Another Question for electricians...

[ultrarunner]

Is it best to use copper pennies behind the blown screw-in fuse, or do the copper-coated zinc pennies provide some protection?

Seen Copper Pennies used…

I pulled one out and it was war time steel penny…

My guess is fuses not available with war time rationing and war effort production?

Picture below is identical to the service main I removed when I did a 100 amp 240 volt service upgrade

What I found interesting is one fuse for hot and one fuse for neutral… circa 1920.

Not recommended to attempt in the dark and always with a steady hand… other wise it tickles… as an old sparky said to me.

Pole to house, knob and tube to disconnect, disconnect to utility meter, utility meter to 2 circuit panel… 15 amp lights and 20 plugs.

 

[ultrarunner]

You'd love the goofy stuff here at the ranch. Zinsco 200A main panel then Zinsco 100A sub panel in the shop stall of the barn. Downstream from that, a modern panel in the guest cabin fed from a twin 50 amp breaker in that 100A barn panel.

A couple of years ago I plugged a 1500 watt heater into the dedicated 20A, single outlet circuit in the guest cabin bathroom. And another 1500 watt heater into the 20A outlet behind the cabin kitchen microwave. (opposite sides of the 240V source).

Running both those heaters smoked the 100A breaker at the head of the barn sub-panel.

After finding a NOS replacement I opened up the failed Zinsco 100A barn breaker. Found severe corrosion due to 50 years weather exposure in the the open-front shop stall. (Photo)

Good thing our home in town isn't like this!

Sounds like the 1855 out buildings and barn at the ranch… all strung overhead… the breaker is never left on unattended… only flipped on if checking livestock at night.

 

[rontaki]

Used Zinsco panel for sale - replace that unsafe Federal panel. Needs cleanup.

 

[ultrarunner]

Used Zinsco panel for sale - replace that unsafe Federal panel. Needs cleanup.

View attachment 3780991

Lighting Strike or Aluminum Alloy Buss Bar mega fail?

 

[California]

Lighting Strike or Aluminum Alloy Buss Bar mega fail?

"They all do that" is the common wisdom for Zinsco. They are infamous for not tripping when there is a short downstream.

 

[rontaki]

For the curious, the details are findable on the Web.

 

[Oaktree]

Used Zinsco panel for sale - replace that unsafe Federal panel. Needs cleanup.

View attachment 3780991

Was this a meter socket or an actual panel?
My wife was watching one of those "flipper" tv shows a while back that was set in Florida and it didn't seem all that uncommon for the breaker panel to be outside. WTF?? Is that a thing there? Why would you want the breaker box outside?

 

[JPRambo]

As a new residential electrician in 1982, I built a lot of weather proof services. Builder house plans were not reversed to put garage on service pole side of the lot. WP service was cheaper than extending service into the garage. Owners did not want the breaker panel in a bedroom or living room.

 

[ultrarunner]

Was this a meter socket or an actual panel?
My wife was watching one of those "flipper" tv shows a while back that was set in Florida and it didn't seem all that uncommon for the breaker panel to be outside. WTF?? Is that a thing there? Why would you want the breaker box outside?

Very common in California and especially for Service Upgrades

The combo meter base with service disconnect and 20 to 40 circuit breakers all in the same box.

In mountain vacation communities it is or was common to use living trees to run neighborhood utility lines… no need for utility poles.

Lots of meters and breaker boxes secured to trees also…

Only seen this in the Tahoe region.

 

[Dftodd]

Was this a meter socket or an actual panel?
My wife was watching one of those "flipper" tv shows a while back that was set in Florida and it didn't seem all that uncommon for the breaker panel to be outside. WTF?? Is that a thing there? Why would you want the breaker box outside?

The rental neighborhood i lived in for a couple years had the breaker panels outside next to the meter.

These were brand new homes 4 years ago.