3-wire sub panels?

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greenjeans

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Hi all, ran across a 150 amp service feeding two 100 amp and 30amp main disconnects. out of the two 100 amp disconnects ran #4-3 SEU CU to two sub panels on the other side of house. A GC remodeled the basement and relocated one of the two panels to the utility room, but now has a #4/3 NM feeding it( junction box could not be found) Instead of fixing the problem, they separated the ground in both panels and ran # 6 CU to the water main.
Now, the house is 50 plus years old it seems the main disconnects (2) and two sub panel is original to the house. Was this ever installed correct to begin with? I have a estimate to refeed both sub panels with #1-3 SER off the existing 100 amp mains and disconnect all the #6 to water main(except original #6 from main disconnects.
Why do u think people do it wrong in the first place, and then down the road someone Else sees the problem and trys to juror? rig it right but makes it worse. thanks you for your comments
 
greenjeans said:
Why do u think people do it wrong in the first place, and then down the road someone Else sees the problem and trys to juror?
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Because it's cheaper and/or easier to do it non-compliantly, non-permittedly, and non-inspectedly.

Contractors and homeowners who 'do it wrong' usually have the same reasons; just different excuses.*



* For the professional, there is none.
 
yeah, it was wierd seeing it as original wiring tho. proposing 200 amp main breaker panel with a 150 amp to sub panel and tie in the two existing panels into one 42 space panel, instead of two 100 amp sub panels.
 
I have a estimate to refeed both sub panels with #1-3 SER off the existing 100 amp mains and disconnect all the #6 to water main(except original #6 from main disconnects.
did you mean 1#1-4 conductor?
you willl need a 4 conductor cable to refeed the subs panels. you will need to cary the neutral and ground to thew sub panels
 
Yes i did mean #1 SER 4 wire will be ran to the sub panels, fun how we call wiring by differants names, such as 14/2 (3wire)or 14/3 SO cord(3 wires when it comes to SE cable is SEU(3wire) SER(4wire). I do mostly residental so i dont worry about 3phase wiring such as SER (5wire). but thanks for catching that, have to check my estimate make sure i didnt quote SEU(3wire) thanks again
 
Riograndeelectric said:
I have a estimate to refeed both sub panels with #1-3 SER off the existing 100 amp mains and disconnect all the #6 to water main(except original #6 from main disconnects.
did you mean 1#1-4 conductor?
you willl need a 4 conductor cable to refeed the subs panels. you will need to cary the neutral and ground to thew sub panels
Click to expand...

If that SER is aluminum you'll likely need to use a 90 amp OCPD. #1 Al is only good for 85 amps at 60 degrees C. If the connected load is 85 amps or less you'll be OK with the 90 amp OCPD.
 
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