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  1. #1
    Robert Smith's Avatar
    Robert Smith Guest

    Default Would you remove this panel cover?

    Would you remove this panel cover?
    The panel had a tag from the power company that read "hot".
    Main breaker looks like it is installed wrong and not aligned properly with and cover opening.

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  2. #2
    James Duffin's Avatar
    James Duffin Guest

    Default Re: Would you remove this panel cover?

    Based on those two pictures I see no reason not to remove the cover.


  3. #3
    Join Date
    Mar 2007
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    Chicago, IL
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    Default Re: Would you remove this panel cover?

    Assuming that you pull the deadfront, even if you do not observe a problem, are you going to:

    1) bless the panel,

    - or -

    2) recommend that an electricians investigation in any case because the panel was tagged for an unknown/unclear reason?

    If the latter, why run the risk (of both liability and injury) to further investigate the panel?

    Last edited by Michael Thomas; 02-20-2011 at 05:21 AM.
    Michael Thomas
    Paragon Property Services Inc., Chicago IL
    http://paragoninspects.com

  4. #4
    James Duffin's Avatar
    James Duffin Guest

    Default Re: Would you remove this panel cover?

    I wouldn't put much stock in a tag that says "Hot" on a panel that should be live. If it said "Danger" or "Do Not Open" I would be concerned. This is based on the info in the two pictures.


  5. #5
    Join Date
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    Spring City/Surrounding Philadelphia area
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    Default Re: Would you remove this panel cover?

    Not enough to go on in my opinion. I see misaligned breakers with the openings in the deadfront cover regularly. The tag that says HOT means......I have no idea. If the entire box was energized, I'd expect to see more explanation than that.

    "It takes a big man to cry. It takes an even bigger man to laugh at that man". - Jack Handey

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Oct 2010
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    Southwest US
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    Default Re: Would you remove this panel cover?

    Somebody (apparently the power company) is going to put a tag on a hot panel and not disconnect it? I don't think so. Open that sucker. If it's hot, your heirs will live well!


  7. #7
    Join Date
    Feb 2009
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    Southern Vancouver Island
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    Default Re: Would you remove this panel cover?

    I'd touch my sniffer to it. No, not this sniffer, my voltage sniffer.

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

  8. #8
    Join Date
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    Fletcher, NC
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    Default Re: Would you remove this panel cover?

    "HOT" does not mean 'the cover is hot' (energized), it probably just means that the panel inside is energized ('hot'), possibly someone complained that there was a problem and the power company came out and determined that the panel was energized, so the problem must be downstream from that panel.

    As others have said - check it with a voltage sniffer, then check it with a volt meter, and if it checks okay, go ahead and remove the cover - using the care you always SHOULD USE.

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

  9. #9
    Join Date
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    Colorado Front Range
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    Default Re: Would you remove this panel cover?

    It is not at all uncommon for someone who heats up a panel that may have been disconnected for some reason to put up some indication they have done so. In my area, electricians frequently hook up new overhead services and mark the service equipment as HOT to reinforce to others that the panel/meter housing is energized, not to indicate that the metal housing is at some potential above ground.

    I would guess in this housing market that homes are being checked that have had utilities cut off for a while and are now being restored as part of getting them on the market. A friendly reminder that the panel is now hot might keep an errant HI from frying something


  10. #10
    Join Date
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    Plano, Texas
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    Default Re: Would you remove this panel cover?

    Kind of like a gun that is always treated as if it is loaded, every panel is hot.

    Jim Luttrall
    www.MrInspector.net
    Plano, Texas

  11. #11
    Join Date
    Dec 2007
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    Holladay, UT
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    Default Re: Would you remove this panel cover?

    I would agree with what others have said about a warning that the panel is now hot. If the tag were red I would be more concerned.

    Tom Rees / A Closer Look Home Inspection / Salt Lake City, Utah
    http://acloserlookslc.com/

  12. #12
    Robert Smith's Avatar
    Robert Smith Guest

    Default Re: Would you remove this panel cover?

    Thanks for the replies everyone.


  13. #13
    Phil Brody's Avatar
    Phil Brody Guest

    Default Re: Would you remove this panel cover?

    I did have a panel "COVER" that was hot once. The ground leg had arced away at the spike, so as the other have stated check the cover first.


  14. #14
    LEO304E CARR's Avatar
    LEO304E CARR Guest

    Default Re: Would you remove this panel cover?

    Quote Originally Posted by Robert Smith View Post
    Thanks for the replies everyone.
    I would open it..But you guys should get some training from the NFPA 70E.
    i you allready have not done so.. here is a link..http://www.ieci.org/uploads/SafetyPr...on12.15.06.pdf

    http://www.vmlins.org/PDFs/RootPages...tofNFPA70E.pdf

    http://www.aeccontrol.com/cspublic/R...essRelease.pdf


  15. #15
    Join Date
    Mar 2007
    Location
    Knoxville, TN
    Posts
    2,560

    Default Re: Would you remove this panel cover?

    I really don't think we need NFPA training to open a panel. It's pretty basic safety training, and I'm pretty sure that every home inspector school covers it.

    Like others have said, just that tag alone would not give me pause. I would be very concerned if there was a warning posted, but again, it depends on what the warning said.

    Are we not there to find defects?


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