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Any electricians in the house? Subpanel install Q

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halik

halik

Lifer
Hey guys,
figured there might be an electrician or two in the house: I'm currently in the process of buying a townhouse and one of the things that popped up on the inspection was a hot tap on the main circuit breaker panel (extra 2 heavier-gauge wires tied into the main supply wires from the meter). There's another breaker panel upstairs and I'm assuming those hot tapped wires are the input for it

From what I can tell, that isn't the current/proper way to wire it (sub panel needs a breaker on the main panel). The house was built in 1965 though and even the main panel doesn't have a service disconnect breaker. Any ideas?
 
Not an electrician, but that definitely is not right. As is, there is the possibility of pulling more than what the service is rated for. Though I think this is common for 400a service, so you may actually have a 400a feed/meter, if that's the case it's actually fine. Otherwise I would move those feeders to a breaker in the panel. If it's full, you may have to pig tail a few circuits on a separate wire and put it on one breaker. Be careful which circuits you pick when doing this as some things have to be separate by code, like kitchen and such. It's not really a safety thing though, as if it overloads the breaker will trip, that's it's job. I'd just pick two lighting circuits or something. I've even seen where the door bell has a dedicated 15 amp circuit, kinda overkill, you can combine something with that.

I'm not an electrician though, so we'll see if there's any here that may have better advice.
 
So what you're saying is at the first main panel in your townhome they tapped into the feeds of this panel then ran cable from there to a sub panel upstairs?
 
I am an electrician and I just installed a subpanel in my basement this weekend. Is there any disconnect at all? Even outside? But yes you need a breaker on your main feeding your sub. I put a 100a but that is overkill, depending on your load will determine your what size you need. You need an electrician over there. They could do load calcs and do a load reading, and could tell you the ampacity of your feeder conductors to see if you are even really code compliant on that end. There are a lot of variables at play here. Maybe have them knock the price down 2k and get all that shiz taken care of. It could easily cost between 1500 - 2000 to do everything correctly. My advice, get a an estimate to fix it, add 10% and then have the home owners either fix it, or take the price down enough for you to fix it.
 
TheSiege said:
I am an electrician and I just installed a subpanel in my basement this weekend. Is there any disconnect at all? Even outside? But yes you need a breaker on your main feeding your sub. I put a 100a but that is overkill, depending on your load will determine your what size you need. You need an electrician over there. They could do load calcs and do a load reading, and could tell you the ampacity of your feeder conductors to see if you are even really code compliant on that end. There are a lot of variables at play here. Maybe have them knock the price down 2k and get all that shiz taken care of. It could easily cost between 1500 - 2000 to do everything correctly. My advice, get a an estimate to fix it, add 10% and then have the home owners either fix it, or take the price down enough for you to fix it.
Click to expand...

I'll have to double check, but i believe the disconnect is on the meter outside. I gotta look at it again, but also might be a split bus panel (2 on top, 3 on the bottom), though the 2 top breakers didn't look anywhere near big enough.

They already offered 2K in credit for a bunch of stuff, so I think I'll take it and just add the breakers where needed.
 
halik said:
Exactly. At least I think that's what the feeds are for.
Click to expand...

So the feed wires to the sub aren't on a breaker at all? I find that very hard to believe, but if it's correct you have a major safety issue that needs to be addressed ASAP.
 
halik said:
Hey guys,
figured there might be an electrician or two in the house: I'm currently in the process of buying a townhouse and one of the things that popped up on the inspection was a hot tap on the main circuit breaker panel (extra 2 heavier-gauge wires tied into the main supply wires from the meter). There's another breaker panel upstairs and I'm assuming those hot tapped wires are the input for it

From what I can tell, that isn't the current/proper way to wire it (sub panel needs a breaker on the main panel). The house was built in 1965 though and even the main panel doesn't have a service disconnect breaker. Any ideas?
Click to expand...

This is no problem man. Just call the supply authority (amerian UE?) and have them come pull the meter from your socket. The service feeder is now dead.

Disconnect, remove extra wire, put service feeder back in and tighten down. (there may be a breaker on your meter socket if there really isn't one on your main panel).

Look on the insulator for the added-in cable, see what size it is. This will determine what size breaker you need to buy to connect it. (#10 copper is 30A, #8 is good for 45A so use a 40A breaker, it's probably not bigger than #8)

Install breaker, put extra cable into panel with a proper connector, have the meter re-installed, turn on breaker (with your right hand). Profit.

If you can't figure it, post pics and we'll easily get it figured for you.
 
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