Panel upgrade in CA

[beachbumjeremy]

Getting ready to do a panel upgrade in CA. I mainly do commercial, and have never done a resi panel upgrade. Already had SDG&E planner come out, already pulled the permit. I am currently going through the code making sure I don't miss anything, as this is not my normal field, and thought maybe some of you guys could throw out any tips or tricks with issues you've had with inspectors or any new building codes maybe I'm not aware of. I don't want any issues, want it done right and one time.
My plans are too put a pull can over the existing recessed panel and nipple into the side of the new surface mount panel. Upgrading to 200 amp. Riser will also be surface mount and plan on using rigid or IMC, not sure if it will even matter which I use. Believe I need 3/0 but not sure yes of wire type. #2 ground. I've been told requirements for residential grounding keep changing, but haven't seen anything too different from what I know. Any tips, tricks, or ideas would be great.

 

[Sierrasparky]

Getting ready to do a panel upgrade in CA. I mainly do commercial, and have never done a resi panel upgrade. Already had SDG&E planner come out, already pulled the permit. I am currently going through the code making sure I don't miss anything, as this is not my normal field, and thought maybe some of you guys could throw out any tips or tricks with issues you've had with inspectors or any new building codes maybe I'm not aware of. I don't want any issues, want it done right and one time.
My plans are too put a pull can over the existing recessed panel and nipple into the side of the new surface mount panel. Upgrading to 200 amp. Riser will also be surface mount and plan on using rigid or IMC, not sure if it will even matter which I use. Believe I need 3/0 but not sure yes of wire type. #2 ground. I've been told requirements for residential grounding keep changing, but haven't seen anything too different from what I know. Any tips, tricks, or ideas would be great.

I don't know about the can over the pull box as how will the old panel be accessible.

As far as grounding electrode size , that depends on the type of electrode s being used and or which electrode is connected first.
The ground rod need not be larger than 8,

 

[Fulthrotl]

Getting ready to do a panel upgrade in CA. I mainly do commercial, and have never done a resi panel upgrade. Already had SDG&E planner come out, already pulled the permit. I am currently going through the code making sure I don't miss anything, as this is not my normal field, and thought maybe some of you guys could throw out any tips or tricks with issues you've had with inspectors or any new building codes maybe I'm not aware of. I don't want any issues, want it done right and one time.
My plans are too put a pull can over the existing recessed panel and nipple into the side of the new surface mount panel. Upgrading to 200 amp. Riser will also be surface mount and plan on using rigid or IMC, not sure if it will even matter which I use. Believe I need 3/0 but not sure yes of wire type. #2 ground. I've been told requirements for residential grounding keep changing, but haven't seen anything too different from what I know. Any tips, tricks, or ideas would be great.

depending on what type of panel it is, i've done this:

gut the old panel in it's entirety.
put a 2" telephone 90 out the side of the existing panel
on a short GRC nipple, into the back of the new panel.

mount the new panel. use a 2" GRC riser.

make a stainless cover for the old panel, and make it
into a tidy j box. my stainless guy usually bends two half inch lips
on a piece of 12 or 14 gauge, the width to cover the can.

 

[beachbumjeremy]

depending on what type of panel it is, i've done this:

gut the old panel in it's entirety.
put a 2" telephone 90 out the side of the existing panel
on a short GRC nipple, into the back of the new panel.

mount the new panel. use a 2" GRC riser.

make a stainless cover for the old panel, and make it
into a tidy j box. my stainless guy usually bends two half inch lips
on a piece of 12 or 14 gauge, the width to cover the can.

This is what I wanted to do originally, but didn't want to deal with any inspectors crying about UL listings. I had a can made that was oversized of my current panel 3 inches all the way around. Gonna cut the back out of it and mount it over the top. Complete access to everything and give me lots of room for wiring for future improvements.

 

[beachbumjeremy]

Service conductor type?

Service conductor type?

I can't find anything about service conductor type, does it matter what type of conductor I use for service entrance?

 

[Smart $]

I can't find anything about service conductor type, does it matter what type of conductor I use for service entrance?

[Header]
Table 310.15(B)(7) Conductor Types and Sizes for
120/240-Volt, 3-Wire, Single-Phase Dwelling Services and
Feeders. Conductor Types RHH, RHW, RHW-2, THHN,
THHW, THW, THW-2, THWN, THWN-2, XHHW,
XHHW-2, SE, USE, USE-2

 

[kwired]

I can't find anything about service conductor type, does it matter what type of conductor I use for service entrance?

Conductor types from 310.104, or conductors part of a cable permitted to be used for the purpose, for conductor size 310.15, if supplying an entire dwelling unit note you have somewhat of a break from general sizing rules in 310.15(B)(7)

 

[beachbumjeremy]

[Header]
Table 310.15(B)(7) Conductor Types and Sizes for
120/240-Volt, 3-Wire, Single-Phase Dwelling Services and
Feeders. Conductor Types RHH, RHW, RHW-2, THHN,
THHW, THW, THW-2, THWN, THWN-2, XHHW,
XHHW-2, SE, USE, USE-2

Thanks. Guess this means I only need 2/0 and not 3/0. Little rusty on my code lately.

 

[Ponchik]

Thanks. Guess this means I only need 2/0 and not 3/0. Little rusty on my code lately.

Make sure your local AHJ does allow 2/0 for the service conductor and check for the minimum size of the service conduit. Also, if they will allow smaller grounded conductors.

Why aren't you removing the existing panel completely to replace with a new one on the same location?

 

[Sierrasparky]

I don't know about the can over the pull box as how will the old panel be accessible.

As far as grounding electrode size , that depends on the type of electrode s being used and or which electrode is connected first.
The ground rod need not be larger than 8,

Looks like I made a typo.
Rod and pipe electrodes max out a #6
UFFER max out at #4

 

[beachbumjeremy]

Make sure your local AHJ does allow 2/0 for the service conductor and check for the minimum size of the service conduit. Also, if they will allow smaller grounded conductors.

Why aren't you removing the existing panel completely to replace with a new one on the same location?

Didn't want to deal with not having power for a day and having to finish at one time. Didn't want to deal with stucco repair. I also wanted a surface mount panel to make everything I add in the future easier. With a lot of the hoaky things I've found in this house, including some hoaky exposed electrical in the garage and crawl space, decided it would be better to have the old wiring available in case any problems came up.

 

[beachbumjeremy]

Didn't want to deal with not having power for a day and having to finish at one time. Didn't want to deal with stucco repair. I also wanted a surface mount panel to make everything I add in the future easier. With a lot of the hoaky things I've found in this house, including some hoaky exposed electrical in the garage and crawl space, decided it would be better to have the old wiring available in case any problems came up.

Forgot to add that the current riser is also undersized.