Good morning, thank you from a electrically challenged person. Electricity scares the hell out of me. I am starting to understand it through videos like yours. Thanks for the informative video. Anything helps me. Take care and good luck.

Great video, thank you! This was clear and to the point without a lot of extra "rabbit trails" explaining things ad nauseam. The ONLY problem I saw was a lack of video link at the 15:13 mark, kinda disappointed there. Keep the videos coming, I really appreciate it!

Great video! Very informative! One thing: first thing you should do is _verify_ electricity is not present _in the panel._ Power is disconnected, but people doing work themselves can mess up.

We were getting estimates on a central air conditioning system, and the salesman told us we need a new box. I don't doubt that, but he wanted $2000 over and above the cost of the AC system, to replace the box. This is far above my ability to do, but I have a friend who is an expert with this kind of stuff, and he has helped me with doing breakers in the past. Pulling the meter is within my abilities, so I think Dan and I can tackle a project like this. Thanks for the tutorial!

Out standing ... I have looked at a lot of videos as I am going to replace the very very old box in my home ..... this is the best .... thanks!

Thanks, well detailed. To complete the video, i guess something like: to energize the circuit panel, just go outside and pop the meter back ON, should be added at the to end. ✓ Although, i see some comments regarding the meter removal. So, not sure to proceed or not . Other than that, thanks for the video.

You're a genius...from complex to DIY.

Thank you 🙏 Sr I just changed mine very very valuable information

Nice tutorial, can i ask a question, there are two screws next to each breaker, can i simply put the hot wire in the breaker the neutral in one screw and the ground next to it on the neutral buss bar? Or do all of the grounds have to be in the same area next to each other and the neutrals all in one area next to each other.

Great information about the meter. Hard to Google "How to cut power to breaker panel" because it just returns information about cutting power FROM breaker panel to rest of house.

My friend's electrical panel was upgraded to one with gcfi - all are gcfi which we can use regluar outlet and if something comes up, the panel would shut down before you get electrocuted. And I will get mine inspected to make sure its up to date but want to consider upgrading to GCFI.

hello, i bought a 50a panel for a tiny house build so i need to run 6awg in to the top of the service panel, do you recommend videos showing where to run your two hots, ground and neutral

Great Video Thank YOu for posting

Great video. Explained well.

Profesional Job and safety 🔥

Sorry about It. I deleted my comment. I live in Canada and the electrical code is different , I did not realize that you are in USA. I was wrong and you are right . you are doing perfect. thanks

Great Video

was about to do this, but we are getting solar and they are putting a new box for us in the process that has a few more slots (we ran out on our current one), will be useful for when i put in the mini split.

Very informative video, just something maybe you didn’t know the main lugs have a torques spec which you should follow. If not torqued those lugs can heat up from expansion and contraction of the aluminum and can lead to a fire down the line if they loosen enough to begin arching.

My panel is so old, it has buss fuses for the main disconnect 😂, so I take my life into my hands every time I disconnect the power. I'm not the least bit frightened of pulling the meter. When I was a kid I used to pull the tags off the neighbors meters for fun, and the utility police never hunted me down. 😂

Thank you for this video. I'm about to change out a panel in my shop building, and there's only about 4 breakers. So I'm gonna give it a try. I'll label everything before I switch. Meter is already pulled. So I'm good to go.

Even after removing the meter, one needs to use electrical current tester to check if there is any electrical current still live before start removing the wires & the breakers. What do you think? Thx

What would you do in the even the wire were too short for the new panel, main wires or 12-2? And you said that main wires were 4g thought it was 2/0 THHN…

Did you not put an bushing and lock nut on the 3 inch knockout for the 4/0 entrance cable?

I read in a comment that you could have installed it upsidedown, that would have prevented the 4 gauge cables from traveling through the panel box and just directly into the lug entries, would have helped to avoid working around them every time you change something, I can see the merit in that comment

Thanks! Very helpful

How does someone replace the meter box if the line in is still connected to the home? Do you climb up on the roof and cut them individually or will you get shocked doing that?

Thank you for making the video! What size Allen key to remove main power wires?

Great video

Good job.

8:14 is the point here that the incoming service wires are the 180deg opposite phases coming out of the ends of a center tapped (center is the neutral) transformer, and that it does not matter which of the phases is placed left or right in the electrical panel, so you just choose left/right based on convenience factors such as the length of each service wire?

If your service lines are not long enough, could you reverse the panel board, the guts in the main breaker box? I’m speaking of an outdoor panel that has a rain protector on the top of the panel.

I'm not an electrician. However, where I live, the homeowner is allowed to do their own electrical as long as permits are pulled and inspections may still be required. Any of the work I have done has always passed. I'm just not a fan of the Square D home line because of the aluminum main bus. However, I like the QO line, the plug on neutral, the approved double tap breakers, and because Square D is DIYer and space saver friendly. I would rather get a GE Powermark from an electrical supply for an application similar to this one. Unfortunately, big box stores carry a lot of GE stuff from China, whereas the electrical supply stores usually order from the Mexico or Puerto Rico plant(s). It makes a difference. Other than that specific panel, I really like the video and your work, sir.

I have a question, am I allowed to remove a metre or do I need the permission from hydro company?

You need a bushing to protect the three main wires

Your neutral is not bonded?

Thanks for the video. Doesn't that panel have ground?

Why did you not install a cut off switch while the power is off from the pole for servicing?

Had to comment it is ALWAYS important up wear hot gloves while pulling a live meter can. This can prevent serious injury if that meter were to arc.

Question!!!! You don't get in trouble for remove the lock. Locking the miter ? In the outside of you're house 🤔

Pulling the meter in our county (Florida) gets you a fine with the power company. You must contact them for a shutdown. Also the guage for 200 amp is not 4 guage. You probably mean 4/0 (4 ought) aluminum wire.

Is there a code, or other reason you could not flip the box over and shorten your main lines to install them on the bottom? Then they wouldn't be in the way of the home runs which run down from the top.

Be very careful with the neutral. Some meters have the neutral passing straight thru the meter with no disconnect !!!

8:49 is the point here that the incoming service wires are aluminum and not copper, and hence need the anti-oxidant conductive grease stuff?

If you are changing the panel to a 200 don't you also need to change the cables from meter to panel box ?? It's a question

Where's is the bonding connection between outside box and inside box?

i'm surprised you aren't required to put a bushing (or grommet) on the service knock out to cover the rough metal edges.

I remember I did this with a friend but we couldn't remove the meter aep had to do it it was a weekend and for some reason they didn't come so we decided to do it with the cables live man was it dangerous but we got it done just have to be really careful it was an experience t say the least lol

Do not pull your meter, I work for a utility company and can't tell you how many times the jaws are messed up and it arcs. Very dangerous. Also if you have a smart meter the utility company will know right away and think your power went out.

So is it legal or illegal to pull the meter out?? Anyone?

Sir is it legal to full the metter? Thank you so much

I thought it was illegal to mess with the meter. isn't that why the electric company puts that tamper seal on the meter box?

The shortcuts a lot of self-educated rural builders took in the past are frightening. My house was built in 1965 and I am having a lot of upgrades done by licensed professionals to get as much up to current standards as possible without cutting into the walls.

I pride myself on DIY projects but good lawd there are so many code violations or stuff that isn't best practice in this video to including your plans to bond a sub panel, no protective bushings/strain relief on your mains, not torquing to manufacture specs, tampering with a meter, not getting a permit or inspection etc. If you're ignorant, you'd watch this video and think this man is a professional as he speaks with so much confidence, he is not. If you insist on doing electrical work at this level, please pull a permit and have your work inspected, that way, if you messed up an inspector can catch it and you're able to remedy the problems.

Could have just got that new panel and taken the main breaker out for the old one... The QOM main breaker would have worked for the original panel, saving the little extra money and a whole lot of time

I am not a electrician, but I thought power company can only touch the meter. I am doing home renovation and anything involved with meter or telephone poles is power company responsibility. It maybe different regulations in every state but just saying.

4/0 not 4 gauge

you can not put two different size grounds under the same screw

Why didn't you mount it with main breaker at bottom? easier and more room for all electrical from top coming in. I disagree. If you would sheetrock around that panel, when the installer runs his bit around the box, he will surely cut into those wires.

Could you just turn the box upside down.

why didn't you just flip it and run it throw the top?

There's a whole long laundry list of code violations here, as others have pointed out in the comments. But one I didn't see is: no grounding system (current nec requires to pound in 2-8' ground rods at least 6" apart and wire them into panel). Just FYI: if Utility Co discovers meter tampering and wiring changes, they can turn off electricity (as a safety hazard) and notify city or county who will then revoke property's certificate of occupancy which means can't occupy or sell the property until passing a lengthy code inspection process. Meanwhile, property insurance can be cancelled and mortgage foreclosed. No joke, leave that meter alone!

Dangerous guidelines for messing up your meterbox

That is extremely dangerous pulling a meter like that . You should at least be wearing some insulated gloves to prevent electrocution . You could have an arc flash pulling the meter . Normally you should have your power company come out and disconnect the power on the pole but then they want an electrician doing the work and rightfully so . One mistake with a service entrance is all it takes to kill you . Don’t be stupid.

That's bull. You should leave that panel alone and buy a box with a 200 amp breaker and install it outside to provide protection and disconnect of the service entrance wires.

Don't know American code rules but there are some code violations there

I would do this all myself, except I could get fined, jailed, or potentially injured/killed by tampering with that meter base. I did however, discover that a licensed contractor can put in a new meter base with shut off switches, thus grandfathering my main panel in

As a electrician I just got to shake my head.

You installed too small of ground wire for this service.

This is totally invalid installation in Canada. Wrongly feeder entry, wrong location and wrong wall.

Where is your Ground Buss ? You do not Bond the Neutral and Ground on a Sub Panel.

So basically anyone could walk up to the outside of your house at night and completely disconnect the power… interesting.

That's not a #4 wire, it's a #4/0, big difference. This guy doesn't really know what he's doing here.

Did you lock out and tag out the meter base or just leave open ? There are so many things wrong in this video you should be banned from You Tube forever .

Lol you can install a breaker and put your wires at the breaker then you can turn off and on power at this panel man you don't need to replace this subpanel

I don't like political commercials.

Dangerous.....do not do this!!!! hire a professional. many many items missed on this installation. Bushing needed for the main service cable conduit there is no ground on this electrical system....very dangerous. pulling a meter is not allowed. must be done by electrical supply company.

You should hire a licensed professional to do this as it is illegal to perform this install if you are not a qualified professional as well as extremely dangerous and a serious fire risk. A permit is also needed. Most power companies are replacing meters with remote meters monitored from a central hub which will dispatch a lineman crew if you attempt to remove a meter yourself and you can potentially be arrested for not having proper job number and permitting in place. What you are doing by putting a video like this on KZfaq is extremely reckless and shortsighted. Shame on you

Quoted at $2-4k for a new service box. This video gave me the confidence to at least try it myself. Year later and she's still flowing⚡like the waters of Capistrano.

Electrician U has a video on why you may not want to “ground and bond” a subpanel.