Wiring mess

[Boatmedic]

I have read stories of electrical discoveries on here and I happened upon some of my own so I thought I would share them with all of you. I didn’t think to take a bunch of pictures when I found all of them.

I purchased a house with a garage a couple years ago and I have just started working towards getting the garage/shop squared away so I can get some projects going/completed in it.

I hate working in a cold garage so I planned to insulate and sheetrock it. I also wanted to add and remove or move switches and power receptacles. Boy did I open a can of worms!!!

The garage is fed from a different power pole than the main house. Power is connected from the power pole to the power meter than into a main fuse box on a separate building that is roughly 60’ to 70’ away from the garage.

The main power wire that runs from the main fuse box is just poked through the wall behind the main power box and routed up studs and across rafters through another wall, through an open carport, back through the garage wall, through the rafters and down into the secondary fuse box in the garage that is 60’ to 70’ away.

The main fuse box uses two 30 amp breakers, the power wire is (10/2 with a ground) and the secondary box uses four 20 amp breakers.

I have found wires just twisted together and taped with electrical tape. I have found ceiling light wires just poked through sheetrock and twisted together with the light fixture. Open wires that go nowhere.

The last picture is the secondary fuse box in the garage. The white romex wire on the left without the tag is the incoming power wire.

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[grantw]

Just wait until you find random splices in conduit, or under-sized wire.

 

[sberry]

Yes, you need to find and box it. How many wires in the feed wire going to the garage? Get a couple full pics of these boxes with the covers off. Ok, you said 10/2

 

[driftpin]

Being a retired firefighter/paramedic and still licensed as a fire inspector as well I have a collection of fire starters and stupid work. The majority are electrical and runner up is plumbing. Structural mistakes are usually pics.

You need to go through the entire structure to uncover all the dangerous work. The insurance company likely won't cover it when it burns.

 

[reader2580]

You need to go through the entire structure to uncover all the dangerous work. The insurance company likely won't cover it when it burns.

Why exactly wouldn't an insurance company cover this? It sounds like the current owner didn't do the work.

If they'll cover something that was entirely the insured's fault like leaving a candle burning while not at home shouldn't they cover something the current insured was not at fault for?

 

[wyliesdiesels]

Looks like u have a bunch of messes.

The breakers with the red handles and the panel they are in are made by FPE who had numerous safety issues. U should replace all of that as they can be faulty and dangerous.

On the meter pic, why do i not see wires in the lugs on the load side of the meter? Why is that door off? Typically there is a PoCo seal on that section.

Also, u have mismatched breakers in that main panel.

What brand of panel is that?

 

[Richard Cranium]

Kind of scary, Pull it out and do it right, You will never be sorry when it is done right.

 

[Boatmedic]

The garage was built in the late 60’s and I’m not sure when the wiring or fuse box was installed.

The main fuse box where the power comes in from the power pole is a Challenger brand. The lugs below the meter are visible because I had the cover off of it when I took the picture.

The main wires come in through the top to the power meter and exits the right side into the main power box as in the wiring diagram. I will pull the cover off the main power box this weekend and take a picture.

I will be replacing the secondary fuse box in the garage without a doubt. I have to measure the distance and figure out how big of wires to get and I’m probably gonna look up the city code specs for burying the cables versus running through all the goofy places it does now.

I want to be able to use a welder at some point and I’m sure 10/2 ain’t gonna cut it.

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[Chuckster in NJ]

Call a pro and get rid of that Federal Pacific panel......... Trust me on this one!

 

[wyliesdiesels]

Aww ok so those are secondary lugs.

Since its a challenger brand, the Bryant (colored handle) breakers are fine.

The DP 30a looks like a GE which should be replaced and I cant tell what the other brand are.