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Do LB covers have to be accessible?

checkthisout

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Do these covers have to be accessible wherever they are located even if they are being used in place of normal 90 degree turns for clearance reasons?

They will be used to pull about 4 feet of wire between the breaker panel and meter box and then I want to cover them up with sheetrock, is that ok?
 
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checkthisout

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No.

Try using a cable wiring method instead of conduit if you need the flexibility.

What do you mean?

This is going to be used to run 4-0*4-0*-2-0 from the meter to the panel. These wires have to be in rigid conduit, correct?

An electrician is coming out next week but I want to have everything prepped so that I don't have to spend any more than I have to.

I might be able to swing it with two 45's and two 90's, is that what I must do?

Any suggestions?
 

rockwithjason

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you cannot bury any box or condolette covers in sheet rock, they all have to be accessible. the wire doesn't have to be in ridgid, it can be in emt, imc and in some cases pvc.
 

tfi racing

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All covers must be accessible,a removable panel would possibly be ok,but it sounds like you are trying to do this the hard way.Rigid steel conduit would only be necessary if the panel is more than ten feet from the meter,all the other methods posted here would be acceptable,however your local rules may vary.
 
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Torque1st

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If in doubt let the electrician do it. If he has to remove or fix what you have done it will cost you a lot more. The electrician may cost $$/hr but he will have the tools and knowledge to do the job quickly and professionally.
 
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checkthisout

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All covers must be accessible,a removable panel would possibly be ok,but it sounds like you are trying to do this the hard way.Rigid steel conduit would only be necessary if the panel is more than ten feet from the meter,all the other methods posted here would be acceptable,however your local rules may vary.

This is the kind of stuff that drives me bonkers on projects like this. Endless trips to Home Depot, Internet being out for a week killing my research and limited time off work. After my experience with the building contractor, sub that put up the building and loser engineers that drew up the prints, I just don't want to spend anymore money paying people to do the job that don't really care about their work, that is why I am on here.

I originally hired this out to an electrician who I was going to pay good money to do the work. When the old fart from the electrical company came out to pull the fuse at the transformer, he basically scolded the electrician and pointed out that the electricians plan was a joke and refused to turn off the power in order for him to even start work. So that led me to this.

So let me start back at square 1. If I want to conceal the wiring from a flush-mount 320 amp meter base over to a 200 amp main breaker panel, how do I do it? Is it even possible?

In order to make 2" 90 degree sweeps fit, you have to make an oblong hole in the wall because the bend falls right on the stud.

I used this method make a run in the opposite direction to a 200 AMP switch that goes to the house. I used the center hole in the bottom of the meter panel for that, so it's already taken. Using the center hole allowed the straight part of the 90 to fall right at the stud so no hole enlargement was necessary.


Now, I would like to do the same thing but since the center hole is already taken, I am limited on options.

Perhaps I should take a picture?

The other solution that I came up with that would work is use a side exit hole in the meter panel, put a 90 there pointing up, hook it two 45's which would move it back the opposite direction, then a 90, go through the adjacent stud, and another 90 into the top of the breaker box.

All my solutions just seem so unprofessional and with the building bust, there just aren't any installations I can reference. In retrospect, it would have been a lot easier had I had I not chosen to flush-mount the meter box.
 
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nate379

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Can you take pictures of what you are trying to do? The meter is on the outside and the breaker panel on the inside right?

Run your wire to it and be done. What reason would you put the wire running in the wall in conduit?
 

abnorm

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If you have room......You can always punch a new hole in the cabinet to run your conduit in the direction you want........

Greenlee slug buster.......
 

Aceman

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Endless trips to Home Depot, Internet being out for a week killing my research and limited time off work.

I thought this was SOP for diy'ers?

I originally hired this out to an electrician who I was going to pay good money to do the work. When the old fart from the electrical company came out to pull the fuse at the transformer, he basically scolded the electrician and pointed out that the electricians plan was a joke and refused to turn off the power in order for him to even start work. So that led me to this.

I'll give you a hint, that guy wasn't an electrician. You have to truly be an idiot to have a power co. linemen tell you how to do your job better than you can. I don't understand how folks hire people like this?? Does anybody check references, licensing, bonded, etc??

Perhaps I should take a picture?

Several, from the outside of the building and inside showing the framing as well as the garage panel.
 
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checkthisout

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The "idiot" was from a well-known, long time in business, local, reputable company.

So was the Pole Barn Builder and Engineer.

I promise, I do my homework before I hire people. :) Including checking L&I for licensing, bonding and any outstanding judgements etc.

And I promise you, I am a technically adept person but without information I cannot make informed decisions.

Anyways, found a new electrician today and bartered like hell. His solution?

Flip the damn breaker box over so you just run straight out of one the knock-outs over to the box. The Main Breaker for the panel now sits on the bottom instead of on the top. This is the kind of **** that I didn't even know you could do so I never even considered it as a solution. :beer:


My current service is 200 amp for my Mobile Home. The old box-on-a-pole is being eliminated with new wire coming from the 320 amp panel in the new garage. This requires a 200 AMP breaker at the meter and then a knife switch or another breaker within 30 feet of the mobile home. Ordinary people like me just don't know that.
 
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walrus

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Flip the damn breaker box over so you just run straight out of one the knock-outs over to the box. The Main Breaker for the panel now sits on the bottom instead of on the top. This is the kind of **** that I didn't even know you could do so I never even considered it as a solution. :beer:.

Some panels you can do that to, some you can't.
 
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