GC did the electrical work - now it's up to me to fix - pictures inside

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Shak180

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So I did a landscape lighting job for a customer recently and she showed me what a GC she hired to remodel her home did to her electrical system. Now I'm trying to figure out how to make it right so I can give her a quote.

They shoved 2/0 copper conductors down the old 1 1/4" riser. They used the old flush mounted electrical panel as a junction box. They didn't drive a ground rod. They removed the bus from inside the new meter main panel for some reason and turned that panel into a junction box using mechanical connectors. They pushed (3) 2/0 copper wires into a 1 1/4" emt conduit that they ran from the main panel to the subpanel. The neutral conductor was short so they spliced with a mechanical connector in the subpanel to make it reach. The subpanel is basically now the main panel and the main disconnect is inside of that panel which is inside the garage.

If my understanding is correct here in California we need a means of disconnecting power to the entire house at the meter socket so typically Meter Main Combo panels are installed here.

www.homedepot.com

Eaton BR 200 Amp 8-Circuit Outdoor EUSERC Meter Breaker Panel MBE48B200BTF - The Home Depot

Get your professional job done with comfort and ease by choosing this Eaton BR Outdoor EUSERC Meter Breaker Panel.
www.homedepot.com
I found this panel that I could install by reframing the wall and having the new panel lineup with the existing 1 1/4" riser hole that I would enlarge to accommodate a 1 1/2" riser conduit. This would also get rid of the old flush mount panel that was converted to a junction box.

The only problem is I can't find a 200A breaker to protect the conductors going from the main panel to the subpanel. The existing subpanel has a 200A main disconnect. I was able to find a 2 pole 125A Eaton breaker so I was thinking of maybe running a 125A circuit to the subpanel and landing that on the 200A disconnect but even that feels hokey and questionable. Maybe there is a way to convert the 200A disconnect to main lugs?20210325_151701.jpg

Any input would be greatly appreciated! 🙂
 
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What's wrong with the 200a breaker in the new meter/main protecting the feeder conductors?

You are aware that the 200a breaker also supplies the feed-through lugs, aren't you?

Of course, a feeder of any size will need a separate neutral and EGC.
 
RU talking about on pic1 the romex Connector on the THHN? Or the lack of bushing or even raceway or conduit connectors coming into enclosure? (sharp holes) Or just the amount of damage to the conductors coming into box? (Likely the lack of proper connectors or bushings.)
Or RU referring to the bonded neutral in what you calling a subpanel? Or the lack of a bushing? Or the pot of spaghetti noodles? Or the cutoff neutral hanging out in the bottom of enclosure?
At least he labeled most of the NM conductors coming in.
 
They gutted the distribution section of that panel, removing any overcurrent protection, so wonder how long those conductors to the subpanel are? Horrible mess in that GE panel. Living up to the GE name, Good Enough. :(
 
Is this butchered “Meter/Main” covering up an older recessed meter box that they’re using as a pass-through for the conductors to get into the main breaker panel inside the house?

I wouldn’t touch this without an agreement to rip it out and re-do the whole thing!
I would also contact the local ahj and ask how this ever got energized!
 
sw_ross said:
I wouldn’t touch this without an agreement to rip it out and re-do the whole thing!
I would also contact the local ahj and ask how this ever got energized!
Click to expand...

To redo the whole thing is probably the only thing they can do. I don't see a meter seal in the picture and if they have cut the seal they will need a permit to get the power back (legally) and I can't see any of this as passing an inspection.
 
LarryFine said:
What's wrong with the 200a breaker in the new meter/main protecting the feeder conductors?

You are aware that the 200a breaker also supplies the feed-through lugs, aren't you?

Of course, a feeder of any size will need a separate neutral and EGC.
Click to expand...
Ah I totally missed that this panel has feed through lugs. Awesome one problem solved in this catastrophe of a mess!
 
480sparky said:
Did a main disconnect get removed from under that meter?

I'll mention the THHNs going through different openings in a metal can.
Click to expand...
Yes the main was removed and they connected to the main wires coming off the meter with Polaris style connectors. I assume this was a throw away panel that came off another job and they installed it on this house.

And yes they reused the connectors from the old 100 amp panel so they drilled another whole because I assume the connector couldn't accommodate (3) 2/0 conductors
 
norcal said:
They gutted the distribution section of that panel, removing any overcurrent protection, so wonder how long those conductors to the subpanel are? Horrible mess in that GE panel. Living up to the GE name, Good Enough. :(
Click to expand...
From the weatherhead to where the conductors finally land on the main breaker is about 35 ft

Indeed horrible mess that I want to get cleaned up for them.
 
sw_ross said:
Is this butchered “Meter/Main” covering up an older recessed meter box that they’re using as a pass-through for the conductors to get into the main breaker panel inside the house?

I wouldn’t touch this without an agreement to rip it out and re-do the whole thing!
I would also contact the local ahj and ask how this ever got energized!
Click to expand...
Yes it is covering up and old recessed panel that they used as a pass through. That's what my plan is to rip everything out associating with the meter/main section of the electrical system. I'm going to attempt to rework the subpanel side. I didn't notice until Larry mentioned that the panel I linked in the first post has feed through lugs so that will allow me to feed the existing 200 amp subpanel.
 

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