Pole barn panel question

[glennm]

Hi
I have mouse damage to the feed for the panel in my pole barn. I can’t pull any more wire and need to make this safe. I could lower the box a foot or so but it is a bit close to a water source if I do that. I’m wondering if it is ok to splice the wire in a waterproof box and run a new wire to the box (in conduit do course)? I have it taped up for now but don’t feel this is a very good fix

 

[Norcal]

Open knockouts on that FPE, or Federal Pioneer panel? That the normal way they get in & that needs to be addressed to prevent it from happening again. Put a J-box below & splice in a new section of cable, & get rid of that POS panel too.

 

[glennm]

Yes, there were open knockouts I have addressed that now. Is a plastic 4x4 box fine? What would you use for the splice? It is 8AWG 3

 

[alfredeneuman]

I see what appears to be SO cord hooked up to a breaker. The ground wire is not connected.
What's up with that?

 

[wyliesdiesels]

Normally I’d say tape it up but.... So many questions here:

Is this feeder wire running underground? It looks like its black NM-b which is not permitted underground.

The previously mentioned SO cord is not kosher and seeing as how this is an FPE panel, might as well scrap the whole thing and start over.

 

[glennm]

The wire is buried and runs from the house. I would say 300’. It is what you see in the photo and has been in use for around 30 years. The ground is connected now, it’s a short feed to a 5 HP compressor that is now dead. I can scrap that and would like to make everything safe. I can’t pull any more wire but putting in a junction box and new panel is fine.

 

[wyliesdiesels]

The wire is buried and runs from the house. I would say 300’. It is what you see in the photo and has been in use for around 30 years. The ground is connected now, it’s a short feed to a 5 HP compressor that is now dead. I can scrap that and would like to make everything safe. I can’t pull any more wire but putting in a junction box and new panel is fine.

Aww youre north of the border

NMWU90 is permitted underground.

Didnt realize youre in canada.

Helps to put your location in your profile.

At this point, Ill be a spectator as i dont know canadian code...

 

[glennm]

I took Norcal’s advice and swapped out the panel. To fix the wiring issue I dropped the panel about a foot and shortened the damaged wire . Feel much better about this now. What do you guys think about the rest of the wiring? It’s all sound, no damage, but I wonder if I should change it all out for armoured cable? 150 ft is about what it would take and an afternoons work