Electrical Panel update New house

[AlanB]

Allright, one of the problems with the new house I bought was that it had a Wadsworth circuit box in it, and 40 years of Jack leg electricians adding and removing things along the way. Some of it was marginal, and some was downright scary.

So this morning it looked like the first picture, and after about 8 hours of real hard work by my buddy Dwight, it now looks like this

That is a 50 amp outlet for the welder, and a 30 amp for the air compressor.

There is another 30 added in for a dryer now (had a gas dryer before)

The old electrical ceiling heat is now all pulled, as well as the AC window unit plugs and wires.

A heck of a difference one HARD working man made in the safety and functionality of my new house in one day.

Freinds like him are what keep me going. He works seven days a week (yeah, no stuff,) 7 days a week as a lead electrician with a large crew of Guetemalans (he speaks fluent spanish) and took the day off (Sunday) which he normally makes doubletime on, to fix my box up for me.

I could probably not afford to pay him what it was worth, but when I asked what I owed him, he said absolutely nothing, he appreciated all we had done along the way for him....

Things like this make for a real nice day.

 

[schmism]

anyone else ever seen flex coper like that used for water heater hookups?

 

[Farwell]

Schmism,
The 3/4" copper flex is what was on my water heater in California when I first purchased the house. I swapped it out for the rubber lined stainless steel mesh flex. This didn't work because the of chlorinated city water eating the rubber lining so I went back to the copper flex. It was a standard hook up that came with the water heater installation kit. Not sure what the requirements are now because of the possible change in code due to earthquakes. The natural gas lines had to be flex for the hot water heater.
In Michigan my water lines are rigid copper piped directly to the water heater.
David B

 

[kennyd]

anyone else ever seen flex coper like that used for water heater hookups?

Yes, quite common here, especially in the DIY market.

 

[Lynkage]

Allright, one of the problems with the new house I bought was that it had a Wadsworth circuit box in it, and 40 years of Jack leg electricians adding and removing things along the way. Some of it was marginal, and some was downright scary.

So this morning it looked like the first picture, and after about 8 hours of real hard work by my buddy Dwight, it now looks like this

That is a 50 amp outlet for the welder, and a 30 amp for the air compressor.

There is another 30 added in for a dryer now (had a gas dryer before)

The old electrical ceiling heat is now all pulled, as well as the AC window unit plugs and wires.

A heck of a difference one HARD working man made in the safety and functionality of my new house in one day.

Freinds like him are what keep me going. He works seven days a week (yeah, no stuff,) 7 days a week as a lead electrician with a large crew of Guetemalans (he speaks fluent spanish) and took the day off (Sunday) which he normally makes doubletime on, to fix my box up for me.

I could probably not afford to pay him what it was worth, but when I asked what I owed him, he said absolutely nothing, he appreciated all we had done along the way for him....

Things like this make for a real nice day.

He did a very nice job.!!

 

[rox]

Alan, hard for me to get excited about an electrical panel, I trid to share your enthusiasm but I jsut coldn't get all warm and fuzzy. But hey, you seem to like it jsut swell, so cheers to you.

Is that box in the basement/ Do you have a wak out basement? I seem to recal that the garge is under the hosue, is that right?

 

[WayneB]

Nice clean job!

Only Problem I noticed is you have way too many breakers not installed...............

 

[roermo]

Very nice job, I just installed a 200 amp box in my new garage, you can tell the diffrence with some one that knows what they are doing and what I did.

I think I better go back and try to make it look as good as yours.

Nice job

Roger

 

[AlanB]

Nice clean job!

Only Problem I noticed is you have way too many breakers not installed...............

Unfortunately, I think your right, I was sitting here this morning thinking of things I need to add in.... quad box next to the weld plugs for 110, dedicated bathroom 110, ceiling fan for the living room (no current light fixture) So there will be more to come in the future I think.

Still also have to neaten up a bunch of the stuff in the house, new outlets etc.

 

[woodlot]

Yes, a nice clean job, but tell me more about your panel. It looks like a 3-wire feed (two hots and a "neutral"), which is normal. The thing that looks weired to me is that the branch circut bonding wires are connected to an isolated bus bar. I thought that when utilaizing a 3-wire feed the branch circut "grounds" and "neutals" shared a common bus bar and a bonding screw is then installed to bond the metal cabinet enclosure. Its been a year since I've intalled a mian panel like that so my memory may be fuzzy.....?

 

[AlanB]

It is bonded, the bond screw comes as an option. We added in an additional 24 point ground bar as well. So yes, they are all connected.

 

[woodlot]

I see, so the ground bar that you added is "bonded" to the neutral bus bar via the metal cabinet enclosure, correct? Just courious if the inspector passed that.

 

[sparkkky]

Little close to the water heater for me. Does the water heater over lap the space right in front off the panel? Good way to get hurt if your in the panel and touch the heater!

 

[Inspector507]

I see, so the ground bar that you added is "bonded" to the neutral bus bar via the metal cabinet enclosure, correct? Just courious if the inspector passed that.

This inspector would pass it. Meets code and perfectly fine to do it that way.

 

[AlanB]

It is the way GE did it, so I assume it is "standard" or "to code" All current GE pieces matched together.

Yes, it is close to the water heater, but substantially moving either would be a real adventure that I did not want.

I was wondering if the gas folks were going to ping me on my water heater being on the floor, I wanted to raise it, but that would be one tremendous undertaking. Honestly not even sure it could reasonably be done.

 

[Highbeam]

I'm a little curious about the exposed wire to the welder and dryer plugs. I've used those style plugs on extension cords but it would seem that conduit and actual plug boxes would be appropriate. I also just replaced my old zinsco breaker panel with a new 200 amp modern one and have about a dozen breaker slots to fill still. I used one up about a month ago installing a dedicated 20 amp circuit to the OverTheRange microwave installed in the kitchen. That puppy pulls 14.3 amps.

I have a bunch of slots burned up with about 10 of the 220 volt cadet style wall heaters. It will be an ugly mess in the panel when I disable those circuits.

Where's your generator transfer system? I also used a buddy electrician and bartered work for his help.

 

[Farwell]

Highbeam,
If your Zinsco breakers are in good shape they may sell for gold prices on Ebay at least they did at one time.
David B

 

[AlanB]

I guess those types of receptacles are what I have always seen and used in a home shop setting. If it was a commercial shop, I would do it different, and hopefully all this stuff down here will be real temporary till I get my new BIG shop built (but I will probably do just romex on wood there as well to be honest.

I thought about the gen transfer system, but if it get's too bad I will just pull my meter and fire up direct.

The buddy that did my AC has the Wadsworth CB panel in his house, and was very happy to get mine for spares. He said people now think they are gold plated when it is time to get more.

If it was not for freinds helping me out on this project, we would be buried.

 

[gemini5362]

anyone else ever seen flex coper like that used for water heater hookups?

I have those on my water heater. I agree with the other poster that it is quite common in the DIY market. That is what lowes and home depot sell to hook up your hot water heater with. In my opinion it works very well.

 

[Highbeam]

Highbeam,
If your Zinsco breakers are in good shape they may sell for gold prices on Ebay at least they did at one time.
David B

I saved them just in case they had value. Lot's of 15s 20s, a few big ones and then the mains. It is in my pile of things that were removed from the house but not for the dump. I also have a decent safe. Maybe I'll check out ebay for Zinsco.

My water heater uses the flex copper pipes. It was a DIY change out but my last house had them too and it was new construction.