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

[RNeumann]

Also, which company has been around the longest, Eaton or Square D? I've used Square D in the past.

Just match the new sub panel so all your breakers are interchangeable. You tend to see a lot of whatever the wholesaler sells or sold for each area.

I'm not sure their is a need to replace your main panel. I haven't heard you talk of any main panel failures etc. Panels last decades. Plus, with your new sub panel you should have plenty of room to add on anything that may come up.

For trivia sake Eaton bought Cutler-Hammer in 1978 so the Eaton name isn't that old. Square D has been around since the early 1900s and was purchased in 1991 by Shneider. Via Wiki

 

[LD1]

I agree I wouldn't jup in on the union needed expense of replacing the panel.

Never got an answer to my question about the existing openings that are large enough to accept #6 wire.

It don't look like ALL of them have large wire in there.

But even if so , you were WAY over thinking this. Put in a second bar, or remove the existing bar and mount a larger one in it's place.

 

[buickanddeere]

You are correct. From the sub panel, I have 4 wires, 2 hots, 1 neutral and 1 ground. The neutral and the ground have their own bus bars in the sub panel. Those feed over to the main main panel. The main panel has only 1 bus bar for both neutral and grounds. There are not any large enough openings for the wire size I am using. What I thought about doing was double tapping one of the existing 220 grounds with a #6 piece of wire and run the other end of that wire to a new, 7 opening ground bar to complete that part of the ground/neutral circuit to the main bus bar. That would leave me 6 opening in the new ground bar to attach my ground and my neutral that is coming from the sub panel. It seems like that would work, but doesn't feel right to me.

Ground is kept separate from neutral to prevent current flow on the ground . These cases of livestock receiving tingle voltage shocks while being milked or drinking are because the ground system is energized .

 

[Budweiser John]

Regarding meter seals....
Ya didn't hear it from me but, just snip the wire close to the crimp and remove. When done, bend the seal wire back in a slight over bend and it will look pristine.
Pleading the fifth.
B. John

 

[LD1]

I wouldn't advise you pulling your own meter unless you are comfortable doing so.

It all depends on your power company. We have rural coop. They have no problem sending their engineer out in their company pickup to remove and reinstall a meter for a homeowner

 

[crazyal]

Personally I would replace that box. It doesn't look like it has a main breaker to disconnect the power from the breakers. Do you know what your service is? It's standard now for 200 amp service but being older it could be less. You should find out as you want to size the box based on the service you have now. A few years ago I replaced the box in my father's house after he passed away. Called the power company and hand them turn the power off for a few hours. It took less than one to do the work. I think I went with Square D simply because it was on sale at Home Depot. A new box will just make life easier to add circuits as needed.

 

[buickanddeere]

You will be happier if you install this panel and transfer switch now.TTV212D Panel/Link - Reliance Controls Corporation

 

[Tractor Seabee]

If you are replacing the panel and want to be generator ready; Siemans has a two section panel with the transfer switch (breakers) between the sections. View attachment Siemens Generator Ready Load Center with a 200 Amp Main Breakern.pdf

Ron

 

[aczlan]

Square D also makes a panel and a interlock kit that will let you switch the whole panel to generator power.

Aaron Z

 

[radioman]

I think you contradicted your self. Only one wire under one lug bo matter where. If the panel in question is a sub panel and down stream from the main service entrance the neutral and grounding conductors must be separate at the sub panel. I.E. the feeder from the service entrance should be 4 wire and the sub panel have separate bus bars, one for the nuturals and one for the ground conductors serviced by that panel.
The natural and ground conductors can only be bonded at the main service entrance.
B. John

i dont think so- all i said was you can add more then one wire with grounds.. not neutrals under one lug. but you should be able to add another grounding, bus, whatever you want to call it to add on.