hr3
Veteran Member
If you look at your new box you will see the words LINE SIDE that is where the main wires are to enter the box anyways.. It's not upside down as you say...
Ran out of grounds/neutral slots in my main breaker box.
- Thread starter lzicc
- Start date
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If you look at your new box you will see the words LINE SIDE that is where the main wires are to enter the box anyways.. It's not upside down as you say...
RNeumann
Elite Member
I've scratched my head more than once trying to follow this one. Near as I can tell OP started by adding a sub panel and didn't have "space" for grounds and neutrals in his main panel. Solution- replace the main panel too. Sounds like he has an exterior meter socket only (no disconnect). So the panel we are now looking at is the main panel with ground screw still in. He plans to pull meter, install new panel, get inspected and have meter reinstalled.
hr3
Veteran Member
Then where is his main breaker now in the old panel??? it's a main lug panel from what I see...
RNeumann
Elite Member
Excellent point......no need to pull a meter then. I'm confused by this one again!!!
OP
lzicc
Platinum Member
RNeumann, you are correct. Meter socket is outside and there is no disconnect. The current breaker box is an old one which the first 6 breakers are the main breakers for the high voltage runs like hot water tank, stove, etc. and there is one breaker that feeds the lower breakers that are for the lower feed circuits. As long as there is not more than 6 switches to hit to kill the power to the house, it doesn't need a main shut off of what I read.
Since this is an underground main, no one can pull the meter except for the PC for safety reasons. Not sure what the safety reasons are. If the mains were overhead, I could pull the meter myself.
When I do the upgrade this Friday to the new box, if my current mains do not reach with the main breaker on top, I'll turn it 180 degrees. It can be hung either way. In fact with the mains coming in from the bottom, it would look neater if I mounted it with the main on the bottom and give me more space in the box.
Since this is an underground main, no one can pull the meter except for the PC for safety reasons. Not sure what the safety reasons are. If the mains were overhead, I could pull the meter myself.
When I do the upgrade this Friday to the new box, if my current mains do not reach with the main breaker on top, I'll turn it 180 degrees. It can be hung either way. In fact with the mains coming in from the bottom, it would look neater if I mounted it with the main on the bottom and give me more space in the box.
OP
lzicc
Platinum Member
Let me try to clear this up. It was confusing to me when I first opened the box. The pink outline on the bottom of the pictures shows where the mains come in from the outside from the meter socket. There is no shut off, just the lines from the meter socket to this main breaker panel. The mains enter the bottom of the breaker panel and go up the side of the box to the main lugs at the top of the box.
On the top of the picture outlined in green is where the wires coming in from the bottom attach to the main lugs on top. The first section of breakers which there are six dual breakers power all the higher voltage items like electric stove, water heater, AC, etc. If you look at the highlighted red outline, that breaker feeds the bottom section of breakers. If I shut that breaker off, it kills all power to the lower breakers. So to shut down all power to the house, all of the top six dual breakers would need to be shut off. I hope that makes sense. I myself have never seen a breaker box like this one.
On the top of the picture outlined in green is where the wires coming in from the bottom attach to the main lugs on top. The first section of breakers which there are six dual breakers power all the higher voltage items like electric stove, water heater, AC, etc. If you look at the highlighted red outline, that breaker feeds the bottom section of breakers. If I shut that breaker off, it kills all power to the lower breakers. So to shut down all power to the house, all of the top six dual breakers would need to be shut off. I hope that makes sense. I myself have never seen a breaker box like this one.
RNeumann
Elite Member
No reason not to have the main connections on the bottom. It also would be nice to have a main breaker panel instead of a main lug panel.
OP
lzicc
Platinum Member
I agree. I cannot wait to get rid of that old panel. 
I hate looking at the old, messy panel.
I hate looking at the old, messy panel.hr3
Veteran Member
Now I see.. Good luck with the project and keep us posted..
OP
lzicc
Platinum Member
All went well. I ended up putting the main breaker on the bottom. It looked allot neater. I just finished installing the last circuit and took a quick picture. I am going to neaten things up a little bit more. I have a good 8 hours in this. Taking the old wires out was more work than running the new ones. I am going to be replacing my electric hot water tank with a gas one which will free up 2 spaces. I also added a surge which took 2 spaces. The 2 tandem breakers you see are for small items like a doorbell, etc. Thanks for every ones input on this. I got allot of great ideas from everyone and learned a few things. Next project, replacing the electric water heaters. I am going to open a new thread for this. Not sure to go tank or tankless.
Next project, replacing the electric water heaters. I am going to open a new thread for this. Not sure to go tank or tankless.