Evaluating a shop panel

[930dreamer]

This is the shop panel in the shop I'm buying this week. The disconnect on the pole is 200 amps. This looks like a mess and mounted up side down?

 

[astroracer]

No inspection prior to sale? If it's not to code it should be fixed before the sale can go thru.
Get an estimate to have it rewired correctly and deduct that from purchase price?
Mark

 

[930dreamer]

I have an electrician coming out to have a look. I'm sure we'll replace with a new panel.

 

[sreeb]

Upside down is probably fine. If you have the cover, there should be information on the inside of the door. If you don't you will be replacing the box anyway.

Is the disconnect fused? If so, what size fuses?

Here in CA, you couldn't just poke the wires through the knockouts, and need to secure the wires. Running wire in front of the 2x4 in an exposed location would be a problem.

But you live in TX with less burdensome regulation so maybe it is OK there?

I think you suspect that you will be replacing that box and you are probably right.

 

[930dreamer]

Looks like it doesn't have a main disconnect breaker in the panel.

 

[Bert_]

Looks like mess. I'd be going though ALL the electrical devices in the building. If that's what the panel looks like the rest can't be much better.

 

[930dreamer]

^^^ You got that right.

 

[tarmy]

There is so many things wrong with that panel...that planning on starting over would be my plan...Hell, that panel frame not being hot already is amazing...

 

[Jim greengo]

Looks right side up in picture to me anyway,could definitely use some cleaning up though.

 

[pattenp]

There is no upside or downside to the panel. It's just an installers preference as to how it's hung. With the feed coming in from the bottom it would have made a cleaner install to be turned with the main lugs to the bottom and not have the large cables running in the gutters. But the up or down is the least troubling of the issues with that panel install.

 

[wyliesdiesels]

OMGosh what a mess

The feeder wires arent in conduit.

No cable connectors on the knockouts

No main breaker even though theres more than 6 handles

Cordage used as building wire

Is the neutral bar bonded?

Are there grounding electrodes?

The branch circuits are surely a mess as well.

 

[txvwnut]

The only thing that panel is missing is a dead lizard. What a mess!

 

[The Cobbler]

and the installer( used loosely) says, " I don't need no electrician, it works perfect "

 

[Norcal]

Rip it out and start over, the only way to fix it.

 

[PWC Repair]

Holy hell!! I'm no electrician and my shop panel looks light years better than that.

 

[930dreamer]

This will be my first order of business, we're closing tomorrow.

 

[wyliesdiesels]

This will be my first order of business, we're closing tomorrow.

did you ask for discounted price due to electrical?

 

[930dreamer]

40'x80' shop, 4 acres and a old house $56K.

 

[mm08822]

40'x80' shop, 4 acres and a old house $56K.

Seems like shop has much of the wiring exposed for easy inspection/rework. You may be able to salvage most electrical materials and re-install everything properly.

How bad is the house?

 

[meathooker]

40'x80' shop, 4 acres and a old house $56K.

That is amazing. Glwp

 

[930dreamer]

I saved just under $30K from their asking price. This was a year of watching and waiting. One 200 amp service goes to the shop and I have another spare 200 amp on the same pole going nowhere(old mobile home). The old house has a meter also, not sure its size yet.