Denray Posted August 25, 2011 Report Posted August 25, 2011 What is this breaker containing panel on the wall next to the sub panel. Not a good picture of it, but it had about 5 switches on it that said 15 amps. Click to Enlarge 42.46 KB It had these wires going to it thru a poorly bonded conduit. Click to Enlarge 95.84 KB The red wires were siver stranded what? Click to Enlarge 88.45 KB Decal on top of the unit reads: Click to Enlarge 50.16 KB
Neal Lewis Posted August 25, 2011 Report Posted August 25, 2011 I'm going to assume that by now you've done some research and figured out what it is. Why do you say the conduit feeding the other panel is poorly bonded?
kurt Posted August 25, 2011 Report Posted August 25, 2011 It looks like a generator panel. Is there a generator on site?
Denray Posted August 25, 2011 Author Report Posted August 25, 2011 I was guessing the generator thing. Seems like the nut holding the conduit onto the panel is kind of cockeyed. No generator present. What's the wire made of? Thanks all!
Denray Posted August 25, 2011 Author Report Posted August 25, 2011 Well, there was this out back in a box. Must be where the generator was kept when needed? Click to Enlarge 34.66 KB
John Kogel Posted August 25, 2011 Report Posted August 25, 2011 Right, it's a generator panel. Usually, a few lighting circuits and the freezer circuit are separated from the rest of the circuits for when the generator is used. The critical thing to look for there is a proper isolation switch, two breakers in the main panel which are tied together, so that power from the utility is off when the generator is on. If that is missing, the installation is FUBAR. About half of the ones I see are wrong. Without the isolation, a linesman could get shocked by the home owner's generator and that would not bode well for either of them.
Denray Posted August 25, 2011 Author Report Posted August 25, 2011 What's the shinny stranded wire made out of?
Jim Katen Posted August 25, 2011 Report Posted August 25, 2011 It's a little generator load center. You buy, borrow, or steal a generator, plug it into the outdoor plug, throw the transfer switch and you have a few carefully chosen circuits with power. There was a transfer switch somewhere, right?
John Kogel Posted August 25, 2011 Report Posted August 25, 2011 It could be tinned copper or Aluminum. Can't tell from here.
Bill Kibbel Posted August 25, 2011 Report Posted August 25, 2011 It's called a "load manager" for a portable generator. It contains transfer switches for individual circuits. It looks like it could have about 6 switches. It has a maximum load of 60 amps at 120v and 30 amps at 240v.
Denray Posted August 25, 2011 Author Report Posted August 25, 2011 Thanks everyone. Here's some photos. Click to Enlarge 96.46 KB Click to Enlarge 90.29 KB Click to Enlarge 66.24 KB
Chad Fabry Posted August 25, 2011 Report Posted August 25, 2011 I was guessing the generator thing. Seems like the nut holding the conduit onto the panel is kind of cockeyed. No generator present. What's the wire made of? Thanks all! It's probably tin coated copper with a pvc jacket. It's finely stranded to make it flexible and fatigue resistant. Test leads on a quality meter are similar but with an even more flexible silicone jacket.
asihi Posted August 25, 2011 Report Posted August 25, 2011 Here's the installation guide for this switch. Tony Download Attachment: Generac.pdf 795.23 KB
Denray Posted August 25, 2011 Author Report Posted August 25, 2011 Thanks Chad and Tony. Just getting to the electrical portion of my report now. Great help this forum is!
John Kogel Posted August 25, 2011 Report Posted August 25, 2011 Thanks Bill, as well. I'm not familiar with that device, but it provides transfer switching for up to 6 circuits, so there is no switch or breaker added to the main panel, just jumpers to the individual circuits. The breakers are double-ended, so that power to or from the utility is cut when generator power is switched on. (Not allowed in Canada, AFAIK:)
Marc Posted August 25, 2011 Report Posted August 25, 2011 Thanks Bill, as well. I'm not familiar with that device, but it provides transfer switching for up to 6 circuits, so there is no switch or breaker added to the main panel, just jumpers to the individual circuits. The breakers are double-ended, so that power to or from the utility is cut when generator power is switched on. (Not allowed in Canada, AFAIK:) Right. Each individual 'breaker' doubles as a transfer switch. Very convenient. They still sell them. Marc
caryseidner Posted August 25, 2011 Report Posted August 25, 2011 Where the hell is WJ when you need him![]
Jerry Lozier Posted August 29, 2011 Report Posted August 29, 2011 There was a transfer switch somewhere, right? See w/o lockout all the time, including one last Sat.... scary deal when new owner doesn't understand the consequences and failure to kill the panel.
Tom Raymond Posted August 29, 2011 Report Posted August 29, 2011 The last two of these I ran into were attached to overstuffed 100 amp panels. The last one had so many transfer wires it took 6 tries to get the cover back on with everything tucked inside. If there's no generator in sight, I tell em to have the switch removed. 9 times out of 10 they need a sparky anyway.
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