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Subject - breaker boxes
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bobben
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i went in a breaker box to change a breaker and i notice that the entrance wires are connected to a breaker itself and not the buss bar lugs it cant be legal right? AND ONE MORE THING WHY IN THE WORLD WOULD ANY BODY HOOK UP A GFCI WHERE THERE IS TWO CABLES COMING IN AND BOTH OF THEM ARE HOOKED UP TO THE LINE TERMINALS
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kbsparky
| Most breaker boxes these days are "Main Breaker" type when used as the Service Disconnecting means. What size was that breaker you saw? I have seen instances where a 100 Amp breaker was back-fed as a main, especially in mobile homes. In cases like that, the breaker is supposed to be secured with an additional clip or screw to prevent it from accidentally coming loose from the bus bars.
As for your GFCI receptacle, most manufacturers have dual terminals available for multi-cable connections without the need for pigtails. Anyone wanting to Ground-fault protect a single location without providing downstream protection would connect one up in this manner.
How much experience do you have in the electrical trade?
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skynrd
| But don't forget depending on the brand the breaker might not be suited for back feeding.
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blackrd
| I had to do this once, without knowing the legality of it. I used it to get myself out of a situation and the inspector didnt seem to be concerned.
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lctrc789
| There are many 100 and 200 amp residential type panels that the main breaker has lugs for the main wires it is not un common at all, the breaker then feeds the buss bar.... They should have some type of screw or some type of holder to hold them in place.
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Alfred
| I-line panels and MLO panels are similar in these type of panels. It all depends on what the manufacturer is running on production that day. Remember this an assembly-line product. Thanks Alfred Johnson
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stedder
| Alfred, what is an I-Line panel? Is it a squre D? I'm bidding against somebody that included I-Line. Are they boltin's or plug in's? How do they compare to GE switchgear and panel boards? Sorry 'bout all the Q's. blkrd: there must be a a strap or other type of device to secure the backfeed main (if it is being used as a main).
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blackrd
| Yes, I didnt know that then. I had a house inspection(was selling rental) and didnt want to spend time or money. I had a GE mlo panel and there was no way to fit it with a bolt in main, they seemed to manufacture it so you couldnt adapt it, unlike others Ive used. Personally I dont like the GE panels, Ive found the parts harder to get in my area.
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