Another upgrade panel question

[gayler]

Hi all! I have a 100A disconect outside my shop. The inside panel is rated for 70A and has six 20A breakers one of which is a tandem breaker. All slots are full. The incoming line lugs are double tapped, running to a second box with two fifteen amp screw in type fuses for my air compressor. I know that double tapping is not legal, there is also many other code violations that I am going to fix as well. I at some point would like to add A/c to the building and also a 220V outlet for a meat grinder. This is the panel that I'm thinking of getting. http://www.homedepot.com/Electrical...splay?catalogId=10053&langId=-1&storeId=10051 Is this a good choice?

 

[True North]

That would work fine.

 

[Aceman]

I don't care for aluminum bussed panels.

I'd rather use Siemens or Sq D QO. If possible, I always try to use the same panel as the house unless it's aluminum bussed as well.

 

[pattenp]

Even though you say you have a 100A disconnect doesn't mean you have 100A service to the shop. Have you verified the feed size to the shop as being 100A? Also where does the feed come from? The 70A load center in the shop is what makes me question this.

 

[Charles (in GA)]

In a non climate controlled environment, the aluminum bus would be a bad choice. Even with copper bus like the Siemens, the ground and neutral bars are aluminum. In my neighborhood we have a community pool with its own meter. It is a Siemens 3R weatherproof housing and under a open shed, but the ground/neutral bar was horribly corroded and had a non-Siemens breaker used as a main and it had corroded connections at the bus stabs. We ended up replacing the entire panel, but coated the ground/neutral bar with a heavy coating of Dow 4 Dielectric Silicone grease to prevent future corrosion.

Charles

 

[gayler]

Even though you say you have a 100A disconnect doesn't mean you have 100A service to the shop. Have you verified the feed size to the shop as being 100A? Also where does the feed come from? The 70A load center in the shop is what makes me question this.

Not sure of the feed size, but it's the same as what is run to the house. The 70A load center is one that I had laying around from when my grandma's house was torn down.

 

[EOC_Jason]

You sure it wasn't pool chemicals that cause the corrosion? I've seen people put chlorine and shock containers in places they shouldn't and it corrodes the **** out of metal.

Anyhow, I would also vote for Square D QO...

 

[pattenp]

So is the 100A disconnect a breaker or just a disconnect switch? I'm just wondering where the over current protection is for the feed to the shop.

Not sure of the feed size, but it's the same as what is run to the house. The 70A load center is one that I had laying around from when my grandma's house was torn down.

 

[gayler]

So is the 100A disconnect a breaker or just a disconnect switch? I'm just wondering where the over current protection is for the feed to the shop.

Yes, The disconnect is a breaker.

 

[EOC_Jason]

If you want over current protection you have to get a "fused" disconnect, and obviously buy some fuses for it. A regular disconnect has no overcurrent protection short of melting down...