Romex clamp concerns to main panel

[wazzabie]

I don't like these bushings that I circled in red. I'm finding that they are causing damage to the outside sheathing of the Romex cable.

Is the snap in connector shown below a better alternative to prevent damage to the sheathing.

I have a pre exsiting wire which I circled in yellow which has sheathing damage. Also not shown is a Romex 8/2 wire I installed recently that has sheathing damage. I was carefull to keep the cable straight and I still had issues. My main panel has these blue clamps which look much better.

 

[wazzabie]

Would this be a better alternative to the bushing?

 

[Norcal]

I would be more concerned with that cheap azz panel with the Zinsco main, then those plastic connectors, personally prefer die cast NM cable connectors myself.

 

[BillK]

personally prefer die cast NM cable connectors myself.

I was going to say the same thing. What happened to the good old type connectors with two screws ? Too much like work ??

 

[Crazyjake8493]

I've never been a big fan of plastic Romex connectors, other than the occasional Raco Insider when it's the best/only option. I always prefer the metal two-screw connectors myself.

 

[wazzabie]

I would be more concerned with that cheap azz panel with the Zinsco main, then those plastic connectors, personally prefer die cast NM cable connectors myself.

Are you sure this is a Zinsco panel? The handle on the panel says Sylvania. It was installed in 1984.

I found this website. I don't see any stickers on the cover. I'll take some more detailed pics of the panel with the cover off.

https://inspectapedia.com/electric/GTE-Sylvania-Zinsco-Identification-FAQs.php

btw - I know at least one circuit trips the breaker. That is why I'm installing several dedicated circuits in the garage.

 

[Norcal]

The main in the panel is a Zinsco, I was guessing the panel was a Challenger, but Zinsco, became Sylvania, and then became Challenger.

Zinsco had two lines, the infamous line & Zinsco American Switch which the OP's panel is a successor of.

 

[wazzabie]

Is it just the main breaker that is bad? or is the fault also with the other breakers at the panel?

The main breaker on my panel has the same verbatim as in this pic below. My panel does not have any of the stickers. I believe you are correct that the main breaker is of the Zinsco design. This panel uses modern breakers that I can get at home depot however.

I found this pic here: https://inspectapedia.com/electric/GTE_Sylvania_Zinsco_Identification.php

Something else about this Zinsco main breaker that I have not found online. The metal clip around the breaker is loose. When I put the panel cover back on I was not able to switch the main from off to on. I had to take the cover off again and then move the metal clip into position and then put the panel cover back on. I wonder if the same situation coul happen if the main breaker was to trip and move from on to off.

According to wikipedia, "By 1981, GTE-Sylvania divested itself of the electrical distribution business and sold off its product lines and manufacturing facilities. The Challenger line, mostly manufactured at the time in Jackson, Mississippi, was sold to a former officer of GTE, who used the Challenger name as the name of his new company, Challenger Electrical Equipment Corporation."

This home was built in 1984 after it divested. The home is just a tract home. Perhaps the home builder had a large supply of these Sylvania main panels. I'm going to ask some neighbors to see if the same panels still installed.

 

[Jim greengo]

The plastic clamps I use are a differant style,I never have a problem with them.
I grab one out of the van in morning and take a picture.

 

[tfi racing]

Used thousands of these over the decades, never had any issues to worry about. Not sure why you wound want to use those cumbersome POS clamps you have posted.

https://www.nedco.ca/cnd/Category/C...P4-LOOMEX-CONNECTOR-200-BAG/p/THSW100LXKP4-WR

https://www.westburne.ca/cwr/Catego...-2"-CONNECTOR/p/THSCI4040-WB?prevPageNumber=0

https://www.westburne.ca/cwr/Catego...MEX-CON-2-SCREW/p/FIT2822-WJ?prevPageNumber=0

 

[Jim greengo]

These are the ones I was talking about,forgot to take a picture today.
So heres one in the dark digging through bins .