Mounting of residental Service panel

[rickcham]

I have a issue where I was called to a house after a home inspection was conducted.
The service was changed out about 6 years ago and the circuit panel was installed upside down,(top on bottom, bottom on top, main disconnect on the bottom) I can not figure why it was done this way. The Home inspector told the new owner it was againist code.
I have scanned everywhere in art 230 and found nothing to this, Also the only article I found refering to mounting is 240-33 mounting on vertical posistion.
Any help in where I may find something to support or throw this out is much appericated. I personally say it is wrong,but just my opinion
Rick

 

[Ed MacLaren]

Re: Mounting of residental Service panel

Rick, most panels can be mounted either end up. One would have to know the manufacturer and model number to say for sure.

For example, Square D QO Type 1 (indoor) loadcenter instructions state - "Suitable for vertical, horizontal, or inverted mounting"

Ed

[ October 14, 2003, 04:53 PM: Message edited by: Ed MacLaren ]

 

[steve66]

Re: Mounting of residental Service panel

If the main breaker is mounted upside down, refer to 240.81: ....Where circuit breaker handles are operated vertically..., the up position of the handle shall be the on position.

Steve

 

[iwire]

Re: Mounting of residental Service panel

They solve 240.81 by mounting the breaker horizontally.

 

[Guest]

Re: Mounting of residental Service panel

What state are you in? I notice some panels that are good for underground service or overhead service are labeled "underground service only in the following states:...".

Is this panel served by overhead or served by underground? If the panel is only listed or codified for underground and it was used for overhead there may be a reparation there.

 

[rickcham]

Re: Mounting of residental Service panel

Thanks for the feedback, This is in Virginia and it was a CH panel feed from overhead. Normally I always put the main on top. This one is mounted vertical but upside down.
I will get the part number and check with the manuf. to see if it is listed for this mounting.

 

[iwire]

Re: Mounting of residental Service panel

So does the breaker say "ON" or "NO"?


If it says "ON" the panel is not upside down.

 

[ceb]

Re: Mounting of residental Service panel

I go along with IWIRE they do make a bottom mount main breaker panel.

 

[frenchelectrican]

Re: Mounting of residental Service panel

They solve 240.81 by mounting the breaker horizontally

ok bob you pointing out by nec saying " 240.81 Indicating. Circuit breakers shall clearly indicate whether they are in open "off" or closed "on" postion

Where circuit breaker handles are operated vertically rather than rotationaly or horizontally, the "up" postion of the handle shall be the "on" position.

this from nec code book ,

so that mean any breaker box must have the handle say on in upward dirction even in horizontally mounted box??? i thought the nec do not allow the box to be mounted in horizontally position at all..


please do correct me if i am wrong here


merci, marc

 

[Guest]

Re: Mounting of residental Service panel

Originally posted by iwire:
<snip>
If it says "ON" the panel is not upside down.

What if it says:
O
Z

???

[Follow the Yellow Brick Road... ]

 

[iwire]

Re: Mounting of residental Service panel

Originally posted by frenchelectrican:
so that mean any breaker box must have the handle say on in upward dirction even in horizontally mounted box??? i thought the nec do not allow the box to be mounted in horizontally position at all..
merci, marc

Marc you are correct the general requirment is to mount the enclosure in a vertical position.

240.33 Vertical Position.
Enclosures for overcurrent devices shall be mounted in a vertical position unless that is shown to be impracticable. Circuit breaker enclosures shall be permitted to be installed horizontally where the circuit breaker is installed in accordance with 240.81. Listed busway plug-in units shall be permitted to be mounted in orientations corresponding to the busway mounting position.

But the breakers themselves can be mounted either way, think of all the branch circuit breakers in a panel.

 

[frenchelectrican]

Re: Mounting of residental Service panel

thanks bob for getting the point here


merci, marc

[ October 15, 2003, 09:41 PM: Message edited by: frenchelectrican ]

 

[rickcham]

Re: Mounting of residental Service panel

Thanks all for the information, The way I see it is to remount the panel but I am going to have the AHJ take a look and give me final ruling,
The branch circuit breakers show off, on ok but the main is upside down.

 

[frenchelectrican]

Re: Mounting of residental Service panel

i don't know if that will help here but i will qouted from Cutler-Hammer catalog book


"Bottom-Fed Loadcenters
When the power cable is brought into the loadcenter from below the panel; then the main lug panels, and single-phase, 225 amperes and below, loadcenter can be rotated 180 degress to allow straight-in wiring of power cables to the main terminals. Because the CSR main breaker handle operates horizontally, the orientation of the main circuit breaker handle is consisent with the requirements of NEC Article 240.81" ( end qouite)


so therefore on C-H loadcenter with main breaker mounted horizontally it will meet nec code 240.81 easly due main handle is marked clear " on " and "off" postion so that box should able be set up standard or inverted set up.

please do note some ajh may not approve inverted box setup.

merci, marc