Previous Owner Wiring

[Maticuno]

The previous owner of my place fancied himself a handyman, and also ran a water and mold cleanup business so he had access to a lot of used parts. The 50A sub panel he installed for the shop is...well...a picture is worth a thousand words.

The labeling is mine since it wasn't labeled in any way. The breakers that aren't labeled aren't wired to anything. Yes, those are three phase breakers installed for the compressor and welder 220V slots. I know the whole thing needs to be redone, but what I'd like some input on is what sub panel is the most ideal. I'd like to reuse the existing Square D breakers as much as possible, so that leads me to thinking this panel would work. I think the hardest part is going to be getting all of the conduits terminated in the smaller box.

 

[wyliesdiesels]

How is the shop powered? From a house, own service,...?

If its a sub panel off of a main service on another building, then u will need a main breaker if u have more than 6 breaker handles...

The new panel is a Q0 and so is the breakers so no problem there...

 

[Norcal]

What's with the 50A single pole breaker? The one without the Visi-Trip® window, Eaton and Siemens do make UL classified breakers for QO load centers, but 30, or 50A single pole breaker raises a red flag with me.

 

[Maticuno]

50A breaker off the house running over to the shop, distance of about 70 feet. I will have exactly 6 breaker handles.

 

[Maticuno]

What's with the 50A single pole breaker? The one without the Visi-Trip® window, Eaton and Siemens do make UL classified breakers for QO load centers, but 30, or 50A single pole breaker raises a red flag with me.

The whole thing is red flags. That 50A single pole isn't connected to anything. What I believe happened is this panel was taken from a home or business that had water or flood damage and he just repurposed it, as is, to work in the shop. The actual panel main at the top is not connected to anything and I believe is frozen in the on position. The functioning panel supply is the 50A double that I labeled with Sharpie.

 

[justsam]

Since you are going to the trouble of re-doing it, it seems as if it would make sense to allow room for growth, beyond six (6) breaker handles.

This could be done with a panel that has a main, or use a panel with enough slots to allow a "backfeed" breaker .

 

[wyliesdiesels]

What's with the 50A single pole breaker? The one without the Visi-Trip® window, Eaton and Siemens do make UL classified breakers for QO load centers, but 30, or 50A single pole breaker raises a red flag with me.

Its definitely not a Q0...

The whole thing is red flags. That 50A single pole isn't connected to anything. What I believe happened is this panel was taken from a home or business that had water or flood damage and he just repurposed it, as is, to work in the shop. The actual panel main at the top is not connected to anything and I believe is frozen in the on position. The functioning panel supply is the 50A double that I labeled with Sharpie.

If this panel and breakers were in a flood, i would 86 the whole thing including the breakers. Not worth risking having issues down the road! Who knows if the breakers even work properly!

 

[Maticuno]

Since you are going to the trouble of re-doing it, it seems as if it would make sense to allow room for growth, beyond six (6) breaker handles.

This could be done with a panel that has a main, or use a panel with enough slots to allow a "backfeed" breaker .

I understand what you're saying, but I'm already pushing the 50A supply that's coming from the house main. Instead of putting in a panel with more spaces, I'd rather upgrade the supply wiring. For 50A 220V over 70 feet, I'm pretty sure it needs to be 6AWG, and I'm pretty sure it is only 8AWG feeding this sub. If it was a matter of just pulling the thicker wire I'd probably spring for it, but I don't see any way of squeezing all that 6AWG through the existing 3/4" conduit.

 

[wyliesdiesels]

I understand what you're saying, but I'm already pushing the 50A supply that's coming from the house main. Instead of putting in a panel with more spaces, I'd rather upgrade the supply wiring. For 50A 220V over 70 feet, I'm pretty sure it needs to be 6AWG, and I'm pretty sure it is only 8AWG feeding this sub. If it was a matter of just pulling the thicker wire I'd probably spring for it, but I don't see any way of squeezing all that 6AWG through the existing 3/4" conduit.

not sure how u came up with those figures but its not right. Doing the VD calcs, #8 CU wire (THWN not NM-b) would be more than adequte for 50a @ 70'...

BTW- upgrading older wiring can throw u some curves. New feeders to subpanels are required to be 4-wire. And if this is in a detached building, then u will need grounding electrodes as well if u dont have them already.

Is the feeder 3 or 4-wire?

Also, if u reuse this panel(I strongly suggest u replace EVERYTHING), u will need to make sure that the neutral bar is isolated and all grounds are on the ground bar!

Pulling 3 #6s and a #10 through 3/4" will be a bare but is doable. Fill would be about 34%...

I would put in new conduit if possible.

U said youre pushing the 50a supply but havent listed your equipment...so what equipment do u have?

 

[madosta]

What kind of goodies lie within the panel?

 

[wyliesdiesels]

What kind of goodies lie within the panel?

No kidding!!