How did you "hide" your breaker panel? Post your pics here.

fergie_1977 · Oct 5, 2010

If you closed in (hide) your breaker panel...post a pic here.
As usual, I'm coming to u fine folks for valuable input.
I'm looking at replacing the old subpanel in my 24x24 garage.
I'm closing in the walls with OSB (chipboard). I will mount the new panel where the old one is and clean up a lot of terrible terminations.
I want to close in the panel and have it out of sight.
Of course it has to be easily accessible.
Should I just build a 2x4 box frame around it and slap some doors on?
Post your pics here so we can discuss.
Thanks everybody!
Fergie :beer:

Ford12508 · Oct 5, 2010

Make something so it matches the near by cabinets or your tool box. I dont have any pictures and am too lazy to take any, but in my basement, the box is covered with a wood that matches a shelf and the pool table. The door is 1" of molding that has stained glass on the inside. It really looks good, but it costed a decent amount also for the stained glass.

trbomax · Oct 5, 2010

Code says you cannot do that. The panel must have (I believe) 3 feet of clear and open space in front of it.

tfi racing · Oct 5, 2010

trbomax said:
Code says you cannot do that. The panel must have (I believe) 3 feet of clear and open space in front of it.

Really?As long as the decorative door swings open 90 degrees and does not impede the removal of the panel cover in any way,it is permissable,at least on this side of the border.

79firebird · Oct 5, 2010

Most people i know just put a poster on the panel if it has a cover for it

Norcal · Oct 5, 2010

Please note that the OP is in Canada, the CEC has many rules that differ from the NEC, 1 difference is that under the NEC a horizontally mounted panel is prohibited, in Canada it is quite common to do so because of another rule......

Aceman · Oct 6, 2010

fergie_1977 said:
If you closed in (hide) your breaker panel...post a pic here.
As usual, I'm coming to u fine folks for valuable input.
I'm looking at replacing the old subpanel in my 24x24 garage.
I'm closing in the walls with OSB (chipboard). I will mount the new panel where the old one is and clean up a lot of terrible terminations.
I want to close in the panel and have it out of sight.
Of course it has to be easily accessible.
Should I just build a 2x4 box frame around it and slap some doors on?
Post your pics here so we can discuss.
Thanks everybody!
Fergie

I can understand trying to hide a panel in a home, but in a shop?? Are doors really going to look any better than just painting the panel cover to match??

thdewey · Oct 6, 2010

Hide.....Really.
Yesterday, I found something proped over the panel and I thought "What the hell was I thinking... Remember that your panel box is a piece of SAFETY EQUIPMENT. DO NOT HIDE IT!!!! If you are getting shocked, someone (who might not be familiar with your shop) will need to find it quick.

Now saying that, you can coordinate the color/design to better blend in in a pleasing way. You could make another outer door that matches as described above but make it oversized and make sure it won't impeed access to the breakers.

Good luck and please post a picture of your finished product.

sberry · Oct 6, 2010

I have a dry erase board covering the one in my office, wall space is at a premium.

reinhardt · Oct 6, 2010

being in a shop, i would recommend painting it w/ chalkboard paint. it's metal so u can stick magnets to it, and w/ the chalkboard paint you can write notes on it. best of all, it isn't hidden so it's easily accessible.

that's what i would do anyways.

haugy · Oct 6, 2010

How do you "hide" your breaker panel?

Turn off the lights.

652plus2 · Oct 6, 2010

I did this with mine...

The other one too...

frank_c · Oct 6, 2010

trbomax said:
Code says you cannot do that. The panel must have (I believe) 3 feet of clear and open space in front of it.

that sounds like an OSHA thing. i know all the panels at work are marked with the three-foot clearance warning.

haugy · Oct 6, 2010

652plus2 said:
I did this with mine...

The other one too...

Permission to steal idea? :beer:

Norcal · Oct 6, 2010

frank_c said:
that sounds like an OSHA thing. i know all the panels at work are marked with the three-foot clearance warning.

It's a NEC thing...

trbomax · Oct 6, 2010

Maybe its just a michigan thing. I just looked thru all my building stuff and couldnt find it,But I remember a conversation about it with the inspecterguy.He said I couldnt put a bench in front of it either and very adimant about the "clear space" thing.

sselander · Oct 6, 2010

Here in CT, we wanted to put the panel in the laundry room on the 2nd floor for our new home

We were told the code would not allow it (due to clearances), so it is now in the hallway

monstergarage87 · Oct 6, 2010

Heres mine... built a little box around it out of bead board to hide the wires and painted it the same color. Blends right in but very easy to access everything since the panel cover holds everything on. Cover pops off and the panel slides off.

Stuart in MN · Oct 6, 2010

trbomax said:
Maybe its just a michigan thing. I just looked thru all my building stuff and couldnt find it,But I remember a conversation about it with the inspecterguy.He said I couldnt put a bench in front of it either and very adimant about the "clear space" thing.

Yes, you need clear working space in front of the panel, but something like a door or a picture or a mirror on hinges that will open up fully against the wall should be okay as it won't obstruct that working space. It's possible that some inspectors won't allow it, and it's also a reasonable argument that the panel shouldn't be hard to find in the event someone needs to find it right away.

If it were me I'd leave it as is, or maybe just paint the front cover of the panel to suit the decor of the room.

652plus2 · Oct 6, 2010

haugy said:
Permission to steal idea?

Permission granted. Krylon spray bombs and stickers from ebay...

oldgoaly · Oct 6, 2010

I built a room for my compressor around the main electrical panel, I have clearance and a quieter shop can't seem to find a pic of the wall of room???

jabberwoki · Oct 6, 2010

By making it art!

Norcal · Oct 6, 2010

jabberwoki said:
By making it art!

That panel is a FPE Federal Pacific Electric,since they have a reputation for failing to trip on a overload so the lightning on the the panel is appropriate. :shocking:

jabberwoki · Oct 6, 2010

Norcal said:
That panel is a FPE Federal Pacific Electric,since they have a reputation for failing to trip on a overload so the lightning on the the panel is appropriate.

Yeh it`s as old as the house but i`m going to do the same in the shop.

1Garageman · Oct 7, 2010

jabberwoki said:
By making it art!

That is pretty neat! :beer:

pman1505 · Oct 7, 2010

I installed the fuse box in the bathroom of the garage.

slip knot · Oct 7, 2010

Hung a mirror over mine. It's mounted just to the right of the sink so it's functional as well as hiding the panel.

Norcal · Oct 8, 2010

pman1505 said:
I installed the fuse box in the bathroom of the garage.

Panels are prohibited in dwelling bathrooms by the NEC, so unless it's a commercial garage it's not a legal install.

tfi racing · Oct 8, 2010

Norcal said:
Panels are prohibited in dwelling bathrooms by the NEC, so unless it's a commercial garage it's not a legal install.

What a slack code-around these parts they aren't allowed in any bathroom! :thumbup:

dipper · Oct 8, 2010

Why hide it? I love looking at clean, planned out installations. Plumbing & electrical can be an art if it's done neatly.

jvitez · Oct 8, 2010

Very creative ideas gents. Good stuff.

Personally, I agree with dipper. I like the industrial look. It's what I'm going to do with my garage.

Charles (in GA) · Oct 8, 2010

I'm quite proud of my panel installation and show it off to anyone who will look :bounce:

Its a safety feature, kinda like fire extinguishers. You want anyone who comes in there to be able to locate the panel without delay or issue. I have a main breaker in the disconnect outside and NO main breaker in the panel inside, so you really need to know where the main breaker is too.

I cannot see hiding it. NEC says you have to have the area from the face of the panel, outward for 36 inches and a width of 30 inches, and a height of 2 meters, clear of anything. You are allowed to have a door swing open and obscure it, so long as the door can be closed and allow access to it....... provided that it is not the only man door access to the room or area. The panel does not have to be centered in the 30 inches, but must be fully withing the 30 inches of width.

Charles

mmhouse · Oct 8, 2010

dipper said:
Why hide it? I love looking at clean, planned out installations. Plumbing & electrical can be an art if it's done neatly.

That's funny. Mine is in exactly the same spot with relation to my garage door and I didn't hide it either...really no need to as it's pretty much out of the way.

Cryptic1911 · Oct 10, 2010

LOL.. I gotta steal this too! Great idea :bowdown:

652plus2 said:
I did this with mine...

The other one too...

quick86 · Oct 19, 2010

LMFAO! I was thinking yesterday how to hide the breaker in the garage of the house I am buying and thought ... "You know... Off set it with a really bright color and a hazmat or nuclear waste logo..."

Perfect!

ecotec · Oct 19, 2010

Norcal said:
That panel is a FPE Federal Pacific Electric,since they have a reputation for failing to trip on a overload so the lightning on the the panel is appropriate.

in my local, my brothers call them "Federal Fireplace".

Rosco · Oct 19, 2010

652plus2 said:
I did this with mine...

The other one too...

Now that is an awesome idea. Especially if someone else needs to readily identify the panel in an emergency. Hope you dont mind if I copy a version of it...............

DzNuts · Oct 19, 2010

Funny how on 'Holme on Homes' he finished a garage for a guy and he covered the panel with a cabinet. Pretty sure when you opened the cabinet the breaker was right there, but it might prove that it's legal to cover it with something as long as it doesn't have to be 'moved' or 'removed'. Just hidden behind a door would be alright.
This is only food for thought! I'm not an electrical inspector or even a sparky!

shopnut · Oct 19, 2010

I chose to just make mine go just a little better with the rest of the color scheme in the shop. I still like to have it readily accessible, especially now while I'm still finishing off the place and needing to turn circuits off/on.

Do yourself a favor and spent a little time INSIDE the panel too. Proper labelling right next to the breaker is much easier to deal with...

HarleyArley · Oct 19, 2010

Mine was a mess with "surface run wiring outside the wall cavity and running in front of the header through the ceiling. Here's a before and after picture.

As to the "you can't do that" crowd... its mine, so forgive me if I do whatever the hell I please.

How did you "hide" your breaker panel? Post your pics here.

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