mcelweec@gmail.com
CMAC1
- Location
- NYC
- Occupation
- Electrician
just curiosity,when setting up a row of panels with various sizes,what's your preference,bottoms or tops in a line and why?
tops or bottoms
- Thread starter mcelweec@gmail.com
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ultramegabob
Senior Member
- Location
- Indiana
Most of the time I level the tops, but I might do somthing differnt if I thought it would look better another way. Why do I choose to do it that way? probly because that is how I was trained to do it back in the day and old habits die hard:grin:
Last edited:
Cow
Senior Member
- Location
- Eastern Oregon
- Occupation
- Electrician
Because it's my preference.:smile:
Tops.
Panels and large disconnects, 72 inches.
Smaller disconnects, 60 inches.
Doug S.
Senior Member
- Location
- West Michigan
Normally tops. However I will make exceptions, like if a trough is on the bottom and lining up the tops would put me at more than 24" from the wire-way on a smaller panel then ... ... ...
- Location
- New Jersey
- Occupation
- Journeyman Electrician
Tops, even with a wireway underneath.
Try getting one with those new-fangled gadgets called magnets on them! :grin:
brian john
Senior Member
- Location
- Leesburg, VA
When you have a trough under them.
K8MHZ
Senior Member
- Occupation
- Electrician
I prefer lining up the centers.
Not really, the vast majority of the time we line up the tops. One problem with this is that if there is a large difference in panel sizes with a trough on the bottom, some of the nipples may need to be longer than 24" and some picky inspectors will look at conductor fill. (What's the difference between a 24 inch vertical pipe and a 35 inch one?)
I did have an inspector let me slide on some 35 inch nipples. He felt the same way I did, plus this was already a crowded run and more pipe would have been a pain. BTW, the panels on this job were pre-installed, tops in line, so I had to make the nipples longer instead of lowering a panel.
Not really, the vast majority of the time we line up the tops. One problem with this is that if there is a large difference in panel sizes with a trough on the bottom, some of the nipples may need to be longer than 24" and some picky inspectors will look at conductor fill. (What's the difference between a 24 inch vertical pipe and a 35 inch one?)
I did have an inspector let me slide on some 35 inch nipples. He felt the same way I did, plus this was already a crowded run and more pipe would have been a pain. BTW, the panels on this job were pre-installed, tops in line, so I had to make the nipples longer instead of lowering a panel.
ohmhead
Senior Member
- Location
- ORLANDO FLA
Well tops always 6 ft 6 inches to the top of all panels in electrical rooms .
Most jobs we do the specs call it out that way if a larger distribution panel say 72 inches high or more its 4 inches off the floor at bottom always .
Most jobs we do the specs call it out that way if a larger distribution panel say 72 inches high or more its 4 inches off the floor at bottom always .
Doug S.
Senior Member
- Location
- West Michigan
O sure... make me have to jump the extra inch off my tip toes to see if some-one left KO or lock-nut atop the panel! :wink:
Brian, Give this a little more thought!!
LarryFine
Master Electrician Electric Contractor Richmond VA
- Location
- Henrico County, VA
- Occupation
- Electrical Contractor
brantmacga
Señor Member
- Location
- Georgia
- Occupation
- Former Child
if its surface mount over a trough, I put the bottoms at the same height.
If flush mounted in a wall, I put all the cover handles at the same height.
If flush mounted in a wall, I put all the cover handles at the same height.
It could be a 6x6 on the floor.
Added: Or under it.
Let us say that the next panel is 42", lining up the bottoms is going to look real odd !! Pull
up a chair and check the c.b.'s.
peter d
Senior Member
- Location
- New England
Centers.
ohmhead
Senior Member
- Location
- ORLANDO FLA
Well heres 6 foot 6 inches to the top this is a tight spaced room clearance is 48 inches in front of transformer & panels are 120 /208 .http://i611.photobucket.com/albums/tt195/stringking/P1010041_01.jpg
If we have a gutter or wireway below its still 6 foot 6 inches to the top .
If the cans or tubs are different in size the tops line up and the bottoms are closer to the floor we even add extra conduits in the tops or bottoms to make them look the same .
The specs on most jobs ask us to add one spare conduit in each panel for 3 spare breakers most get two to four spares.
We try to install the feeders in the middle and add the branch on each side evenly .
If we have a gutter or wireway below its still 6 foot 6 inches to the top .
If the cans or tubs are different in size the tops line up and the bottoms are closer to the floor we even add extra conduits in the tops or bottoms to make them look the same .
The specs on most jobs ask us to add one spare conduit in each panel for 3 spare breakers most get two to four spares.
We try to install the feeders in the middle and add the branch on each side evenly .
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