bending service entrance

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tim4857

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looking for opinions on bending "mouse ear loops" in residential panels.
why would you? is there any code problems, emf problems etc.

i will appreciate all feedback.

thanks
 
I generally do not bend these "mouse ears" on residential panels. I think some guys do it because it is easier to get cable into lugs this way. If cable or raceway drops into top center of panel above main lug or breaker, it is often difficult to get a 4/0 conductor straight into lug. There is also a case to be made that there is a little "extra" wire there if termination on main breaker or lug ever fails.
 
We never install them. For the most part it just unnecessarily takes up extra space. Besides that it looks awful.
 
I don't do it either....looks like crap, takes up space, someone usually "thinks" they are supports for their branch circuit conductors, etc etc etc.
 
celtic said:
I don't do it either....looks like crap, takes up space, someone usually "thinks" they are supports for their branch circuit conductors, etc etc etc.
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How did you change the format of your signature, color, text and such?
 
I do it. I'll sacrifice some good looks for functionality. If my mouse- (or bunny-, or elephant-) eared feeder gives someone, someday, the option of changing out the panel without having to splice the conductors or change out the feeder, then I've done the customer a service.

It looks just as pretty with the panel cover on. :D

JMO.
 
I don't do courtesy loops in panels or j-boxes. Not my preference and I never have liked them. If someone else wants to, fine by me, but my apprentices aren't allowed to do it while working with me. :D
 
I don't like them. Don't use them. And if I work on them, it is possible that I'll remove them.

Sorry George :(
But I won't hold it against you :)

Must admit they do look just as good with the cover on.
 
iwire said:
I want to see you benders do the loop with conductors larger than 4/0. :D
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If you do, I want to know who they are. I want to make sure I don't do anything to get them mad at me.;) :smile:
 
something I don't understand here .. some of you guys think (or at least sound as if you do) that to leave some extra wire in a panel (a loop) is a crime or something .. one said he won't let his apprentices do it .. period .. any particular reason why some are so 'adamint' in your views ... I make loops in all my panels and they "look good" when I'm done ... ok what is it ... m
 
RUWired said:
I believe one of the main reasons electricians did it was for expansion and contraction .
Rick
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When contractors bring their feed in thru an expansion joint coupling in the conduit, they need to have expansion loops in the wire. In 90% of the residential installations, the incoming conduit comes into a meterbase and the wiring is looped in a heart in the meterbase over the top and into the top lugs. But in the ones that have the meterbase mounted elsewhere, the first spot for loops is the top of the main panel where most contractors put the "ears".

There are ways to avoid using expansion joints and therefore the loops for those that don't like them.

David
 
mario said:
something I don't understand here .. some of you guys think (or at least sound as if you do) that to leave some extra wire in a panel (a loop) is a crime or something .. one said he won't let his apprentices do it .. period .. any particular reason why some are so 'adamint' in your views ... I make loops in all my panels and they "look good" when I'm done ... ok what is it ... m
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I don't see any use in them, myself. I don't care if someone else wants to do them. I don't have my apprentices do it, because when they're working under me, there are certain things that I want done, and I want them done my way. It's my job and a the final installation is a reflection on me and my work, not just my apprentice's. I'm nice to them and not an ***, but I let them know what I want and what I don't want.

Just as when I was an apprentice, I was in a shop with 5 JW's and I knew what each of them wanted and expected. I was to install the job the way they preferred it to be done. This just happens to be one of my pet-peaves. No courtesy loops. I few other idiosyncrasies, but I will save them for my therapist. :D
 
When contractors bring their feed in thru an expansion joint coupling in the conduit, they need to have expansion loops in the wire
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Many installations with expansion fittings do not require extra wire. The conduit is doing the expanding not the conductors.
 
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