Ran out of grounds/neutral slots in my main breaker box.

[lzicc]

Sorry LD1. As far as large openings in the box itself for inserting the wire into the box, there are plenty. There are only 2 shared ground/neutral openings left that are only for up to 10 gauge wire. Then, for me to put a 50 amp breaker into the box, there is no room. I would have to take put in 2 tandem breakers to free up room. On top of this, I will be putting an addition onto the house which I will need more circuits for the addition. That i why I was going to replace the load center next year for a larger one. But now running into this year, I may replace it sooner.

 

[lzicc]

It is 200 amp. It's weird breaker box. I've never seen one like this before.

 

[lzicc]

I spoke with the power company. They are telling me that I can pull the meter myself, replace the load center, have it inspected, then call them back to schedule the meter to get re installed. This would be all have to happen the same day. I can schedule the inspector, once he calls me back for later in the afternoon for the inspection after I replace the box, but getting the power company to come back the same day, not sure on that. The other question is, what is involved pulling a meter? I would shut the main breaker off so no power is going through the lines, cut the locking tag off, but I've never pulled one. It seems easy enough, but I would want to make sure I am not missing anything prior to pulling the meter. I've installed meter sockets before, just never pulled a live meter.

 

[lzicc]

The inspector got back to me and said all he needs to see is the mains and the grounds and he will pass it. He said that he is not concerned about the existing circuits since they cannot be inspected since they are in the wall already. This may work out easier than I thought.

 

[buickanddeere]

Running out of room ? Install the UL version of this panel .Home Hardware

 

[lzicc]

I got a new QO panel from Square D. See attached. I don't like the ground/neutral bars on top. This is a 40 circuit box and there are a total of about 45 ground/neutral openings. I was thinking about buying a neutral bus and running one on each side so all the grounds can attach to that and all the neutrals would attach to the stock bar on top just to keep it neat looking. Any thoughts? I have to see if I can find the correct bar that will match up with the screw holes.

 

[RNeumann]

That is fine without adding. Their is no code, nor is their any type of workmanship issue with having more than one neutral or ground wire under one lug.
Is the inspector requiring you to bring the breakers/circuits up to code? GFCI and arc-fault?

 

[lzicc]

Actually, I talked to the inspector and he said all he is going to look at is the mains and ground. He said he can't inspect anything else since it is existing, so this should go pretty smooth.

 

[2458n]

In theory, that is what happens here. In practice, the utility can't be bothered to do service calls. They instead give each electrician a bunch of seals. Electrician pulls the meter, swaps the box, re-installs and seals the meter, total down time is just the couple of hours to swap the box. I am not even sure the electrician tells the utility which seal they used, but the utility never rolls a truck or lifts a finger to a button.

Inspection happens after the fact whenever the inspector gets there, with the box live.

That is what happened for me. Call the electrician first then do what he tells you. I got the new box, breakers, and wires. Did what needed to be done. And the meter was reinstalled and sealed.

 

[LD1]

Actually, I talked to the inspector and he said all he is going to look at is the mains and ground. He said he can't inspect anything else since it is existing, so this should go pretty smooth.

Was that when you were just wanting to add another ground bar?

Does changing the whole box change his opinion?

Your old box is grandfathered. New box including breakers may need to be brought to current code