' model codes). YOU don't, as evidenced by your post.


  15. #15
    Join Date
    Mar 2007
    Location
    Chicago, IL
    Posts
    2,797

    Default Re: 2X tap at FPE panel

    Quote Originally Posted by John Kogel View Post
    That's an ugly mess. It looks like three red wires are double-tapped in there to provide a 240 volt feed to the conduit on the lower right. Probably added by an unlicensed handyman. That means there is a red neutral somewhere that may not be marked as such. There is plenty of reason for replacement there.

    Those are feeders to a FPE load-side panel, and neutral IS "marked"... but with BLACK tape.

    Also, found this third panel behind an access cut into the drywall in the finished portion of the basement (power was off, so no way to know if it was still energized).

    ***IMPORTANT*** You Need To Register To View Images ***IMPORTANT*** You Need To Register To View Images
    Last edited by Michael Thomas; 10-23-2010 at 08:24 AM.
    Michael Thomas
    Paragon Property Services Inc., Chicago IL
    http://paragoninspects.com

  16. #16
    Join Date
    Mar 2007
    Location
    Fletcher, NC
    Posts
    28,032

    Default Re: 2X tap at FPE panel

    Quote Originally Posted by Michael Thomas View Post
    Anyone happen to know if these terminals on a 1950s FPE panel are allowed to be 2X tapped with dissimilar material/sized conductors (feeders to an equally nasty FPE load-side panel)?

    Not unless so identified.

    I see nothing in your photos saying that two conductors is okay, that copper and aluminum together is okay, and the copper may well be too small for that terminal.

    Did you by chance take a photo of the label on the panel? That would be the second place (actually, the first place) to look for that information?

    If the label is gone or not legible, then there is nothing which identifies that terminal for that use.

    However, I think I see copper in the "aluminum" where the tinned coating was accidentally scratched off, meaning that is tinned copper, which would not be dissimilar metals ... but would still be a problem with two neutrals in one terminal and the red one being too small (likely too small) for the terminal.

    Jerry Peck
    Construction/Litigation/Code Consultant - Retired
    www.AskCodeMan.com

  17. #17
    Join Date
    Mar 2007
    Location
    Chicago, IL
    Posts
    2,797

    Default Re: 2X tap at FPE panel

    Quote Originally Posted by Jerry Peck View Post
    However, I think I see copper in the "aluminum" where the tinned coating was accidentally scratched off, meaning that is tinned copper, which would not be dissimilar metals ... but would still be a problem with two neutrals in one terminal and the red one being too small (likely too small) for the terminal.
    Good eye. At the time it looked to me like all the copper I could see were strands of the conductor entering at the bottom, but upon closer inspection of the hi-res photo one "copper" area (circled) could be it bit of scraped tinning... or a reflection of the camera's flash from the adjacent copper on an aluminum strand of the conductor entering from the top.

    Guess we won't know unless the electrician complains about "the idiot inspector who can't tell tinned copper from aluminum".

    However... did they even make tinned stranded conductors, let along ones large enough for use as SECs? All I've seen were solid, and don't remember any larger than 12AWG.

    ***IMPORTANT*** You Need To Register To View Images ***IMPORTANT*** You Need To Register To View Images
    Michael Thomas
    Paragon Property Services Inc., Chicago IL
    http://paragoninspects.com

  18. #18
    Join Date
    Jul 2008
    Location
    Snowbird (this means I'm retired and migrate between locations), FL/MI
    Posts
    4,086

    Default Re: 2X tap at FPE panel

    Quote Originally Posted by Michael Thomas View Post
    However... did they even make tinned stranded conductors, let along ones large enough for use as SECs? All I've seen were solid, and don't remember any larger than 12AWG.
    You mean you haven't seen tinned copper stranded cable such as used for marine grade battery cable even today? I'm not advocating the use of it or TEW (thermoplastic equipment wire) up to 4/0 at least IIRC for that matter, as SEC or tap, just referencing its existance, amongst others. From the apparent vintage of some of that equipment I wouldn't assume thermoplastics.

    I don't think that's a revealed copper core from a tinned copper strand (but I don't have the photo enchancement skills you two do). I think perhaps you're seeing a strand of the adjacent cable behind a shorter nipped strand.

    However tinned stranded copper is considered disimilar materials to (uncoated) copper stranded cable when it comes to sharing a terminal (Resistance/heating).

    Last edited by H.G. Watson, Sr.; 10-24-2010 at 08:34 AM.

  19. #19
    Join Date
    Mar 2007
    Location
    Chicago, IL
    Posts
    2,797

    Default Re: 2X tap at FPE panel

    Quote Originally Posted by H.G. Watson, Sr. View Post
    However tinned stranded copper is considered disimilar materials to bare copper stranded cable when it comes to sharing a terminal (Resistance/heating).
    Thanks. Makes sense, but had not occurred to me.

    Michael Thomas
    Paragon Property Services Inc., Chicago IL
    http://paragoninspects.com

  20. #20
    Join Date
    Jul 2008
    Location
    Snowbird (this means I'm retired and migrate between locations), FL/MI
    Posts
    4,086

    Default Re: 2X tap at FPE panel

    MT,
    I had made an edit for clarification (changed bare to uncoated, as "bare" usually refers to uninsulated), but I know you knew what I meant, regarding untinned vs. tinned copper strands.


  21. #21
    Join Date
    Mar 2007
    Location
    Fletcher, NC
    Posts
    28,032

    Default Re: 2X tap at FPE panel

    Quote Originally Posted by Michael Thomas View Post
    However... did they even make tinned stranded conductors, let along ones large enough for use as SECs? All I've seen were solid, and don't remember any larger than 12AWG.
    Yes.

    Most of the tinned copper I've seen has been stranded.

    The copper was tinned to stop chemical reaction with the rubber insulation, thus all rubber insulated conductors, regardless how large, would have been tinned copper.

    Jerry Peck
    Construction/Litigation/Code Consultant - Retired
    www.AskCodeMan.com

  22. #22
    Join Date
    Mar 2009
    Location
    Colorado Front Range
    Posts
    684

    Default Re: 2X tap at FPE panel

    Quote Originally Posted by H.G. Watson, Sr. View Post
    However tinned stranded copper is considered disimilar materials to (uncoated) copper stranded cable when it comes to sharing a terminal (Resistance/heating).
    This is a bit interesting as fixture wire is often tinned and is intended to be connected to bare copper wire with wire nuts. Are we now to assume that (from at least your perspective) this type of splice is prohibited? If not, what is your point in bringing up the issue? Are you saying that, for example, a tinned wire and a bare copper wire couldn't be installed in the same terminal of a ground buss? Or are we just pouring gas on something hoping a fire will start?


  23. #23
    Join Date
    Mar 2007
    Location
    Fletcher, NC
    Posts
    28,032

    Default Re: 2X tap at FPE panel

    Let me get this straight ... copper and tinned copper are now considered dissimilar metals?

    That would make copper and copper-clad aluminum *not* dissimilar metals (the copper on the copper-clad aluminum making the contact *not* dissimilar in the same way that tinned copper is now dissimilar from copper).

    Then why is it not that way in the NEC?
    - 110.14 Electrical Connections.
    - - Because of different characteristics of dissimilar metals, devices such as pressure terminal or pressure splicing connectors and soldering lugs shall be identified for the material of the conductor and shall be properly installed and used. Conductors of dissimilar metals shall not be intermixed in a terminal or splicing connector where physical contact occurs between dissimilar conductors (such as copper and aluminum, copper and copper-clad aluminum, or aluminum and copper-clad aluminum), unless the device is identified for the purpose and conditions of use. Materials such as solder, fluxes, inhibitors, and compounds, where employed, shall be suitable for the use and shall be of a type that will not adversely affect the conductors, installation, or equipment.

    I guess that makes all those decades of actually soldering the copper together as well as making a mechanical connection created dissimilar metals junctions?

    I guess that also means that tinned copper *is not* allowed to be connected to any device as no device I recall having seen was rated for copper/aluminum/tinned copper.

    More information - please.

    Jerry Peck
    Construction/Litigation/Code Consultant - Retired
    www.AskCodeMan.com

  24. #24
    Join Date
    Jul 2008
    Location
    Snowbird (this means I'm retired and migrate between locations), FL/MI
    Posts
    4,086

    Default Re: 2X tap at FPE panel

    Tinned copper has a slightly greater resistance.It is NOT the same as untinned copper, especially in a stranded cable. In lower voltage applications not so much difference, but disimilar, just the same. At medium and high voltage it is significant enough to make a difference. Service equipment and panels similarly rated are at medium voltage exposure safety levels.It is the surface carrying of each strand, where the resistance is greater.When sharing a terminal you may also not share stranded with solid, so your "copper" argument is out gas.


  25. #25
    Jim Scott's Avatar
    Jim Scott Guest

    Default Re: 2X tap at FPE panel

    Due to the nature of the FPE and the condition of the panel, not only would I highly recommend a replacement of the panel(s), I would also recommend a complete review of the entire electrical system by a qualified contractor. FPE breakers allow for additional amps to the wiring and with the improper modification, no one could guess what else they have done. Looks like a fire hazard to me.


  26. #26
    Join Date
    Mar 2009
    Location
    Colorado Front Range
    Posts
    684

    Default Re: 2X tap at FPE panel

    Quote Originally Posted by H.G. Watson, Sr. View Post
    When sharing a terminal you may also not share stranded with solid, so your "copper" argument is out gas.
    While you're checking out things, why not look up the wire type combinations permitted to be terminated on a Cutler Hammer type CH circuit breaker, 10 thru 30 AMP.
    Residential Products
    Tab 3, Page 31 . (right side - under catalogs) Check note #2 at the bottom of the page.


  27. #27
    Join Date
    Mar 2007
    Location
    Chicago, IL
    Posts
    2,797

    Default Re: 2X tap at FPE panel

    Quote Originally Posted by Bill Kriegh View Post
    While you're checking out things, why not look up the wire type combinations permitted to be terminated on a Cutler Hammer type CH circuit breaker, 10 thru 30 AMP.
    Residential Products
    Tab 3, Page 31 . (right side - under catalogs) Check note #2 at the bottom of the page.
    The note in question:

    ***IMPORTANT*** You Need To Register To View Images ***IMPORTANT*** You Need To Register To View Images
    Michael Thomas
    Paragon Property Services Inc., Chicago IL
    http://paragoninspects.com

Bookmarks

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •