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What do you think...new breaker box

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pitterpat

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Ok, finally got time today to get most of the new breaker box/sub panel installed. What do you think? From this thread http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=179803 , I had a "real" small MLO as a sub panel. Now I have the new breaker box and was wondering what you thought of my wiring? Yes, it is not finished and the wires are connected to most of the breakers; some are too long but that will be tightened up after I get your opinions. Tomorrow I will shorten the wires that need to be shortened and make all of those square tight bends. Also the insulation for the 50 amp breaker will be stripped off like it should be.
IMG_4574.jpg


Here's what is on the breakers:
1 / 3 - 100 Amp DP Main Breaker 2 - 20 amp breaker for outlets
5 / 7 - 20 amp dp breaker 4 - 20 amp breaker for 4 gang light switch
6 - 50 amp breaker for spot welder
8 -20 amp dp breaker for outlets

Like I said, it is not done yet, will make everything cleaner tomorrow. Let me know what you think.
 
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pitterpat

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Highbeam said:
I find it easier to run the wires cleanly the first time. Wow. How do you go back and clean that without starting over?
Click to expand...

The smaller gauge wires I will leave. The other ones I will shorten to the correct length and make those tight 45 deg bends in the wire....I just want to make sure I have everything going to the correct breakers and correctly.

I don't want to cut the wire too short before I / you guys don't find some glaring mistake.
 
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pitterpat

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At least I posted a better picture this time. LOL

Give a girl a break, this is my first time wiring a breaker panel...I've added breakers to panels but never wired the entire panel. Thanks!
 
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pitterpat

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RECox286 said:
There are two thoughts to wiring:

A. neatness counts

B. neatness doesn't count

I've heard both arguments from electricians. (I prefer "A")

Uncle Bob
Click to expand...

Yes, I understand....I'll make it clean it up tomorrow...just trying to make sure that technically I have it right.

Got biting cold about 5 pm today...had to stop.
 
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Charles (in GA)

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Is the neutral bar on the right INSULATED From the box with plastic mounting hardware? hard to tell in the pic. I can see the ground bar on the left with the strap running across under the stabs to the right where it ends at a green screw in the box back, but cannot tell about the RH neutral bar.

Charles
 
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pitterpat

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Speedy Petey said:
PLEASE!!!! Re-route that ground at the bottom. The one about 1/2" from the live breaker stab.
Click to expand...

One of my clean-up things...it goes to the 50 amp breaker and I don't have it on and I don't have it hooked up yet....I have to wire nut an extension wire to it.
 
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pitterpat

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Charles (in GA) said:
Is the neutral bar on the right INSULATED From the box with plastic mounting hardware? hard to tell in the pic. I can see the ground bar on the left with the strap running across under the stabs to the right where it ends at a green screw in the box back, but cannot tell about the RH neutral bar.

Charles
Click to expand...

Neutral bar is the way it came from the factory...YES. The only change I did was unbond the neutral from the box since it is a subpanel now.
 
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pitterpat

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Aceman said:
As soon as you make it look like this, you're good to go. :)

http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showpost.php?p=1843552&postcount=39

Here's a thread with a bunch of pics:

http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=122917&highlight=pics
Click to expand...

Ace, it will be hard to get it to look like yours since my neutral and ground bars are on the outsides of the box and yours are next to the breakers....I wish mine were like yours. With where my neu & grnd bars are it makes it tight b/w the breakers and the n & grnd bars.... but I will try.
 
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Charles (in GA)

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Don't bend the wires with needle nose or pliers, use your fingers, make the bends smooth and rounded. Its an acquired art, no doubt about it.

Workmanship counts, its in the code that work is to be done in a "workman like manner" Only time I've ever had to show a full panel and other work to an inspector, was a panel and service replacement on my Dad's 1956 house. Inspector raved about the neat panel and mentioned the requirement in the code for "workmanlike manner"

110.12 Mechanical Execution of Work. Electrical equipment
shall be installed in a neat and workmanlike manner.

Informational Note: Accepted industry practices are described
in ANSI/NECA 1-2006, Standard Practices for
Good Workmanship in Electrical Contracting, and other
ANSI-approved installation standards
 
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pmilin

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What is that white wire going to the breaker. If it is indeed a hot wire to an outlet, you should wrap black or red tape around it so it's clear what purpose it serves. The electricity doesn't care about the color but someone working in the panel in the future might.
 
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zmaxmotorsports

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Oh my!:headscrat
Im going to California next week to do an install and have a little vacation till the 6th,But feel free to send me a plane ticket anytime after that and feed me and supply the mountain dew and we'll straighten it right out for ya.:lol:
 
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Ironhorse

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Looks OK...Just a few things...loose the Romex markers, and zip ties...no need to mark your grounds just mark the pannel marker...but first time...not bad at all...
 
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Norcal

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Charles (in GA) said:
Don't bend the wires with needle nose or pliers, use your fingers, make the bends smooth and rounded. Its an acquired art, no doubt about it.

Workmanship counts, its in the code that work is to be done in a "workman like manner" Only time I've ever had to show a full panel and other work to an inspector, was a panel and service replacement on my Dad's 1956 house. Inspector raved about the neat panel and mentioned the requirement in the code for "workmanlike manner"

110.12 Mechanical Execution of Work. Electrical equipment
shall be installed in a neat and workmanlike manner.

Informational Note: Accepted industry practices are described
in ANSI/NECA 1-2006, Standard Practices for
Good Workmanship in Electrical Contracting, and other
ANSI-approved installation standards
Click to expand...

That is pretty much unenforcible though, too vague, the grounding conductor going across the lower part of the interior is a line to ground fault waiting to happen, but neatness does count, it means the installer cares.
 
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89MustangGX

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pitterpat said:
OK....any progress? Does it look better?ImageUploadedByTapatalk1358634759.344973.jpg
Click to expand...

Definitely looks better to me.

I won't sugarcoat anything and say it looks like a seasoned Pro did the work, but I think it's easy for a lot of guys to forget the skills they have acquired over the years and how good they really are.

I think you could do a little better by shortening some wires more and/or running more straight lines for a better look. It does look better that a LOT of other panels I have seen.

I encourage you to keep trying until you are satisfied. When you are satisfied, be proud of your work.

Adam
 
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pitterpat

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89MustangGX said:
Definitely looks better to me.

I won't sugarcoat anything and say it looks like a seasoned Pro did the work, but I think it's easy for a lot of guys to forget the skills they have acquired over the years and how good they really are.

I think you could do a little better by shortening some wires more and/or running more straight lines for a better look. It does look better that a LOT of other panels I have seen.

I encourage you to keep trying until you are satisfied. When you are satisfied, be proud of your work.

Adam
Click to expand...

Thanks Adam.
A little concerned about shortening the 4 ga or the 50 amp wire.....in case I have to move it up or something.....but I will think about and will run more straight lines. Thanks again.
 
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dimarcelli

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In my opinion if you at least do right angles and follow the outside of the case, you're miles ahead of typical diy'ers. I've seen boxes that look like someone threw spaghetti against the wall and called it a day. To me, if an electrician takes the time to neatly install his breakers, it says a lot about his overall attitude for the job. I'll feel much more confident about the rest of the system.
 
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pitterpat

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dimarcelli said:
In my opinion if you at least do right angles and follow the outside of the case, you're miles ahead of typical diy'ers. I've seen boxes that look like someone threw spaghetti against the wall and called it a day. To me, if an electrician takes the time to neatly install his breakers, it says a lot about his overall attitude for the job. I'll feel much more confident about the rest of the system.
Click to expand...

Learning, on this box the bus bars are on the outside of the box and the breakers are in the middle.....wish bus bars were in the middle too!
 
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pattenp

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I know it's a work in progress but any knock-outs that are removed and not used need to be fill with a knock-out seal.
 
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Lotek

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When my brother-the-electrician and I relocated and upgraded the main panel to 200amps, he made a point of making everything look neat and squared away, when the inspector came out, knowing it was a diy job, he took one look at the panel and his whole attitude changed. Only thing he called me on was a missing bushing in a junction box. He didn't go over everything with a fine tooth comb as I was led to expect since it was diy. Your second pic is getting there:thumbup:, the only opinion that counts is the inspector though.:bowdown:
 
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