Feed thru load center

[texie]

Found in the wild today. Looks like a DIY feed thru lugs. I'm not aware of any load centers that have feed thru lugs like this that are not part of a meter main combo. Sure, true panel boards are often built with feed thru lugs at the end of the bus. But a load center like this?
There are also a million other violations with this install but that is another subject.

 

[augie47]

common in this area. One of our POCOs supplies meter sockets so meter combos are not that common but feed thru loadcenters are

 

[letgomywago]

I use a siemens 3r 200 amp 816 with feed through often when metermain is on an hframe for the outside disconnect of a house. Finding a nema 1 that'd be something special.

 

[LarryFine]

There should not be both a neutral and an EGC from the meter to the panel.

 

[letgomywago]

There should not be both a neutral and an EGC from the meter to the panel.

Looks like there isn't that's just an ser to the inside if I'm looking at this right

 

[LarryFine]

Looks like there isn't that's just an ser to the inside if I'm looking at this right

By George, I believe you're right. I now see that there are two neutral conductors. And two blacks and reds.

However, I only see one set of conductors coming up from the bottom, and there is a bare conductor, too.

It looks like it lands in a lug on the lower left, behind the three conductors together. I think we're both right.

 

[letgomywago]

By George, I believe you're right. I now see that there are two neutral conductors. And two blacks and reds.

However, I only see one set of conductors coming up from the bottom, and there is a bare conductor, too.

It looks like it lands in a lug on the lower left, behind the three conductors together. I think we're both right.

Ya I'm trying to find the feeder side on the left idk now I'm thinking it's an aluminum GEC and that the feeder must be punched in from the top or something. I wish there was a better picture

 

[LarryFine]

It also appears that power flows "backward" through the upper paralleled pair of main breaker poles.

I guess that design makes it easier for the manufacturer to make the terminations more symmetrical.

 

[letgomywago]

It also appears that power flows "backward" through the upper paralleled pair of main breaker poles.

I guess that design makes it easier for the manufacturer to make the terminstions more symmetrical.

I'm still not a fan of this level of micky mousing the servic and feeder wires so much. It leaves less room for circuit wires inside the panel.

 

[jap]

Who knows, the bare conductor on the left is pretty straight.

Maybe the bare conductor on the left is landing on a lug that we can't see next to the bonding screw that we can't see and goes out the bottom of the panel to a ground rod that we can't see.

Either that, or, it is actually coming from the meter which it shouldn't be.

The black and red feeder wiring coming in from the top that we can't see landing on the feed through lugs on the buss bars is pretty common stuff.

I don't think the power flows backwards through the breaker, I think the service conductors from the meter land on the line side lugs like normal, and, energize the tabs that the breaker stabs onto.

The picture is deceiving because we can't see the clear insulating material between the line side service tabs and the load side of the breaker bussing to the buss bars.

JAP>

 

[brantmacga]

That's not DIY; that's a GE 8/16 3R feed-thru panel. Around here its called a "trailer panel" as this is what most use on a mobile home pedestal.

 

[LarryFine]

I don't think the power flows backwards through the breaker, I think the service conductors from the meter land on the line side lugs like normal, and, energize the tabs that the breaker stabs onto.

I'm suggesting this is a design of the panel, not a wiring error. What I'm seeing is that "L2" with the red stripe lands at the top-right terminal inside the clear plastic, passes through the lower pair of poles (in parallel) in the "normal" line-to-load direction, and feeds the left bus.

However, "L1" in the top-left terminal inside the clear plastic connects to what is normally the load terminals of the upper pair of paralleled breaker poles, and passes through them opposite the normal line-to-load direction, like a back-fed breaker, and feeds the right bus.

 

[jap]

Agreed.

JAP>

 

[texie]

That's not DIY; that's a GE 8/16 3R feed-thru panel. Around here its called a "trailer panel" as this is what most use on a mobile home pedestal.

Thanks. I just thought it looked a little off but I guess it is legit then. I have to admit that I did not see this install myself just the photo.
And as I said in my OP and others pointed out, there are a million other serious issues with this install. Just wanted to clarify that the panel is legit before we attack all the other issues.

 

[jap]

I don't see anything wrong with the panel, and, actually, it looks very well thought out.

JAP>

 

[Dennis Alwon]

We used that panel for years. It has a 200 amp main with feed thru lugs t feed a 200 amp panel inside the house. There are also 8 spaces or so below the main if you need to use it in the future.

 

[tortuga]

I'm suggesting this is a design of the panel, not a wiring error. What I'm seeing is that "L2" with the red stripe lands at the top-right terminal inside the clear plastic, passes through the lower pair of poles (in parallel) in the "normal" line-to-load direction, and feeds the left bus.

However, "L1" in the top-left terminal inside the clear plastic connects to what is normally the load terminals of the upper pair of paralleled breaker poles, and passes through them opposite the normal line-to-load direction, like a back-fed breaker, and feeds the right bus.

Oh that is really odd, so you think the upper half of the breaker is backfed (in yellow) ? And the bottom half is normal feed? (blue)

 

[tortuga]

Sure enough here is one without a main installed. Added blue and yellow dots for clarity.

 

[LarryFine]

 

[jap]

Back in the day of the 6 movement rule this could have been a MLO panel utilizing the 6 movement rule with the the 200 amp OCPD being a Subfeed breaker.

JAP>