BackCountry
Electrician
- Location
- Southern California
- Occupation
- Licensed Electrician and General Contractor
Hey guys, first post -- great resource.
I'm doing an aerial to underground job, but it's going to be done in multiple stages as various components of a remodel are completed per the HO. The first step, is a previous unpermitted addition was gutted and re-done to code. It's a simple living room, with one circuit for receptacles and one lighting circuit. The current panel has an integral meter, and is 70 amp service in an old Square D multi-breaker from the 50's. It's got four 20a circuits, and two 30a circuits. No main disconnect exists. Someone previously hacked in an additional 60 amp panel, which is double tapped off of the main lugs. It's pretty ugly.
Currently, the two 30 amp circuits are not in use. The 60 amp secondary panel, if you will, is only being used to power a gas dryer.
After several more rooms are gutted and redone, I'll be installing new conduit to a backyard easement and going underground, replacing the previous aerial service with 200 amp from SCE, and a new panel with integral meter.
In the interim, here's what I'm debating doing so as to make this little safer -- as we won't be doing this new panel for a few more months, and I need to light up the living room addition:
Remove double tapped separate panel, as the lugs are not designed for it, and there is no upcurrent protection.
Utilize the two 30 amp circuits, tied together, and feed from them to a temporary sub panel.
Place the new addition, and the dryer (gas dryer) in the subpanel.
Eventually wreck everything out, and completely replace service.
Anyone have any other better methods to handle something that's evolving over a few months?
Thanks
I'm doing an aerial to underground job, but it's going to be done in multiple stages as various components of a remodel are completed per the HO. The first step, is a previous unpermitted addition was gutted and re-done to code. It's a simple living room, with one circuit for receptacles and one lighting circuit. The current panel has an integral meter, and is 70 amp service in an old Square D multi-breaker from the 50's. It's got four 20a circuits, and two 30a circuits. No main disconnect exists. Someone previously hacked in an additional 60 amp panel, which is double tapped off of the main lugs. It's pretty ugly.
Currently, the two 30 amp circuits are not in use. The 60 amp secondary panel, if you will, is only being used to power a gas dryer.
After several more rooms are gutted and redone, I'll be installing new conduit to a backyard easement and going underground, replacing the previous aerial service with 200 amp from SCE, and a new panel with integral meter.
In the interim, here's what I'm debating doing so as to make this little safer -- as we won't be doing this new panel for a few more months, and I need to light up the living room addition:
Remove double tapped separate panel, as the lugs are not designed for it, and there is no upcurrent protection.
Utilize the two 30 amp circuits, tied together, and feed from them to a temporary sub panel.
Place the new addition, and the dryer (gas dryer) in the subpanel.
Eventually wreck everything out, and completely replace service.
Anyone have any other better methods to handle something that's evolving over a few months?
Thanks
