Old GE Service Panel

[Will Wire]

I recently got a call about an old GE Service Panel on a house built in 1959. The dead front has four separate 2-Pole breaker knockouts. Two of the 2-Pole breaker spots are on the top and labeled #1 and #2, The other two 2-Pole breaker spots are below and labeled 3,4,5,6 and 7,8,9,10, presumably for 2-Pole, Single Pole, or Twin breakers. There is not a main breaker.

Is anyone familiar with this old GE Service panel, and knows what it's amp rating is?

Thanks

 

[infinity]

Do you have a photo?

 

[LarryFine]

It sounds like a split-bus panel.

 

[Little Bill]

It sounds like a split-bus panel.

Agree

 

[Will Wire]

Here is the panel.

 

[rambojoe]

As labeled...
Its a mlo
Rather, as the picture dictates.
Whats the problem?

 

[norcal]

Here is the panel.View attachment 2573981

And has BR and Siemens breakers, only the breaker in the upper left is correct, a view of the inside is only way that one might be able to tell.

 

[Will Wire]

It is a Service Distribution panel with meter. I realized it had the wrong breakers in it. It also has no main breaker. Which was standard with the old 60 amp service panels. Was it common in the old days to have MLOs for larger panels. I was wondering if it is a 60 or 100 amp panel. I will get a picture of the insides when I'm there.

 

[LarryFine]

Here is the panel.View attachment 2573981

Ah, main-lug, not split bus.

 

[Birken Vogt]

And has BR and Siemens breakers, only the breaker in the upper left is correct, a view of the inside is only way that one might be able to tell.

In 1959, this style breaker was probably still "interchangeable". The brand-specific thing did not happen until the 1980s I think.

 

[LarryFine]

The brand-specific thing did not happen until the 1980s I think.

Remember, it's actually type-specific, not brand-specific.

 

[infinity]

Any photo with the cover removed?

 

[Will Wire]

No photos of the cover removed. I will get one.

In the new panels that I have worked with recently, some manufactures are requiring brand specific breakers. While others are requiring type-specific, with various brands listed. I think it's because they own multiple brands.

 

[kwired]

Remember, it's actually type-specific, not brand-specific.

No photos of the cover removed. I will get one.

In the new panels that I have worked with recently, some manufactures are requiring brand specific breakers. While others are requiring type-specific, with various brands listed. I think it's because they own multiple brands.

It is type specific. Majority of the time that also turns into brand specific simply because the type is only made under one brand, but there also is types that get carried on under other brand names as companies take over other companies or at least take over a particular line of products.

 

[hornetd]

Here is the panel.View attachment 2573981

Those two 3/4 inch breaker space closer blanks, Square D QO perhaps, should be replaced with full sized 1 inch breaker closure blanks. The top 3 breakers are installed upside down but perhaps the requirement for on being up was not part of the US National Electric Code at that time.

Tom Horne

 

[kwired]

The top 3 breakers are installed upside down but perhaps the requirement for on being up was not part of the US National Electric Code at that time.

I've run into a few like that in various manufacturers, guessing that wasn't always a rule or they wouldn't even have made them. Bus design won't allow installing any other way.

 

[norcal]

Those two 3/4 inch breaker space closer blanks, Square D QO perhaps, should be replaced with full sized 1 inch breaker closure blanks. The top 3 breakers are installed upside down but perhaps the requirement for on being up was not part of the US National Electric Code at that time.

Tom Horne

That rule about vertically mounted breakers must be up when ON, think was a product of the 1970's, all the manufacturers made loadcenters in the same manner, like ITE, cat # EQ 8 panels.

 

[ptonsparky]

Two 15 amp circuits for the entire house. Betting someone was justifiably yelling 'Shut the dang lights off!'

 

[Will Wire]

Here is the inside of the Service Panel. I did clean it out! Just didn't photograph it clean.
There is no labeling in the panel.
Couple questions.
1. Does anyone know what the ampacity rating of this old panel might be. Installed 1959 60 amp, 100 amp, 125 amp
2. When was the 100 Amp minimum Service size for dwellings established in the NEC?
3. When was the six switch rule established in the NEC?
I have seen a lot of 60 Amp fused Services without a Main, but not one like this without a Main.
Thanks

 

[Little Bill]

View attachment 2574364
Here is the inside of the Service Panel. I did clean it out! Just didn't photograph it clean.
There is no labeling in the panel.
Couple questions.
1. Does anyone know what the ampacity rating of this old panel might be. Installed 1959 60 amp, 100 amp, 125 amp
2. When was the 100 Amp minimum Service size for dwellings established in the NEC?
3. When was the six switch rule established in the NEC?
I have seen a lot of 60 Amp fused Services without a Main, but not one like this without a Main.
Thanks

Bet they had a huge voltage drop problem. The breakers are upside down and most of the voltage dropped to the bottom of the panel!