Please check my progress on new panel install

[hunterguy86]

Y'all have been more than helpful at getting me to this point on my shop electrical. I have pulled 3/3/3/8 THWN from the main power pole to my shop in pvc conduit. I have also driven two ground rods, 8' apart and connected them to the panel with #6 solid copper. I have installed two ground bars in the panel as well. Neutral is not bonded. I have also started pulling some circuits but have more to add. Just wanted to throw up some progress pictures to make sure I'm on the right track. Now would be a good time to fix things if I missed anything.

Thanks.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[teamo]

Looks very good. The only thing I might have done is mark the #3 neutral conductor with white tape.

 

[hunterguy86]

I did phase tape it where it comes through the wall, but you're right, I should phase tape it up a little higher. I'll do that today


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[hunterguy86]

After I have all the circuits run in the panel, can the hots be grouped together and zip tired to tidy it up a bit, and do the same with the neutrals?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Todd.Brock]

I haven't ever zip tied them, just grouped them together and put clean 90 bends where they enter the bar or breaker. Is there some kind of main disconnect ? I might just not be seeing it.

 

[Miller6386]

Yes can can clean it up with zip ties. And absolutely need to get the neutral marked clearly.

Looks good! I like how you are taking the time to label in the panel. How are you labeling at the other end? It's always helpful to clearly label the outlet end with panel and breaker number. I'm sure you are only doing one panel so panel number isn't as important unless there is a chance of expansion later on.

Sent from my SM-N910V using Tapatalk

 

[Cmreschke]

I haven't ever zip tied them, just grouped them together and put clean 90 bends where they enter the bar or breaker. Is there some kind of main disconnect ? I might just not be seeing it.

Yeah its tough to see but it is a main breaker panel.

 

[Cmreschke]

Zip ties or scraps of conductor wrapped around your bundles works too.

 

[ambenz]

Wasn't there a time when we use to keep the wires long just in case you wanted to move the breaker to the bottom of the panel or to the other side of the box?
I really love the idea of clearly labeling the wires...awesome...wish all electricians would take the time.
Also, I like the idea of pulling poly twine if you ever decide to use conduit instead of BX when routing power, having that pre-installed twine can be a time saver and make future jobs easier when you need to add wires to existing conduit.
Don't forget to vacuum the bottom of the box before installing the cover... looking good!

 

[zmaxmotorsports]

Looks very good. The only thing I might have done is mark the #3 neutral conductor with white tape.

 

[Git]

Wasn't there a time when we use to keep the wires long just in case you wanted to move the breaker to the bottom of the panel or to the other side of the box?

That is what I thought also - if the wire comes in at the top for example, you run it all the way down to the bottom most breaker and then back up to the breaker your going to use

Looks good though

 

[hunterguy86]

Yes can can clean it up with zip ties. And absolutely need to get the neutral marked clearly.

Looks good! I like how you are taking the time to label in the panel. How are you labeling at the other end? It's always helpful to clearly label the outlet end with panel and breaker number. I'm sure you are only doing one panel so panel number isn't as important unless there is a chance of expansion later on.

Sent from my SM-N910V using Tapatalk

I hadn't thought of labeling the other end. Suggestions on a clean way to do that?

Additional phase tape has been applied.

Thanks for the comments and suggestions. This is the second time I've ever wired a panel of this size.

I did wire some other projects but was assisted by my father in law. This is my first solo job of this magnitude.

 

[Miller6386]

I hadn't thought of labeling the other end. Suggestions on a clean way to do that?

Additional phase tape has been applied.

Thanks for the comments and suggestions. This is the second time I've ever wired a panel of this size.

I did wire some other projects but was assisted by my father in law. This is my first solo job of this magnitude.

I usually use the label books and just label the wires with the breaker number or even the outlet cover. Makes it very nice if you need to work on the outlet on that circuit.

Sent from my SM-N910V using Tapatalk

 

[Cmreschke]

I would just label the outlet cover with a label from the dymo label maker. Pretty inexpensive in the grand scheme of things. Under 30 dollars. Or you could just draw up a schematic and leave it at the panel legend.

 

[Cmreschke]

That is what I thought also - if the wire comes in at the top for example, you run it all the way down to the bottom most breaker and then back up to the breaker your going to use

Looks good though

See I'm not a fan of that. If I need to move a ckt I **** splice and extend the wire to where I need it. I personally think that leaving a giant loop for just in case is a mess waiting to happen.

 

[hunterguy86]

I'm hoping I'll never have to move a breaker. This panel is a 40 space 80 circuit. I hope that's way more than enough for my little 24x30 one guy shop.

I will probably label the outlet covers per yalls suggestions.

Thanks again for the help y'all.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[manwithtools]

That is what I thought also - if the wire comes in at the top for example, you run it all the way down to the bottom most breaker and then back up to the breaker your going to use

Looks good though

Why would we need to do that? I see no reason to ever move a wire to another breaker in a modern panel with plenty of breakers. If you need to add a circuit, add a new breaker and wire to it.

I'm sure someone will have a reason that is good practice. If so, let them sort out the mess in the panel.

 

[PaulyC]

do you have a main disconnect anywhere? if you add another breaker youll be over the limit and need a main breaker or disconnect.

 

[hunterguy86]

do you have a main disconnect anywhere? if you add another breaker youll be over the limit and need a main breaker or disconnect.

This panel has a main breaker in it. It's at the bottom of the panel, where the feeders come in.

 

[cbogg]

Is this going to be inspected? If so you might need to add some afci or gfci protection per NEC. Those look like regular breakers, might end up being cheaper just to use gfci at the first outlet in a run, but for cleanliness you might want to do it at the panel. That looks like a square d panel with the plug on neutral bus so you could just use the neutrals right at the breaker and make it nice and clean.

 

[Norcal]

Is this going to be inspected? If so you might need to add some afci or gfci protection per NEC. Those look like regular breakers, might end up being cheaper just to use gfci at the first outlet in a run, but for cleanliness you might want to do it at the panel. That looks like a square d panel with the plug on neutral bus so you could just use the neutrals right at the breaker and make it nice and clean.

AFCI not required.

 

[hunterguy86]

Is this going to be inspected? If so you might need to add some afci or gfci protection per NEC. Those look like regular breakers, might end up being cheaper just to use gfci at the first outlet in a run, but for cleanliness you might want to do it at the panel. That looks like a square d panel with the plug on neutral bus so you could just use the neutrals right at the breaker and make it nice and clean.

No permits or inspection required in this instance. Still want to do it right though.

It is a square d homeline panel. The plug on neutral looks nifty.

I think I will change out the north wall breaker for a gfci unit since that one has the potential for extension cords to go outside the shop. The rest will be regular breakers.

Once I get my carport built off the south wall, I plan on installing two drop cords that will go to battery tenders on my boat and tractor. I think those will be on gfci as well.

 

[Aquamoose]

I've done the same thing you're doing with a 200a panel. At the outlets, I took a regular sharpie and numbered the outlets to correspond to the breaker slot it's connected to.

Another thought to consider, you may want to run two 20a circuits to each double outlets (always use opposing 120's) to greatly reduce overloading a circuit.

Example:

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Ole Slewfoot]

If you put exterior plugs in now, later you will not wish you were running cords out the side of the shop, I promise.

 

[PaulyC]

This panel has a main breaker in it. It's at the bottom of the panel, where the feeders come in.

heh, thats what i get for not looking very closely