Pics of panel rough-in

bjp_ne_elec · Mar 24, 2007

Would love to see some of your panel rough-ins, if anyone is willing to post them, or PM them if you don't want to post. I just got back in to the trade (getting business going for my son) and I'm pretty nervous about my first new home rough-in - as the GC I'm working with has indicated he's interested in me doing more work for him. He was pretty specific - in that he's happy with the pricing I've given him, but the look and quality of the install is what he's still going to factor in. So, as you can see, the pressure is on.

This particular job will have the panel fully exposed in the basement, so it would be great if I saw some of that great work that the members are installing. Curious how is all rolls in to the panel, how in particular you route and secure the Romex as it transitions in to the panel.

Thanks in advance,

Brett

George Stolz · Mar 24, 2007

I'll show you mine if you show me yours.

(If you go to the link, you will find mine, Iwire's commercial panels - I thought it had a link to a thread on ECN of the most elaborate exposed work NM you will never see, but it doesn't. I'm still looking for it.)

He was pretty specific - in that he's happy with the pricing I've given him, but the look and quality of the install is what he's still going to factor in. So, as you can see, the pressure is on.

What pressure?

If you know this going in, tack a couple extra hours labor on to allow you to slow down for it. My pictures were of a recessed installation in the garage of a tract-home, where speed is what matters most. In an exposed custom home, more time should be factored in for more careful work.

I must confess, I installed a panel in a custom home in the hills once I ended up ashamed of. I screwed up by not drilling for the panel prior to pulling the home runs (per my routine). I drilled after all the home runs were in the area, and then tried to pull several in at once through each hole.

What ended up happening was I wound up with a nasty-looking rat's nest at the ceiling, where the NM turned and went down the wall. It was all exposed work, and in the frenzy to just get it done I ended up with a very ugly installation. To top it all off, it wasn't my house to begin with, so my normal routine for big houses of numbering the homeruns and creating a panel schedule as we went was overruled.

As a result, some of the runs had numbers, and some had descriptions written on them. As a result, the numbered sheet ended up less valuable, and got lost. And, the panel inside looked like garbage, because I have a hard time working with 4" - 8" long chunks of sheathing labels on the conductors. Even some of those got lost.

I learned my lesson, and try not to deviate from my routines. I'm feeble-minded enough that if I don't have a routine for something, and follow it, things go downhill in a hurry.

The homeowner never complained, but every few months I think about that panel and hang my head.

bjp_ne_elec · Mar 24, 2007

George - thanks for the link.

I'm curious - in the one with the NM - yellow (12/2 - 12/3) on right and white (14/2 - 14/3)) on left - I'm curious if there are multiple Romex running in to the same connector.

Also - is that tie wraps securing the NM? I would have never thought of using tie wraps - but is it a "listed method"?

Speaking of multiple things in a hole (I hope this doesn't draw some non-electrical comments) - is it legitmate to put two Romex in the same drilled hole without derating. I remember seeing a related post, and I can't seem to find the correct section in the NEC that would straighten me out on this one.

I'll definitely give this one more time - not that I'd ever rush - but first impression means a lot in this business.

Thanks,

Brett

Dennis Alwon · Mar 24, 2007

I wonder who wired this panel

LarryFine · Mar 24, 2007

Here's a couple of one of mine, before and after breakers:

There are two stacked NM's in each KO except for #10's and larger.

bjp_ne_elec · Mar 24, 2007

Larry - nice. Any way of getting the JPEG's - as it's hard to get details, as they're a little dark. What connectors are listed for dual entry? I'm also interested in how you secured the NM just above the panel/

Presonally I like those plastic ones that you push the little tab (it's hanging a a little plastic tag) - but I'm not sure if these are listed for two NM's.

Larry which manufacturer/part number did you use?

Thanks

Brett

Dennis Alwon · Mar 24, 2007

bjp_ne_elec said:
Larry - nice. Any way of getting the JPEG's
Brett

Brett try right clicking on the image and then copy it. Paste it or save it where you want

bjp_ne_elec · Mar 24, 2007

Dennis - that worked - but once I go zoom in, they're grainy. Have to rely on Larry's response.

Larry - one more question - and I noticed it when I zoomed in. What are thos two sets of Black/Whites that head in to the center area of the panel up near the top - between the two main lugs?

Thanks

aline · Mar 24, 2007

These are before and after pictures from a panel replacement.

Before

After

Before

After

Dennis Alwon · Mar 24, 2007

I think the original will be grainy when you zoom in also,

aline · Mar 24, 2007

I don't know who's work this is but it's the neatest romex job I've ever seen.
Anyone want to lay claim to this work?

George Stolz · Mar 24, 2007

Aline, that was the amazing job I tried to find earlier. Harold Endean saw the work, and passed it on for review over at the ECN forum. It is probably the most obscenely beautiful work I've seen.

The ECN forum was down, or I would have had a link together already.

Edit: here's the link, looks as though they've had a facelift as well.

iwire · Mar 24, 2007

Yes, Harold (a NJ Inspector) sent me those pictures of a home he inspected. I had thought of those as well.

tallgirl · Mar 24, 2007

The right side of this pic is my first attempt at finishing a panel. The left side was done by a journeypeep I work with regularly.

brian john · Mar 24, 2007

Dennis when you took that picture of my work YOU PROMISED not to show it around..

As for that Romex pic OH MY GOODNESS. That is a work of art.

tallgirl · Mar 24, 2007

Dennis Alwon said:
I think the original will be grainy when you zoom in also,

JPEGs are displayed pixel-for-pixel, so when you zoom in all you do is show the same pixel more than once.

What's need is the original, raw image. The panel pic I posted above was originally about 2000 pixels wide by 3000 high (7.2Mpx total). What was posted was 450 pixels wide by 600 high.

Dominator · Mar 24, 2007

aline said:
I don't know who's work this is but it's the neatest romex job I've ever seen.
Anyone want to lay claim to this work?

damn...lovely. I don't do romex but seeing this makes me want to

LarryFine · Mar 24, 2007

bjp_ne_elec said:
Larry - nice. Any way of getting the JPEG's - as it's hard to get details, as they're a little dark. What connectors are listed for dual entry? I'm also interested in how you secured the NM just above the panel

Larry which manufacturer/part number did you use?

Larry - one more question - and I noticed it when I zoomed in. What are thos two sets of Black/Whites that head in to the center area of the panel up near the top - between the two main lugs?

blue spark · Mar 25, 2007

On that Romex "Art" which by the way is amazing, what type of staples are those? I can't tell from the pictures. They don't look like standard straps.

benmin · Mar 25, 2007

blue spark said:
On that Romex "Art" which by the way is amazing, what type of staples are those? I can't tell from the pictures. They don't look like standard straps.

They look like the standard uninsulated type. Looks better without the colored plastic insulator

Pics of panel rough-in

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