How To Replace a Main Panel or Sub Panel - Upgrading an Existing Electrical Service

No video

How To Replace a Main Panel or Sub Panel - Upgrading an Existing Electrical Service

Рет қаралды 193,602

Күн бұрын

Get $25 Off the Sense Energy Monitor Here with Code BENJAMIN: store.sense.co...
↓ Useful Links ↓ My Favorite Tool: amzn.to/3NIFJuO
Panel I Would Buy (based on what is available right now in 2022): amzn.to/3PlBBT4
Square D Main Breakers: amzn.to/3OiVBEv
Panel Knockout Covers: amzn.to/3OiYRzJ
Whole House Surge Protectors: amzn.to/3PFkAmB
Arlington Plastic Cable Connectors for Romex: amzn.to/3RLBxxx
Standard Metal Cable Connectors: amzn.to/3Pkcy2B
Single-pole breakers:
Arc Fault Breakers: amzn.to/3odF2iI
Ground Fault Breakers: amzn.to/3ySrRbT
Dual Function Breakers: amzn.to/3PGKqGU
Two-pole AFCI Breakers: amzn.to/3BaLcIc
Antioxidant Paste: amzn.to/3zkaMZH
Wiha Torque Screwdriver.: amzn.to/3una1MG
Electrical Tape Colored: amzn.to/3OmtggD
Zip Tie Multi-Pack: amzn.to/3RHKasS
WR/TR GFCI Receptacle: amzn.to/3RjnqPY
Did this video save you some $$$? Send a tip!
www.paypal.me/bensahlstrom
Become A Patron: / bensahlstrom
In this video we discuss all of the essential things you should consider when upgrading or replacing and existing 240v main or sub panel. There are so many different things that you can encounter in a project like this so I highly recommend hiring an experienced licensed electrician.
0:00 - Main Panel Replacement Intro
1:20 - Choosing a New Panel & Reasons to Upgrade
2:30 - What is a Double Tapped Breaker
3:43 - What Size Main Breaker & Disconnect Requirements
6:52 - How Many Spaces Should my Panel Have?
7:20 - Cover Unused Knockout Openings In Panel
8:08 - Hire a Licensed Professional
8:30 - What Electrical Panel Should I Buy?
9:02 - Make Sure You Get a Plug On Neutral Panel
9:32 - Breaker Requirements for AFCI & GFCI
10:33 - Shared Neutrals Causing Arc Fault or Ground Fault Breakers to Trip
11:20 - Multi-wire Branch Circuits
18:32 - Materials & Supplies Needed
19:26 - DISCONNECT THE POWER
20:19 - Document Current Setup
21:13 - Pull Out All Connections
21:50 - Main Panel Placement Guidelines
23:19 - Bonded / Separated Neutrals
29:11 - Why You Should Use Grounding Bars
30:58 - How To Extend Existing Wires
31:46 - Compatibility Between Breakers & Wires
32:59 - Romex Cables & Connectors
34:58 - Installing Ground Wires
37:27 - Installing Neutral Wires
39:09 - Mark Wires With Appropriate Colors
40:08 - Installing Hot Wires
48:02 - Final Touches
50:58 - Add Cover & Fill Labels Inside Door
54:27 - Bonus Wisdom With Scott
56:00 - SUBSCRIBE!!!
Thanks for watching and subscribing! As an Amazon affiliate I earn from qualifying purchases. Thank you for your support!
Blessings,
Ben

Пікірлер: 235

@mcarroll598 2 жыл бұрын

Everyone has their own way of doing panel changes. I’ve been in the trade 25 years and I’ve found over the years when Romex wires are short I’ll take them back back to a 4-11/16 metal j box. Them I will take a piece of 3/4” greenfield to the panel and push multiple sets of stranded wire to the panel to extend circuits. That way you don’t have all the wire nuts in the panel and it dosent get packed on top of the panel with Romex wires.

@BenjaminSahlstrom 2 жыл бұрын

That sounds like a really clean way of doing it. Thanks for sharing!

@mauriciomalisani6014 2 жыл бұрын

Great idea thanks for share that

@mcarroll598 2 жыл бұрын

@@BenjaminSahlstrom thanks. It ends up really looking clean. I’ve done a ton over the years this way. Plus the top of your panel is not packed with a ton Romex or different wire assemblies. .

@stewartmelzer939 2 жыл бұрын

worked in govt facility making weapons we always had to splice into a 4 " box [sealed] no splices in panel

@stewartmelzer939 2 жыл бұрын

we had a lot of old fabric and rubber insulation

@BodyRocker9 2 жыл бұрын

Very informative and well explained. I attended a trade school to learn electrical but had never found any electrician apprentice job opportunities. Now I just watch videos like yours.

@aaronpinkham4196 2 жыл бұрын

Yes, they enforce shared neutrals be on handle-tied breakers where I am. Exception for sewer lift pumps with alarms. We use 2 hots and 1 neutral so if the pump trips you don’t lose the alarms power. Story time: Doing a partial remodel on an office building while they were still in operation, I fried 5 computers in 10 seconds. 3 phase sharing neutrals; I, unbeknownst to me, took apart a neutral joint that was going to an in-use office. A lady stepped into the construction space and said “are you working on my office electricity?” I said no and went on working. Shortly, a maintenance guy walked in, look at my work and said “yea, he did” over his walkie-talkie…my stomach turned over. He said”we aren’t going to charge you because we didn’t disclose it, but everything in this building uses shared neutrals. You just burned up 5 computers. Don’t disconnect neutral joints during business hours anymore. Now you have been warned.” I felt about an inch tall

@FishFind3000 2 жыл бұрын

Well now you know to ask first just in case

@aaronpinkham4196 2 жыл бұрын

@@FishFind3000 yea….we try to avoid “open store remodels” as long as “good work” allows. Sometimes ya gotta do what ya gotta do though, but yea! That was a lesson from the “slow down and think about the task at hand” category.

@RS-qp4bp 2 жыл бұрын

Just curious was the lighting voltage 3 phase 277V or 3 phase 208?

@aaronpinkham4196 2 жыл бұрын

@@RS-qp4bp it was 208v.

@RS-qp4bp 2 жыл бұрын

@@aaronpinkham4196 just curious, at work we have roadway lighting and office lights at that operate on 277 volts to neutral.

@Grassy20 2 жыл бұрын

I wired a couple multiwire branch circuits in my shop in my backyard. I pulled permits and had inspections, and they didn't say anything about my breakers and didn't require me to tie them together. Now that I understand this a little more, I'm going to tie them together and if I had to do all over again, I would just spend the money and run the extra wire and not share the neutral. I thought I was going to make things simpler wiring that way, but I don't know now.

@wizard3z868 2 жыл бұрын

Most breaker manufacturers have a joining bar or pin for very little money

@stevesether 2 жыл бұрын

I live in Minneapolis had my main panel replaced about 2 years ago. I called around, and had 2 bids. One guy quoted me something like $2500. Another quotes me $1000 + materials. Of course I paid the $1000, with the agreement that I'd buy the panel, the breakers, and the grounding rods which are required to bring things up to code and have everyhingl ready for them. So I'd say prices vary because electricians are just charging vastly different prices for the same work. They did a great job, everything passed inspection, they ran new grounds to my water main and drove in the newly required ground rods. It looks like you were putting in a sub-panel in the same structure, so this isn't required. But you might have mentioned if you're replacing a main panel like I had done, you have to bring the panel up to code. For me, that meant putting in a ground wire that hooks directly to the incoming water pipe. Mine was connected a few feet away, which is no longer legal. You also have to put two ground rods connected to the main panel.

@Daveallnight1 2 жыл бұрын

I ran in to a main panel recently installed by am "electrician" It was a Federal Pacific, and the guy had put in multiple double breakers and 12/3 & 14/3 wire. The trouble was in a Federal Pacific panel adjacent stabs could be on the same phase, I looked and every one of the doubles were on the same phase. I told the owner to call back the installer and have him fix it!

@georgerocchild7040 2 жыл бұрын

Love your channel, love your simple and thorough explanations and your professionalism! Keep up the great work.

@CaberFeidh Жыл бұрын

House I bought to setup as a rental had 240 circuits built using double-stabbed (one even triple stabbed) into breakers on opposite rows of the panel. The panel was circa 1980's, oldest part of the building was 1890's. Double stabbed breakers, unassociated 240 lines to garage, and best of all tube and button wiring in the original attic still in use.

@ChrisSummers Жыл бұрын

I hired an electrician to replace mine. My house was built in 1992 and had Federal Pacific breakers, thankfully none had failed in all the years they were installed. I went with GE . Only problem we had was the electrician pulled the permit and scheduled the power company to come pull the meter during the work but they never showed up. He ended up pulling the meter so he could work, the power company guys didn't show up until 4 in the afternoon when he was done so they just reinstalled the meter to connect the power.

@inspector8572 2 жыл бұрын

Different colors were required on the hots in my jurisdiction so that the legs could be identified both at the panel as well as at the meter. I believe it’s to ensure load balance throughout all panels.

@panama-sx2oh 2 жыл бұрын

NICE VIDEO IM IN THE TRADE. THE TERMINATIONS OF WIRE COULD BE A LITTLE NEATER N LABELING THOSE WIRES WOULD BE EASIER FOR IDENTIFICATION OF CIRCUITS.

@joephillips6634 2 жыл бұрын

Thanks for including most of the necessary information! I know it was a lot but there are a million videos already missing a ton of info

@Censik 2 жыл бұрын

I replaced mine couple of months ago, because old one started to spark where couple of breakers connect to lugs. Replaced with a new Square D QO. And guess what. It was recalled about a month ago due to fire hazard.... Thank you for your videos! They were very useful!

@BenjaminSahlstrom 2 жыл бұрын

How unfortunate! How is Square D handling the recall? Will they cover labor to replace it?

@Censik 2 жыл бұрын

@@BenjaminSahlstrom their site says " Free inspection and repair for recalled product shall be provided". Contacted them, no reply yet. 1.4 million panels affected.

@RS-qp4bp 2 жыл бұрын

Take a number and get in line :-)

@dontblameme6328 Жыл бұрын

I had a 200A FPE panel very similar to the one in this video replaced with a new GE panel in Houston for $800. God bless Texas!

@IAmTheFuhrminator 4 ай бұрын

Amazing video! It was super informative and the layout/content of the video was well thought out. This video also makes me feel a lot better about the cost of my panel replacement around a year ago - the house I bought had a 100A service into an old, 10-circuit glass fuse panel that was rusted with water damage. We paid $3100 to upgrade the service to 150A (so new drop, new feed cables, new meter) and upgraded to a 30 space, 60 circuit panel, but no plug on neutral unfortunately :(. The 4 guys that came out had the new panel in within 4.5 hours, which was a relief since we had a lot of stuff in the fridge with no easy way to plug it into a generator. 10/10 will hire them again! Back in high school I got really into electrical work (my high school offered electrical wiring classes through our FFA and Ag program) and I spent some of my freshman/sophomore years in college taking some more electrical classes in case I didn't like engineering and wanted to become an electrician instead. Fast-forward 8 years and I really miss doing all of that electrical work (I still find time here and there to upgrade outlets or install a new bedroom light for a friend), and I have been trying to see how hard it would be to become an apprentice electrician even while working my full-time engineering job. Do you have any good estimates for how much time is required and what classes I would have to take to be a qualified apprentice electrician? I don't want to do this for extra money or anything, but mainly to feel more confident about some of the more complicated jobs I want to tackle in my own home, as well as do qualified work when an opportunity presents itself. Thanks again for all of the amazing videos!

@JustinSpakable 26 күн бұрын

Hey. Journeyman here. It'll take you anywhere from 3 to 5 yrs, depending which of the electrical paths you take. Idk if you'd have time to have a full time job and be an apprentice at the same time. The reason is that you'd have to keep 40 hrs a week doing electrical to gain the hrs needed to finish your apprenticeship. Also, you'd have class once a week and some years, twice a week. I'd suggest calling your nearest local and asking them if they'd take you and how it would work out. Good luck, brother. Be safe

@MoonRambo702 Жыл бұрын

I do panel changes for $1000-$1200. On rental property in Detroit area. Avg 3.5hrs.

@JCWise-sf9ww Жыл бұрын

Ben, in this video you answered a question I had and learned something new about "multi-wire branch circuits" and are they kosher. In the house we just bought last year, I found two separate 120v 15amp circuits wired up with a 14 gauge 3 conductor (with ground) cable that are sharing a common in the added subpanel. I believe the two circuits feed lights. Appears the inspector did not catch this or overlooked it. I believe this does not meet code, because the side by side breaker's handles are not coupled together. Now I know what to do about the situation, ether couple the two single breaker handles or install a double pole 15 amp. Your videos are very good and informative, keep up the excellent work.

@throttlebottle5906 10 ай бұрын

that was allowed by code back then and up until somewhere in the early to mid 2000's (I forget exactly when code changed) I'm trying to say 2008 or 2010 offhand. refer to the NEC and your local state, county, city, township codes. they may be using old codes or have requirements beyond the NEC's level. any wiring/panels done prior to the code change would be grandfathered in, but may still be triggered for change upon sale or transfer of ownership and inspections.

@drwhoeric Жыл бұрын

Most multi-wire branch circuits I have seen are tied to direct wire dedicated circuits but with a shared neutral. For example; I had two bathrooms next to each other heaters that used the shared neutral. Since this was 1978 code, the breakers didn't have to be tied together.

@petercampbell4220 2 жыл бұрын

The talk about the EGC is really good. Some don't get this.

@bobh6728 2 жыл бұрын

I knew an electrician that opened a junction box and disconnected the neutral going through it. Fried some electronic equipment. The boss told the customer to send him the bill for replacements. Very expensive few seconds.

@BenjaminSahlstrom 2 жыл бұрын

Yeah that's no fun at all.

@tonymann8765 2 жыл бұрын

Good video as all your videos are- informative. Noticed you mentioning phases when talking about dual breakers. To my knowledge, residential load centers are single phase with 2 legs- each coming off an end of a transformer winding with the center tap of the winding as the neutral. Took a shower during the video & might have missed it if you mentioned it. Apologize in advance if I missed it.

@m3rdpwr 2 жыл бұрын

$1800 was typical for a 200Amp panel swap in my area years ago. However, with price increases and code changes for arc-fault, etc., prices have gone way up.

@wizard3z868 2 жыл бұрын

Normal 15 -20 Amp breaker $5 a pce afci or gfci $35+ duel afci/gfci $55+. Piggy back breaker $10.50 but saves a space if your panel can have them. Northeast USA big box store prices from a year ago

@wizard3z868 2 жыл бұрын

Handle ties required or duel breaker for multi branch circuits in my area. And wire will not be acceptable unless you can keep it from sliding out/off breaker. Handle ties easier to just buy anyways.

@user-dp4eq4rt2p 11 ай бұрын

Since the original panel was mounted fairly low I would have considered mounting the new panel upside down and put the breakers at opposite end from the main disconnect (top of the panel now) so the feeder could still come in at the same location but you would not have to extend very many if any of the wires if any to get them to the circuit breakers. As long as the highest breaker is no higher than 6'6" it would still me to code. Just a thought. Also I thought you did a great job on this video and did a great job explaining everything. Thanks

@David-js6sg 6 ай бұрын

NEC states the panel can go to the floor but the main breaker must be no higher than 6 feet

@doc13067 3 ай бұрын

240.24 Overcurrent protection devices must be no higher than 6’7” above finished floor. That’s any breaker. If the main is on the bottom of the panel the top most breaker cannot be higher than 6’7”

@mikerowan6237 Жыл бұрын

I once worked at an industrial plant that had multiple breakers feeding an oversize neutral like 6 -15 amp breakers and a #10 neutral feeding lighting loads. Had to be very careful if a florescent ballast had to be replaced because if all the breakers feeding the lighting on that neutral were not shut off the neutral was still live to ground, SCARY!

@David-js6sg 6 ай бұрын

Put big breakers up high on the bus rails and lower amp breakers lower down on the bus bar

@xephael3485 2 жыл бұрын

Spaces in the panel are dependent on the load. If you go from 100 to 200 amps, you're going to need new wiring run to the panel in most circumstances. Perhaps the entire electrical drop or service to your property will need to be upgraded.

@Vengeance_Prime 2 жыл бұрын

I feel like this is problem I’m having

@BenjaminSahlstrom 2 жыл бұрын

That can be the case but in many circumstances the service is large enough with too few spaces for added circuits. If you don't have many large electrical appliances you actually don't need a huge service. Obviously calculating the needed panel and service is the way to go though.

@FixthisCD 2 жыл бұрын

Here the service overhead doesn't change but of course from the weatherhead inside will need updated

@illestofdemall13 2 жыл бұрын

@@BenjaminSahlstrom I still only saw 2 spaces even though you said you miscounted. Where did you get 4 from in the correction text?

@RS-qp4bp 2 жыл бұрын

In the video Ben noted that the power feeders were aluminum and rated for 100 amps, and that the disconnect has a100 amp breaker. His new panel is rated for 200 amps. So a100 amp breaker is protecting 100 amp aluminum wiring. He also said that if he wants to upgrade to a true 200 amp service he would have to replace the 100 with a 200 and the 100 amp wiring with 200 amp wiring. Also a lot of the circuits in the original panel were "doubled up" and those circuits had to be separated and put on dedicated breakers, that's why there weren't as many spare breakers as originally planned when the job was completed.

@karimshaban5460 Жыл бұрын

<a href="#" class="seekto" data-time="640">10:40</a> - you get dual-pole 15 amp and 20 amp AFCI breakers for this purpose. It's just they cost like $150 a piece.

@Truckguy1970 Жыл бұрын

I found a 110 volt and a 277 volt circuit sharing the same neutral. Crazy!

@213BRANDONP 4 ай бұрын

Nec requires handle ties on multiwire branch circuits to prevent electrocution

@codyhamilton7822 2 жыл бұрын

Benjamin you are GOD-gifted awesome video as always!!!!!!!!!!!

@reapsgrimley Жыл бұрын

multi-branch circuits... well ive only done one in my entire life. wiring a house and the upstairs family room was at the far end away from the panel. just off the family room was a small office. half the family room on one circuit and the other half of the family room wired with the office. two twenty amp circuits. two final home runs. <a href="#" class="seekto" data-time="270">4:30</a> in the afternoon. I grabbed the end of the wire on the spool and started the home run for the first half of the family room, immediately noticed there was not enough wire for two home runs, to the truck,, no more 12/2. shop 45 minutes away. sheet rockers tomorrow. damnit. then I saw the 250' roll of 12/3.. changed the home runs to the first switch box with a jumper from the switch box to the first outlet outlet in the second half of the family room. connected the red wire to the black jumper and labeled a piece of sheathing, 'shared circuit home run'' just above the wire nut, made another one for the connection to the switch. at the panel labeled the 12/3 'upstairs family room/office shared'. picked up my tools and headed home. wrote down 1 hour overtime. since then I always pack partial rolls of Romex. never in that situation again. as far as I know it is still working.

@SteveHit1 2 жыл бұрын

An interesting video, thanks. One thing that stands out as a difference between your panel replacement and the equivalent here in England is testing. Here, testing (and recording) of all circuits for continuity (with a low ohm meter) as well as insulation resistance, and the performance of RCBOs (equivalent to your GFI breakers) is mandatory, to ensure the safety of the install. I’m surprised that’s not the case in the US.

@jjjacer 2 жыл бұрын

I think its because in Europe they use Ring/Radial Circuits, which we dont, wires go straight from the panel to the outlets and never back again. so for a continuity test you would technically have to short live an neutral at the outlet or at the breaker and then you can test with a multimeter at the other end, otherwise to test continuity/resistance you would need a test lead that goes from the breaker to the last outlet in length. so for the most part i think we just make sure we follow the rules of wire size and length (to make sure that the wire can handle the current at the distance) and be dang sure our terminations are good to prevent arcing.

@SteveHit1 2 жыл бұрын

@@jjjacer thanks for your reply. You’re right. For non-ring circuits we use a long lead, as you describe, zeroing the meter first. We also use a long lead to check that metallic face plates on sockets and switches, which are popular here, are earthed properly. Interestingly, AFDDs are only just being installed in domestic properties here, as they are quite pricey, but we do tend to protect individual circuits in the board with combined GFI / breakers, called RCBOs here.

@JasonEDragon 2 жыл бұрын

Another reason testing hasn't caught on here in the USA is that, as you can see, it would be next to impossible. Panels here have been designed with little to no consideration given to maintenance, testing, or replacement. This panel has just been replaced and it looks like a rat's nest. I can't blame the installer too much because panels aren't designed with enough features to help keep installation neat. In many panels it is quite a chore to find the matching hot, neutral, and ground wires that belong to a cable. And that makes replacing or testing a cable needlessly hard. We really need to start from scratch and come up with something better. I'd prefer a panel option where every cable comes in at the side right in line with each breaker slot - where hot, neutral, and ground connections could be easily made in the same spot and wire lengths could be kept down to a couple inches. We should be able to perform 5/10 year circuit tests like in the UK - but that won't be feasible unless our panels are improved.

@SteveHit1 2 жыл бұрын

@@JasonEDragon Interesting - thanks!

@kayceem2335 Жыл бұрын

@@JasonEDragon this was just a terrible cheap farmer job. this made my skin crawl . when i or my employees upgrade services i require the devices go into a wire way then conduit into the load center using appropriately sized wires with proper identification and in Canada you are required by law to bring the whole house up to modern day code that means every single circuit if you have to rip open walls your ripping open walls and the mains breaker is required to match the service . i could go on and on. im shocked that this install is allowed where he lives. this would get your site locked out and your meter pulled . so to clarify this was a garbage trash side grade you can cheap out by installing boxes and and then run new runs from there to properly connect into the new load center this is perfectly fine as long as its labeled tested and updated to modern codes for examole bedroom plugs seperated from lights and seperated by room into an arc fault breaker bathrooms gfci breaker seperated from any other room furnaces by themself dishwasher seperated kitchen plugs 20 amp alternated or 20 amp split . etc etc etc its a big expensive job depemding on the home age its a full rewire full rewire often cheaper that way then fixing rats nests which burn houses down. this is seriously scary to me and not how i was taught at 15 to wire a panel. and marretts inside of a load center omfg...... completely illegal here your too short so install a box beside rhe panel and run a wire to the panel. this is horrifying

@pickleboat45 Жыл бұрын

Excellent. Answered a couple of my concerns about my panel replacement.

@jongsukkim3080 2 жыл бұрын

I like your wiring is much better.

@hippo-potamus 2 жыл бұрын

Very informative video Benjamin. Thanks for sharing mate. -Cheers

@anthonya8412 Жыл бұрын

Extremely helpful information. Thank you.

@reynaldoesquivel Жыл бұрын

Thanks for the helpful information always 👍

@user-ii3tm7kv5x Жыл бұрын

Best, most informative video I have viewed so far. Tank you :)

@petercampbell4220 2 жыл бұрын

For the basement ground fault. Not needed per code, but house inspection for sale yes.

@frankpizarro7924 Жыл бұрын

I've been shocked by the ground cuz it was back back feeding searching for a ground and that was me so be safe

@jjohnny424 2 жыл бұрын

Great video. With great illustration examples of what you are discussing!

@ainstaink8312 Жыл бұрын

So here is my question...if you are no longer permitted to feed anything from the main lugs how are you going to attach the sensing for the automatic transfer switch? Also considering I dont have an automatic transfer and when I run my generator I flip the MAIN OFF and then GENERATOR 30A breaker ON. That feeds my entire house from the generator but I have no way to find out when the power is back. So my idea was to install a small box with 2x250mA fuses and pilot lights that would come on ONLY when the main feed comes back on. Any other ideas? Great and detailed video btw! You explain things really well!

@fgomez583 2 жыл бұрын

Good lessons. I learned a little more from this video.

@jimreitenbach6023 8 ай бұрын

I changed my panel for less than $500. I think it's key to buy a panel that has the same knock out location for the main line.

@SHAKA-NEU-LU 5 ай бұрын

I’m a 17 yr old journeyman wireman. I’m pretty sure Scott looked at the panel being swapped said (in his head) who tf terminated this crap??!! 😂 😊

@Sparkeycarp Жыл бұрын

I just happened to review this video because I remembered all the wire nuts in the panel. Some AHJ will not allow this and home inspectors love to point them out. I use a separate gutter box or large J box to do my short wire splices. I just had a job to move a sub panel in a remodel and had to do this for 75% of the wires.

@bekzatbekzat8496 2 жыл бұрын

Thank you bro for great video and your time for explaining 🚀🚀🚀

@ricardozar01 2 жыл бұрын

Thanks for the advice on the panel, it's really useful all those requirements from the NEC, but I'm still dealing with short wires to reconnect evry single line from each room in the houses I've been working on; by the way, could be good if i make them a little longer those wires coming from any room or the kitchen in the main panel ?

@mikecowan1471 2 жыл бұрын

large manufacturing plant, water heater with one neutral no ground and 2 hots on separate electrical service meters gets OSHA, the Fire marshal and the Electrical inspector's attention

@RS-qp4bp 2 жыл бұрын

Don't you know? Old school thought was: the conduit will act as the ground... Until it corrodes and falls away. Or the water heater is bonded to the ground rod ??? ???!?!!!?

@RS-qp4bp 2 жыл бұрын

Wait a minute. You said that the water heater is fed from two separate electrical meters. If I was the other guy I'd let the other guy pay for it. Maybe two businesses share one water heater and one of those guys is always late paying his electricity bill, etc etc

@soraway2567 Ай бұрын

love your content. thanks man

@deegee9560 2 жыл бұрын

This video came on with perfect timing!!! KZfaq and google are listening to me talk with inspectors and electrician! This is great education!!! Are wire nuts banned? Are we supposed to use wago connectors now to meet code?

@RS-qp4bp 2 жыл бұрын

No wires are not banned 🚫, just nuts are banned. The problem with Wagos is that they do not work well with stranded wire, they work fine with solid wire. Check to see if Wagos are UL listed, if they are then maybe they are ok to use everywhere

@superspecialty5169 Жыл бұрын

My installation has a main breaker/panel that controls the upstairs & one for the downstairs breaker panel. Hope that was a good idea because 35yrs ago I had to alert the licensed electrician of several discrepancies?

@carlosportilla7634 Жыл бұрын

thanks for your videos Ben! Very informative 🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻

@JMjayesim 2 жыл бұрын

<a href="#" class="seekto" data-time="792">13:12</a> you know what they say! All toasters toast TOAST!

@MGPackers Жыл бұрын

Well done and very informative video! Thanks brother

@IceArdor 2 жыл бұрын

For main panel upgrades where you only need 2-4 new slots in your panel, would installation of a subpanel adjacent to the main panel be an acceptable alternative to replacing with a new panel? For people looking to add a 2-pole surge protector, a panel replacement might be cost prohibitive. (Yes, there are combo surge protector circuit breakers, but not for breakers that also have GFCI/AFCI protection, which may be desirable even if code doesn’t require them for old work.

@nsmcastillo326 7 ай бұрын

Can I Install a new main breaker,meter base etc. next to the existing one before cutting service off and removing the old one?

@wizard3z868 2 жыл бұрын

Any one looking to upgrade panels or add a sub look for panels that can or have specs for tandem or piggyback breakers like a 30 spaces but can have 60 circuits. in the description it will say 30/60 ,16/32

@johnwagner846 Жыл бұрын

Hi everyone, I've got a newbie question for Y'all. I am switching out a breaker box as the original is covered by the washing machine (mobile home). The original is going to be left in place and used as a junction box to extend all the wires to a new external breaker box. It's a three wire 200A original circuit. My question is, can I leave all the neutrals and grounds connected in the original box and just run the hot wires to the new exterior breaker box along with extensions of the three service wires? Just seems silly to me to run all new grounds and neutrals if they're already connected.

@doc13067 3 ай бұрын

Ben I am so confused. Is this an old video? For years I have been watching you doing the most premium looking installations and then I see this video from a year ago where you brought in another electrician to do a job which you made sound like you couldn’t do and even though I’m sure it’s fine it’s not as perfect as the other panels I’ve seen you install well over a year ago. I’m very confused but I really appreciate your channel and I watch your 200 amp service at your house video fairly regularly when I’m looking up videos on QO panels

@markmclean5651 5 ай бұрын

is there something that could cover the 2 main lines coming in, so I don't touch them?

@steved8714 Жыл бұрын

The fact you're only 16 years old makes it more impressive.

@lego12v84 2 жыл бұрын

Do you still have the vintage square d fuse box? if so you should sell it on ebay.

@BenjaminSahlstrom 2 жыл бұрын

Is there a market for those?

@David-js6sg 6 ай бұрын

Installing 200 amp main panel on a 100 amp lead in wires is a No No!😮

@RS-qp4bp 2 жыл бұрын

Good video very informative. If I may ask, Why didn't you replace the panel? I've seen your work, I'm sure this job would have been in your skill set. You got me thinking now. Regards from a secret undisclosed location somewhere in the northern hemisphere

@RS-qp4bp 2 жыл бұрын

You just joined a week ago and you want me to Whatsapp you? Your not Salstrom. Sounds like a scam

@CosmopolitanPatriarchCevinLDug Жыл бұрын

If you are installing a new 200 amp breaker box in a different location in the same house to rewire the house how do you get power from the old box to the new box so as you rewire a room you can wire to the new breaker box.

@Aitmesss 5 ай бұрын

Nice div.. but this is mind-blowing how open the whole pannel is. No safety or protection at all..

@TheWickerShireProject Жыл бұрын

Hey Ben! I'm Building off grid atm. My Mains was an Open box buy deeply deeply discounted it's a Square D. We never planned on much but a simple setup. The Mains did not come come with a Mains breaker. Box was empty. All I could find in all the box stores was a Dual pole 60 amp. This 60 acts as my Main breaker. We have a few 20 and 15 amp breakers to work with for a coffee maker, microwave, toaster and airfryer. All Lights are led. My biggest problem is my new 6,500 watt 240v tankless hot water heater ( adjustable ). I'm going with 10/2 awg copper and a 40 amp dual breaker. (6,500w divided by 240v = 27 amps ) My question is the 40 amp breaker too big? Would a 30 amp dual be cutting it too close?

@randychan3498 2 жыл бұрын

Thank Benjamin. Excellent video! I have an unrelated question. When replacing a ceiling fan that is bigger than the existing fan housing. The power supply wire ends up a ted short. I guess the proper way is to extend the wires with a junction box. Can the junction box (with the cover) be attached to the joist that is hidden inside between the 6 inches height ceiling and upper floor space? Or, does the junction box with cover need to be shown through the sheetrock?

@JerseyTom 2 жыл бұрын

the cover must be exposed

@FishEyeSky 2 жыл бұрын

Junction boxes don’t have to be shown just responsibly accessible

@JerseyTom 2 жыл бұрын

@@FishEyeSky 314.29(A) Boxes and conduit bodies shall be installed so the contained wiring can be accessed *without removing any part of the building* or structure. It must be exposed.

@reapsgrimley Жыл бұрын

dont bury junction boxes. if the homeowner objects to the aesthetics, quote the time to run a new switch leg they usually come around to the j-box.

@nervakenol4371 2 ай бұрын

My mother’s house has a setup where there is a 100 amp breaker in the outdoor main panel feeding a sub panel that has a 200 amp main breaker. There’s 2/0 AL feeding the outside main and smaller Al wires feeding the sub. Is this setup ok? Should we have the outdoor main upgraded to 200?

@chucktoo7025 8 ай бұрын

What do you do if your sheath isn’t long enough to go in the box?

@nwyfzguy Жыл бұрын

Hello Ben, I love your videos! I have learned so much from you. Thank you! I when to your like of the recommended load center, and it's a Square D 30. I need a 40-space panel, but the only one I found on Amazon won't give you a commission. Can you make your current recommendation for a 40-space panel? I would like you to get a commission to help support your hard work in making these extremely useful videos. Thank you!!

@mirg6204 Жыл бұрын

Just curious I've been learning and I thought in a sub panel the "Green Screw" which grounds the neutral bus to the panel casing has to be removed unless technically the grounds and neutral are bonded no? This is a sub panel rii? Idk that confused me, thought I knew my stuff 🤣

@chriswarren9857 Жыл бұрын

Could you still install the ground bars and have a single wire connect to the neutral bar to have continuity. Would it then trip the breaker?

@dennismayer4936 2 ай бұрын

Are the incoming power lines always aluminum? I spoke with an electrician and he said 4200 for a similar change out due to the increase of copper???

@TimFrentz Жыл бұрын

What is the best way to leave your current wiring 100amp panel in place but adding a 200amp panel to allow for generator and solar upgrades for incoming power?? I have a less common situation and I need help finding a video or blog guide on adding a 200amp panel to the outside to meet current code while leaving my original 100amp in place inside my house. I don't want to move all the circuits & I like having interior control & some of the wires would be too short to relocate outside. No one does this because this requires a 100amp breaker to be installed inside the 200amp panel probably? (Is putting a 100amp breaker inside the 200amp panel possible?)

@JustinSpakable 26 күн бұрын

You'd need to put a breaker controlling the initial panel in the new panel. And upgrade the wire from the meter to the new panel.

@steven7650 2 жыл бұрын

Humans CANNOT tell torque value by feel, regardless of years in the trade. This was looked by the code panel having laymen and master electricians try to gauge it by feel. 80% were low 15% or so high 5% got it within tolerance. Hence the reason for the code rule to torque connections.

@RS-qp4bp 2 жыл бұрын

I always tighten the screws to a quarter turn before it breaks. LOL not really, I try to use a torque wrench when possible. I see a lot of electricians really crank down hard on screw terminals all the time. And a torque wrench will be sitting right next to them and they won't pause, pick up the torque wrench and use it.

@inspector8572 2 жыл бұрын

That’s actually not true, in Structural Steel Construction it is allowed to bring things to a “Snug Fit” then use the turn of nut method to bring the fasteners to tolerance, however they, the humans had to be calibrated by code daily in order to keep within acceptable tolerance… so on a daily basis all the steel workers would line up at the calibration station and be blind tested to ensure their snug was within tolerance. This doesn’t work in low voltage electrical work because it’s inch pounds which is low torque and a lot finer line between acceptable and rejected.

@RS-qp4bp 2 жыл бұрын

@@inspector8572 what is an iron worker doing watching electricians work? I'm going to report you to your union 🙂🤣

@mauroaparicio1855 2 жыл бұрын

great video

@jeffreyd683 Жыл бұрын

my meter is inside my home. The power line come off the pole on the street to the side of my house. The city said changing a panel now requires a main shutoff outside for first responders to pass inspection. In my research the main disconnect is between the meter and the panel. Does this mean by default I have to have the meter moved to the outside of my house to pass inspection?

@hernimnimeisa9776 Жыл бұрын

Great explanation

@gary-gilbert 2 жыл бұрын

How much are the materials vs labor? How about generator prep

@larryoverhagen4967 2 жыл бұрын

Thanks Ben for all your informative videos. My comment or question is about the wire nuts? I was told by an electrician that they are not allowed here in Wisconsin. An offset separate can or junction box must be used to connect short wires to reach the new install. My own thought might be crimped butt connectors with heat shrink? Your comments please are welcome everyone.

@BenjaminSahlstrom 2 жыл бұрын

As far as I know most areas allow wire nuts or wagos in the panel when it is obviously necessary however you can always find certain areas where thr AHJ will require something different. When in doubt contact the inspector in your area to clarify this before getting started. Thanks for sharing your experience! We're in MN so I would think that it would be similar but I know big cities often have more complex regulations as well.

@elijuarez7921 Жыл бұрын

Your the man bro.

@genemyersmyers6710 Жыл бұрын

Ben could you say somthing about the several wire nuts ?

@chris24j48 2 жыл бұрын

Thx for the detail

@MiniDigging 2 жыл бұрын

why is that little piece of copper wire laying on top of the right phase terminal in the top of that new/used panel (laying in that 13lbs) of nolox? LOL

@BenjaminSahlstrom 2 жыл бұрын

I saw that in the footage too! It's just a scrap that somehow landed there. Figured someone would eventually mention it! And I agree, the anti corrosion compound was a bit excessive. Certainly wouldn't hurt to clean it up a bit.

@RS-qp4bp 2 жыл бұрын

I also noticed that piece of solid bare copper wire immediately. Does that mean I was paying attention?

@MiniDigging 2 жыл бұрын

@@BenjaminSahlstrom could be a future unprotected 20amp branch circuit when you run out of spaces? LOL. Just picking on you. That panel is 180 degrees off from the quality you've done on your panels and other panels you've shown on your channel as far as craftsmanship. Kind of a shocker... 🤣 Anyway, love your channel

@MiniDigging 2 жыл бұрын

@@RS-qp4bp IKR, I almost got in my truck and drove 900 miles just to go up there and remove it, and wipe that 10lbs of nolox off of everything. 😂

@RS-qp4bp 2 жыл бұрын

@@MiniDigging I'm not trying to sound like a know it all but it is spelled No-a-lox and yes people pronounce it nolox. Yeah that guy was slathering that stuff and making a big mess. It bothered me and I wanted to go over there and clean everything off before tightening the lugs.

@RivIrie Ай бұрын

If you mount a box like that against a wall, you’re blocking yourself from future knockouts / entry points because the wall is in the way

@fyichokwan 2 жыл бұрын

Can you point with screw which one have to remove please

@wurlabyscott Жыл бұрын

Get the correct breaker, don't use a kit or wire connecting the breakers; seen one trip and the other fried the equipment.

@beachboardfan9544 2 жыл бұрын

Near philly, its 4k to 5k to swap a 100A to 200A

@BenjaminSahlstrom 2 жыл бұрын

Wow, that's pretty spendy. Interesting how much it varies by region.

@jamisongillespie3524 Жыл бұрын

I think there's going to be a huge variable in cost between simply changing a panel and doing a service upgrade. If you need a new service drop that can be a lot of the cost, especially if the homeowner is responsible for the line side of it.

@beachboardfan9544 Жыл бұрын

@@jamisongillespie3524 I dont think theres ever an instance where you dont need a new line side doing a 100 to 200 upgrade. It's pretty much always going from 2/0 to 4/0, unless its a super long run or something.

@rogeliohernandez2606 Жыл бұрын

Can a main residential panel install behind a door?

@billmonroe8826 2 жыл бұрын

Yeah, an 8 hr day or more but at an 8 hr day and $3000 or more is a heck of a lot per hour.

@willpartin622 11 ай бұрын

does anybody know how low to the floor a breaker panel can be mounted? is there a minimum. I want to locate mine about 2 ft off the floor

@hank-kal 10 ай бұрын

Hey @BenjaminSahlstrom - what is your recommendation regarding choosing a Sqaure D Homeline vs. a QO panel? Is it good enough to choose the Homeline panel with the Aluminum busbar, or should I look for the Copper based busbar QO panel? What are the pros and cons of each? Will I regret going with the Homeline series?

@Doug-gp2qw 2 жыл бұрын

Why would you use an old panel? New ones are not that expensive. If you are going through the expense and time to replace a panel stick with new equipment.

@jdr03272 Жыл бұрын

Ben, how do you avoid high tension tight 90° turns in wire when you have to terminate thick wire on a breaker terminal for example I recently wired a generator power inlet box with 4 gauge. The panel is already real crowded. Eventually I'd like to upgrade the panel but for now have to make do. I bent the end of the wire over with the handles of the cable cutter then stripped it in place. It makes a sharp 90 but it doesn't seem to put any strain on the bus since it's already bent essentially like conduit lol. Did they make some kind of 90° nimbus or something for this purpose?