Tidy up an old service panel?

[patmat2350]

I have a 1973 house (2 floors + basement), and the panel is a mess. And it looks even messier to me now that I've looked at some examples of beautifully wired panels, oy.

So the panel top is even with the basement top plate, and there's a tangle of poorly supported NM coming in the top. Maybe 14" of space above that, as I have truss joists; many wires go up, right through the floor and sole plate. Inside the panel isn't too bad, just sloppy.

I'd like to lower the panel a bit, neaten up the wires entering the panel, and tidy up inside. Not much slack in the old work wiring, probably not enough to allow for a cleaner arrangement inside the panel, certainly not enough to lower the panel.

Seems like the only way to add some length (without renting an Acme wire stretcher) would be to add a passel of J-boxes at the top plate, and run pigtails from those into the panel.

Is that a bad idea?

 

[charlie b]

I am closing this thread in accordance with forum rules. We are not permitted to assist a person whose occupation is not related to electrical installations, if that person intends to do their own installation work. Engineers are certainly welcome (even encouraged) to participate in this forum, and have made some very strong contributions in the past. But we (i.e., engineers) are not allowed to ask DIY questions.