Panel Swap Pictures. Step by Step. Just for Fun.

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Nice series of pics, but I only have one critique...

You cut out the opening an extra couple inches longer than the original opening for the PushMatic panel. I know you'll say you did this so that you could get the romexes in both ends of the panel, but you don't have to do that. You can do it quite successfully with a 1/4" taller opening than the panel height, such that the panel's cover will cover everything up. I preassemble the romex connectors on all the cables, then pull them through the knockouts and put all the locknuts on once the cables are pulled through. Use string connected to each cable coming in the bottom, and pull them up though once the top cables are seated and the panel is back in the cavity. I see you were sorta screwed by the type of cable connectors you had to use there.

Nice pics anyhow. I thought about taking some step-by-steps for common stuff like this once, but I almost hate to take the time.
 
iwire said:
You wasted a plastic bushing. :grin:
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I almost said that, but I said enough and I hate to see a dog cry. Also wasted some expensive white tape when cheap black tape would have held that SE cable together to get it through the connector.
 
thats about as nice looking as a panel swap gets, good job.... the only thing I may have done differnt is going for a 40 space panel so there would be a little room for future expansion and possibly no drywall repair required below the panel....
 
iwire said:
You wasted a plastic bushing. :grin:
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Thanks to a post by stickboy last week, which made me find the article I stopped using them. :)

300.4 (G) #4 and Raceways

I did one last Thursday and did not install a bushing.

Always learning new things. :cool:
 
mdshunk said:
Nice series of pics, but I only have one critique...

You cut out the opening an extra couple inches longer than the original opening for the PushMatic panel. I know you'll say you did this so that you could get the romexes in both ends of the panel, but you don't have to do that. You can do it quite successfully with a 1/4" taller opening than the panel height, such that the panel's cover will cover everything up.
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Only one critique? :grin:

I was heading for a perfect install without so much damage to the rock below, but by the time my helper came by to fish the new grounding up from a wicked tight crawl space I had it installed without the damage.

He was having trouble fishing an I said scew it, and cut away. The owner knew this might happen going in, so I used the option.
 
ultramegabob said:
thats about as nice looking as a panel swap gets, good job.... the only thing I may have done differnt is going for a 40 space panel so there would be a little room for future expansion....
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Thanks for the compliments folks.

It was a 30/40 panel. :)
 
frizbeedog said:
It was a 30/40 panel. :)
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Yeah, but a QO tandem is slightly more than twice as expensive then two regular QO's. Filling a brand new panel, to me, falls into the "wrong thing to do" category. Why? Because customer's ascribe a certain value to having "room for expansion". As a man who favors selling sizzle rather than steak, I tend to want to give them what they percieve as having value, whether it's actually important electrically or not.
 
mdshunk said:
Yeah, but a QO tandem is slightly more than twice as expensive then two regular QO's. Filling a brand new panel, to me, falls into the "wrong thing to do" category. Why? Because customer's ascribe a certain value to having "room for expansion". As a man who favors selling sizzle rather than steak, I tend to want to give them what they percieve as having value, whether it's actually important electrically or not.
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I was thinking that a straight 40 space panel is longer and will fill the hole better....:grin:
 
ultramegabob said:
I was thinking that a straight 40 space panel is longer and will fill the hole better....:grin:
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That too! Replacing flush panels is one time I might sometimes pick a HOM panel, since they're stupid long.

The biggest tragedy of that whole series of pictures was the replacement of a fine PushMatic panel.
 
mdshunk said:
Yeah, but a QO tandem is slightly more than twice as expensive then two regular QO's. Filling a brand new panel, to me, falls into the "wrong thing to do" category. Why? Because customer's ascribe a certain value to having "room for expansion". As a man who favors selling sizzle rather than steak, I tend to want to give them what they percieve as having value, whether it's actually important electrically or not.
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Good points.

I'll look to use straight 40's in the future. I didn't like it either but the job and materials were estimated by another and I drew this card that day.
 
mdshunk said:
The biggest tragedy of that whole series of pictures was the replacement of a fine PushMatic panel.
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I'm either phsycic, or have read too many of your posts, beacuse I was waiting for you to say that. :)

The existing panel could easily have been fixed with some new breakers to replace some damaged ones, and a general clean up.
 
M. D. said:
Nice work there Doggy
just curious ,. did you try to sell the AFCI technology at all???
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I think he mentioned that another person sold the job. He probably works for one of those shops where you pick up your marching ordering in the morning and just go out and do the work without comment. In a situation where you're not being compensated for upselling, it's not even worth trying.
 
frizbeedog said:
I'm either phsycic, or have read too many of your posts, beacuse I was waiting for you to say that. :)

The existing panel could easily have been fixed with some new breakers to replace some damaged ones, and a general clean up.
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Not at the price of gas you couldn't. :grin: a job like that requires full replacement , lots of "sizzle''. I like the fact you cut the wall over sized, requires them to patch and repaint, gets rid of that nasty psychedelic easter egg color on the walls. Seriously , nice work. It is kind of silly to change out a good panel especially since they are bolt on connections at the buss. I hope you saved the old breakers.
 
mdshunk said:
I think he mentioned that another person sold the job. He probably works for one of those shops where you pick up your marching ordering in the morning and just go out and do the work without comment. In a situation where you're not being compensated for upselling, it's not even worth trying.
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That is why I am sell employed, I have a comment for everything. :grin: :grin: :grin:
 
frizbeedog said:
Thanks.

And no, I did not.
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BUT... are you permitted to upsell? Do you get anything if you do? Do you get growled for making comments about the base job that was sold?

After a salesman sells a new car on a lot, the F&I guys tries to sell floormats, fabric protection, bedliners, etc. while you're doing your paperwork. Some electrical contractors don't see the (financial) advantage of this concept, and don't have a good system in place to handle upsells.
 
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