Sub Panel Q.

[Brandon Whitmore]

The house I inspected today had a sub- panel installed in the hall closet adjacent to an air handler. The air handler and sub panel were added in 1997.

There is only a 3 wire feed run to the sub panel, but there is a single 120v. circuit / receptacle added and attached directly to this panel that supplies power to the electronic air cleaner.

Since there is a 120v receptacle, shouldn't there be a 4 wire feed to the panel?

Shelving is installed out over the panel, so there is no way anyone will keep clear unobstructured working space in front of the panel (not to mention the fire load due to all of the stored items).

I don't think that the panel should have been installed in the closet, and believe a 4 wire feed is needed--- what say you?

I wouldn't second guess myself on this usually, but the entire thing appears to have been permitted.

Click to Enlarge

50.45 KB

Click to Enlarge

42.29 KB

[Marc]

It appears to have 3 outgoing circuits on it, so technically it's a subpanel.

1) Type SE cable not permitted to be used as feeder (is that an SE cable bringing power into the panel?).

2) 4 wire service required.

3) Noticed a grounding (green) screw on the neutral bus bar: Sub panel enclosure is not permitted to be bonded to the neutral conductor.

4) Noticed an equipment grounding (white with green tape) conductor connected to the neutral busbar: Equipment grounding conductors may not be connected to the neutral conductor beyond the main panel.

5) Sub panel installation does not have adequate access.

6) Outgoing circuits are not equipped with an equipment grounding conductor (all 3 circuits).

That's what I can discern from the photo.

Marc

[Brandon Whitmore]

That's about what I see as well. I was starting to think I'd lost my mind. I wonder who the electrical inspector was that signed off on this???

Thanks Marc.

PS: I missed the SE cable issue. I guess I focused more on the lack of a 4 wire feed. I'll add it to the list.

[Jim Katen]

. . . I wouldn't second guess myself on this usually, but the entire thing appears to have been permitted. . . .

Perhaps when it was permitted the 120v circuit and the shelves didn't yet exist.

- Jim Katen, Oregon

[Jim Katen]

. . . 1) Type SE cable not permitted to be used as feeder (is that an SE cable bringing power into the panel?).. . .

If a sub panel has no need for neutrals, why wouldn't a SE cable be permissable?

- Jim Katen, Oregon

[Marc]

It should be, as far as I can tell. The subpanel in question needs a neutral for the single pole outlet.

Marc