I am trying to determine which would be easier for myself, installing a panel inside or outside of a building. The building is a 16x30 pre-built structure. The owner wants to add a 100amp panel and a few circuits to for the building. When I think of grounding the building it seems easier to mount the panel on the outside, but when I think of running the circuits it seems better to mount it on the inside. Either way I want it to pass inspection without the inspector having. Any advice on both method or one? Thanks ahead of time....
Outside or Inside Panel
- Thread starter Benton
- Start date
- Status
growler
Senior Member
- Location
- Atlanta,GA
Unless there is a really good reason to do so I never mount a panel on the outside. It rains out there and I may have to work on it at a later date.
- Location
- New Jersey
- Occupation
- Journeyman Electrician
Inside. Running homeruns with the panel on the inside is much easier.
Inside for earlier reasons given unless...Main disconnect is combined. In some jurisdictions the main disconnect is required on the outside for fire emergencies where in the case a locked meter cannot be pulled quickly.
Cow
Senior Member
- Location
- Eastern Oregon
- Occupation
- Electrician
You think it's really that much harder to drill a 5/16" hole from the panel inside out to your ground wire, enough that you'd want to mount a panel outside and run your circuits to it?
Of course!
Are you saying you think the inspector would have a problem with an outside panel????
Joethemechanic
Senior Member
- Location
- Hazleton Pa
- Occupation
- Electro-Mechanical Technician. Industrial machinery
Here in the Philly Pa area, the only time I see a panel on the outside is when there is no inside.
- Location
- Simi Valley, CA
Here in CA the only time we see a panel on the inside is when there is no outside.
- Location
- New Jersey
- Occupation
- Journeyman Electrician
So what is the advantage of the panel on the outside? And how would you enter all of your homeruns?
- Location
- Simi Valley, CA
Well you don't have to buy a seperate disconnect for the exteriror, if you use a flush mounted panel then all of the home runs are still inside, plus you never have to worry about clearance issues.
Twoskinsoneman
Senior Member
- Location
- West Virginia, USA NEC: 2020
- Occupation
- Facility Senior Electrician
Run all NMs through one big nipple in the back and then post a picture....
- Location
- New Jersey
- Occupation
- Journeyman Electrician
You won't see me posting a picture of the most common violation with outside panels. :roll:
- Location
- Tennessee NEC:2017
- Occupation
- Semi-Retired Electrician
220/221.....this is your cue!:lol:
- Status