Convert 200A CH mcb to 60A?

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brantmacga

brantmacga

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Call today from a guy that bought some land that previously had a mobile home. Existing 200A service was disconnected; owner called for inspection to reconnect, was denied as local ordinance prohibits services greater than 60A on a property with no structure. Customer wants to use for a motor home and well pump.

Attached are pics of the service; does CH offer a 60A breaker in this frame, or do they make an MLO Kit I could install and backfeed a 60A breaker? Other question is would a breaker retention kit fit this panel? Idk much about CH equipment.

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The bus in that Zinsco II* panel is pretty corroded, be better off to replace it and could they build a shed/ pumphouse to get around the prohibition? I think the smallest size for that Eaton/C-H main is 125A.


*Every product type has to have someone at the bottom, & the BR/Zinsco II line is it.
 
You can just leave the main breaker in place and install a backfed 60 amp 2 pole breaker. They make tie-down screws for BR breakers, however you can just install another two pole breaker opposite the backfed main and wrap a zip-tie around both of them for an effective tie-down. This is the same method used for tie-down in generator interlock kits. Polaris connectors can be used to reduce wire size for the 60a breaker.
 
Question: will they even accept the existing combo if you could install a 60a main in it? The meter base and the panel could be easily refitted back to 200 amps, and it seems quite likely the AHJ can see right through installing a smaller breaker.
 
:thumbsup:
Strathead said:
Put a wooden box on the property and call it a homeless shelter.

What an arbitrary rule.
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I don't get that rule at all.

Structure or no structure, there are applications of a single load that need more then 60 amp supply at times.

They are probably trying to prevent something from happening but not sure what. I recall a thread not too long ago where a city didn't want to allow small services on pole(s) in certain areas - they didn't want RV's sitting in yards and parking lots. Might have been same OP as here I can't quite remember.
 
kwired said:
:thumbsup:

I don't get that rule at all.

Structure or no structure, there are applications of a single load that need more then 60 amp supply at times.

They are probably trying to prevent something from happening but not sure what. I recall a thread not too long ago where a city didn't want to allow small services on pole(s) in certain areas - they didn't want RV's sitting in yards and parking lots. Might have been same OP as here I can't quite remember.
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My understanding is that areas that see a lot of either vacationers or transient worker populations often enact strict ordinances to keep the riff-raft outta their towns. These power restrictions are one bullet in their gunbelt.
 
Craigv said:
My understanding is that areas that see a lot of either vacationers or transient worker populations often enact strict ordinances to keep the riff-raft outta their towns. These power restrictions are one bullet in their gunbelt.
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I understand that particular situation, but for what is in the OP just doesn't make any sense. One can connect an RV to either the 200 or a 60 amp service. Unless they are afraid someone will try to connect say 4 -6 RV's to a 200 amp source?

Still IMO the better way of regulating this is with laws that directly effect parking of RV's themselves. If you can't have the service for them people still will run temp cords to someplace that has service or run off generators anyway.
 
kwired said:
I understand that particular situation, but for what is in the OP just doesn't make any sense. One can connect an RV to either the 200 or a 60 amp service. Unless they are afraid someone will try to connect say 4 -6 RV's to a 200 amp source?

Still IMO the better way of regulating this is with laws that directly effect parking of RV's themselves. If you can't have the service for them people still will run temp cords to someplace that has service or run off generators anyway.
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Nobody has ever accused government legislation of making any sense. However, I can see how severely limiting power to what can supply one trailer, which would be expected for an empty lot either under development or a private plot for one owner's RV, would prevent a group of RV's from using the land against an ordinance.

Point being it's a deterrent...as most laws take time to enforce, it prevents several campers from plugging in against ordinance and short-timing the land for a day or two then moving on. By the time it's noticed, reported, ticketed or otherwise served, and possibly towed, they're on the road again. This isn't as likely to happen if power is short and the only option is boondocking. I know of people who supplement their income by allowing transients to park. With such easy internet communication these "sites" can pop up and get decent publicity. Having good power is a definite attraction.
 
We’re just going to replace with a new service now. Inspector said they only allow 60A conductors at the weatherhead.

After talking to the inspector, I learned this is a 2 acre lot in a neighborhood. The guy calling me said it was part of a hunting club .... so idk where he’s hunting but definitely not on this land.

The 60A limit goes away if you build a minimum 480 sq/ft structure.


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brantmacga said:
We’re just going to replace with a new service now. Inspector said they only allow 60A conductors at the weatherhead.

After talking to the inspector, I learned this is a 2 acre lot in a neighborhood. The guy calling me said it was part of a hunting club .... so idk where he’s hunting but definitely not on this land.

The 60A limit goes away if you build a minimum 480 sq/ft structure.


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Click to expand...

I doubt if you could get a permit for any kind of power here other than temp power for construction [would need a building permit].
 
brantmacga said:
We’re just going to replace with a new service now. Inspector said they only allow 60A conductors at the weatherhead.

After talking to the inspector, I learned this is a 2 acre lot in a neighborhood. The guy calling me said it was part of a hunting club .... so idk where he’s hunting but definitely not on this land.

The 60A limit goes away if you build a minimum 480 sq/ft structure.


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That all sounds reasonable to me.

Perhaps it's a snipe hunting club.....
 
Coppersmith said:
Wow! They are stopping you from oversizing the conductors? Weird.
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Yeh. When I called the guy back to discuss what we needed to do, he asked, “well can’t you just come in after power is on and hot wire it to a 200A breaker?”

This is exactly why they limit you.


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brantmacga said:
Yeh. When I called the guy back to discuss what we needed to do, he asked, “well can’t you just come in after power is on and hot wire it to a 200A breaker?”

This is exactly why they limit you.


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It would take only a little more work and no more or less electrical safety risk to just change the whole service drop to 200A so this is kind of arbitrary.
 
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