Trip Breaker panel

[AP514]

So what does this Trip breaker panel do ?
Have a tranformer in the front yard under ground power to meter. From meter I have 3 wires. Each wire goes to a Splitter (PIC).

1) each Splitter has 1 wire going into my Mian Panel. 1 RED, White and Black
2) each Splitter has 1 wire going into this trip panel.1 RED, White and Black

So what does this panel Breaker do ?

http://s1262.photobucket.com/user/AP514/library/POWER%20PANEL?sort=3&page=1
HELL with PHOTOBUCKET ! ! See pic's below

Thanks in advance
AP514

 

[Norcal]

Where does the wiring from that Siemens enclosed circuit breaker, your nomenclature "trip panel", go? since the link is photobucket, it's not very helpful since they got greedy.

 

[wyliesdiesels]

need more pics

 

[AP514]

so you can not see the PIC's ?

 

[pattenp]

so you can not see the PIC's ?

Nope.

 

[manwithtools]

Need a larger picture that shows your entire panel and conduit arrangement on the house wall. It looks like the "trip" panel as you call it, is a disconnect. Probably intended to feed an outbuilding in the future. Does the breaker have a size on it? I'd bet it's 200 or so.

 

[LS6 Tommy]

Looks like a main breaker to me. Maybe a feeder to a not-yet-installed subpanel?

Tommy

 

[Norcal]

Need a larger picture that shows your entire panel and conduit arrangement on the house wall. It looks like the "trip" panel as you call it, is a disconnect. Probably intended to feed an outbuilding in the future. Does the breaker have a size on it? I'd bet it's 200 or so.

The breaker is a QJ2 frame breaker, commonly made from 125-225A, rarely seen in smaller sizes.

 

[manwithtools]

The breaker is a QJ2 frame breaker, commonly made from 125-225A, rarely seen in smaller sizes.

Thanks for the conformation, I'm not that familiar with single phase equipment to be able to identify them by sight. I only question the ampacity based on my perception of the wires his pictures show in the wiring trough. They look like #2 or #1 which would dictate a smaller breaker than 200, more like 125.

It's hard to tell from the pictures though.

 

[AP514]

Pic's are in my Albums here at GJ.
I guess I could take the front cover off of it and take a few more Pic's...Also forgot to say my house is all STEEL FRAME..not sure if that matters.

 

[manwithtools]

Steel frame does not matter unless you are a termite . A picture of the entire wall area where those panels and any conduit are mounted would be the most informative.

Also, it's pretty easy to include the pictures in your post, please see here: https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=169618

Not having to go look them up somewhere is going to get you more help from folks.

 

[AP514]

Wow, I have been lurking here for a long time and never knew about the how to post Pic's Thread..Thanks for pointing that thread out to me...I will give it a try right now.
I figured out what the Breaker does it is actually a disconnect for my big C/B panel inside my house. This kind of screws me because I was going to set up a connection for my Generator.
The outside and inside panels have space for the extra GENERATOR breaker. I would have to move a few around so the manual interlock would work. but with 2 panels how would I go about doing that ?
I need power on the outside panel for septic ect. and of course the inside one has lites fridge ect.
I really did not want to get into the expensive Auto units but do not see away around it ATM

 

[manwithtools]

I'll defer to the residential guy's on this, but it looks to me like that outside load center (the one with the multiple breakers) feeds your larger loads, pool, AC's, etc. The other is a disconnect that feeds another panel somewhere inside the dwelling. You can see the conduit that goes through the wall out the back of the disconnect.Do you have another load center inside the garage, or somewhere in the living area?

An outside disconnect is required when the interior load center is beyond a minimal distance from the outside service. Varies by jurisdiction and vintage. My knowledge of resi code is not good enough to cite chapter and verse.

Where does the conduit out of the left side of the trough go? Another sub-panel in a detached structure?

 

[AP514]

Yup panel is inside but on other side of wall. not a big distance at all.(inserted pic above)

 

[manwithtools]

BTW, happy to help out on the photo posting. That makes it much easier for folks to stay focused on your topic.....

What is the amperage of the breaker inside the disconnect box on the left? I'm guessing 200 or 225?

Also what is the main breaker size for the main on the outside panel board?

 

[manwithtools]

I think what you have is a 320 amp service, which is really a 400 amp service as the meter is rated 320 amps continuous but 400 amps non-continuous. It's called a 400 amp service because it generally uses 2- 200 amp panels and the meter is rated for that use.

Make sense?

 

[AP514]

You know I am not sure what the Service is 200 or 400...any place I can look that will tell me ?
The Disconnect is 200AMP. The outside panel has a 200AMP Main Breaker and I see 100AMP Breaker going to the garage coming from that outside panel

 

[manwithtools]

You just answered your own question. From the transformer to the meter are wires capable of 400 amps, these are split in the wiring trough and feed two - 200 amp panels, one outside with it's 200 amp main, the other is fed by the 200 amp disconnect mounted next to it, load center it feeds is inside the garage.

You technically have a 400 amp service, but it could be like I described earlier - 320 amps continuous, 400 amp non-continuous. It's a bit confusing, but I think that's what you have, wish I had the same here.

House, in-law apartment, hot tub, 4 heat pumps, two garages and a 30 x 40 outbuilding all fed with a 200 main. Some days I wonder....

 

[AP514]

Well, close enough..the garage is feed by that 200Amp outside panel which in turn feeds 100Amps to garage. The 200AMP disconnect feeds my inside house panel.
I guess that is why I have 00 copper wire coming from my transformer. That and it is allmost 200 foot run to meter.
Thanks for the help good chatting back and forth...really like the GJ...

I think I will start another THREAD about my GENERATOR Hook up to House Ideas/troubles/Questions

 

[wyliesdiesels]

You know I am not sure what the Service is 200 or 400...any place I can look that will tell me ?
The Disconnect is 200AMP. The outside panel has a 200AMP Main Breaker and I see 100AMP Breaker going to the garage coming from that outside panel

You can look at the meter.

Should be a "CL" rating followed by a number- 100, 200, 400. Which would be the amperage rating.

Well, close enough..the garage is feed by that 200Amp outside panel which in turn feeds 100Amps to garage. The 200AMP disconnect feeds my inside house panel.
I guess that is why I have 00 copper wire coming from my transformer. That and it is allmost 200 foot run to meter.
Thanks for the help good chatting back and forth...really like the GJ...

I think I will start another THREAD about my GENERATOR Hook up to House Ideas/troubles/Questions

I wouldnt start a new thread. Its better to keep it all here. Less work for you and everyone else.

BTW, if you do have a 400a service, the only way i see of doing a generator hookup, is by doing a service rated manual transfer switch. No need for ATS unless that what you want. IF the inside panel had a main, you could move any critical circuits(sewage pump) into that inside panel, then do interlock there. Maybe the inside panel is convertible main lug?

As it stands right now, an interlock is no go on the inside panel since there is no main breaker.

An MTS will still be pricey though.

Have you done load calcs?