chrisprickett Posted November 4, 2004 Report Posted November 4, 2004 I went to inspect a big ol' custom house today (new construction). It wasn't ready, but I decided to take a peak inside the main and sub panels. Power wasn't on yet. In the sub, there were no grounds. The wiring came into the main panel, and the hots and neutrals were pulled into the sub (next to the main)but grounds were in the main. From looking at the main panel, it was undersized, for the fact that the deadfront had to be smushed to get the cover screws on. The county passed it (not that that means anything). I am going back, in two weeks, after power is back on. Thought? Commments? Download Attachment: no grounds in subpanel.JPG 61.75 KB Download Attachment: messy main panel.JPG 62.77 KB
Larry Posted November 5, 2004 Report Posted November 5, 2004 It looks as if there may be a disconnect ahead of your main panel. Around here that would make that main become a sub. Where is the grounds in the sub? I don't even see but two wires comming to this panel.
Jim Katen Posted November 5, 2004 Report Posted November 5, 2004 Originally posted by chrisprickett. . . In the sub, there were no grounds. The wiring came into the main panel, and the hots and neutrals were pulled into the sub (next to the main)but grounds were in the main. All of the conductors from each circuit, including the grounding wires, are supposed to travel together. The circuit isn't supposed to drop its grounding wires off at "daycare" and travel on to the subpanel. Also, I don't believe the circuits are supposed to pass through one panel on their way to another. I don't have time to find chapter & verse for you right now. Later. . . From looking at the main panel, it was undersized, for the fact that the deadfront had to be smushed to get the cover screws on. The county passed it (not that that means anything). I am going back, in two weeks, after power is back on. Thought? Commments? Just because you had to smush the cover doesn't mean that the panel's undersized. They might just need to route the wires more efficiently. Do you have a pictures of the whole panel and the two panels next to each other? - Jim Katen, Oregon
chrisprickett Posted November 5, 2004 Author Report Posted November 5, 2004 Jim, I appreciate your input! Sorry no other pics. When I decided that I was too early to inspect, the builder wasn't all that happy about me snooping around. The whole house looked kinda iffy.
Brian G Posted November 5, 2004 Report Posted November 5, 2004 Man, that's just goofy. I've never seen that done before. Lord Jim, love the "daycare" reference. []
Richard Moore Posted November 5, 2004 Report Posted November 5, 2004 Besides what everyone else said...I gotta ask what type of circuit has two white conductors going to seperate poles of a double breaker? (photo 1) Or is that a black that has been painted white? The breaker is off in the photo. Might be ineteresting when they turn it on. Very strange set-up!
Chad Fabry Posted November 5, 2004 Report Posted November 5, 2004 Does hooking the sub to the main with metal conduit count for the ground?
kurt Posted November 5, 2004 Report Posted November 5, 2004 Originally posted by Chad Fabry Does hooking the sub to the main with metal conduit count for the ground? It does in Chicago.
mcramer Posted November 8, 2004 Report Posted November 8, 2004 Originally posted by chrisprickett I went to inspect a big ol' custom house today (new construction). It wasn't ready, but I decided to take a peak inside the main and sub panels. Power wasn't on yet. In the sub, there were no grounds. The wiring came into the main panel, and the hots and neutrals were pulled into the sub (next to the main)but grounds were in the main. From looking at the main panel, it was undersized, for the fact that the deadfront had to be smushed to get the cover screws on. The county passed it (not that that means anything). I am going back, in two weeks, after power is back on. Thought? Commments? Download Attachment: no grounds in subpanel.JPG 61.75 KB Download Attachment: messy main panel.JPG 62.77 KB Conduit serves as the grounding conductor, but where are the grounds for the branch circuits? Were they in conduit also?
chrisprickett Posted November 8, 2004 Author Report Posted November 8, 2004 Originally posted by mcramer Originally posted by chrisprickett I went to inspect a big ol' custom house today (new construction). It wasn't ready, but I decided to take a peak inside the main and sub panels. Power wasn't on yet. In the sub, there were no grounds. The wiring came into the main panel, and the hots and neutrals were pulled into the sub (next to the main)but grounds were in the main. From looking at the main panel, it was undersized, for the fact that the deadfront had to be smushed to get the cover screws on. The county passed it (not that that means anything). I am going back, in two weeks, after power is back on. Thought? Commments? Download Attachment: no grounds in subpanel.JPG 61.75 KB Download Attachment: messy main panel.JPG 62.77 KB Conduit serves as the grounding conductor, but where are the grounds for the branch circuits? Were they in conduit also? No, Mark, the Romex was stripped as it came into the main panel. 12-2 and 14-2. The grounds were connected in the main panel. They added a grounding kit (in the main panel) to accommodate the extra ground wires. The hots and neutrals were feed into the sub panel. The sub is about two inches away from the main.
Chad Fabry Posted November 9, 2004 Report Posted November 9, 2004 Code wise I have no idea if what's been done is allowed. I rely on the guru's for that. I can't think of any problem the installation could cause. Given the crowded conditions in the main though, it sure would have made more sense to have the grounds in the sub.
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