Print

Please login or register.
1 Hour 1 Day 1 Week 1 Month Forever
Login with username, password and session length

[steven r]

http://www.inspect-ny.com/fpe/stlou022.gif
If your breaker box looks anything like the one at the above link I would be replacing that "bad boy" yesterday if not sooner!
 

I looked at that link and I'm still trying to figure out WTF they were even trying to do even more than their lack of safety actually wiring in the box.

[dave w]

I looked at that link and I'm still trying to figure out WTF they were even trying to do even more than their lack of safety actually wiring in the box.

Interesting, almost looks like they were trying to back feed the lower portion of the busses.
"Engineered In Bombay"

[Brian H]

  I have no Idea what the intent of the messed up wiring in the photo was supposed to do. 

[BVD]

Brian,
The main concern I had was the fire hazard this box presents. If you read about the breakers used in this panel they have about a 47 percent chance of not tripping in an overload situation and we all know what that can cause.

As for the other comments. If you look closely at this breaker box you will notice that there is no MAIN breaker. This would cut the cost of the electric box. The configuration in the picture is what is referred to in the National Electric Code as a 6 X 6 configuration. Thus this box meets the  National Electric Code and thus it can be sold in the U.S.

Personally I would not have one. If a breaker fails to protect the circuit your next protection is at the electric pole at about 1800 amps.

Bob

[Knightrider]

BVD is right.  I sort of remember a little stink about stab loc breakers fusing themselves in the on position.  My local mom and pop electrical supplier stopped selling that line because of it, and recommends that you get them out of your house.

[Brian H]

Thanks for the heads up on the breakers. Yes mine has no main breaker in the box. The main breaker a Murry if memory serves me. Is in a box inside the garage. All by itself.

[JeffVolp]

Thanks for the heads up on the breakers. Yes mine has no main breaker in the box. The main breaker a Murry if memory serves me. Is in a box inside the garage. All by itself.

Most houses here have that arrangement too.  The main disconnect is outside where it is accessable by the fire department.  That also feeds the A/C compressors and other 240V loads.  Then a distribution panel without any main disconnect is centrally located in the house.  There is nothing wrong with that arrangement.  However, I do recall reading about a safety problem with Federal Pacific breakers.

Jeff

[Brian H]

Thanks Jeff and all; I will do some Goggle searches.

Jeff mine is not exactly like that. My incoming line from the meter box  goes into a small box with only a dual main breaker in it. Then to the basements breaker panel. All the 120 and 240 volt circuits are  distributed from there.

[jsnone1]

ok, I have isolated the problem(s)...I turned every breaker in my breaker box off except for the room the PC is in and a room downstairs that I could not control Modules in.....one problem was my home entertainment system in that very room, so I am getting a plug in noise filter for that outlet.

My second problem is overhead lights! Now..... I do have CFL bulbs in these lights, but would that matter if the wall switched were off?

[nklght]

Before purchasing a plug in noise filter for your stereo, turn on all your circuit breakers, unplug your home entertainment system, and see if you have X-10 control.  If X-10 works install the filters, if not try putting incandescent bulbs in your overhead lights, and check for X-10 control, hopefully that works.

For an explanation, some older messy wiring might have several circuits using an overhead light box, which means even though the light is off current is flowing through the box, and a CFL might be able to zap the signal

[Brian H]

What type of wall switch is controlling the CFL bulbs? Two wire X10 switches do not work correctly with CFL Bulbs. Since they steal power through the load [bulbs].