I trying to add a breaker & my main panel doesn't have a Disconnect, How to I add it without getting electrocuted?

Trucker_john · Sep 25, 2019

Here is a pic of my panel.

[ElectriciansForums.net] I trying to add a breaker & my main panel doesn't have a Disconnect, How to I add it without getting electrocuted?

Thanks!

telectrix · Sep 25, 2019

not the same type of gear we have here, but we would carefully fit the breaker. tighten incoming terminal with a VDE insulated screwdriver, then, with the breaker OFF, connect the circuit. always be careful of touching live parts. if in doubt, consult an electrician. ( added to that. i don't know the regulations in Texas, as to whether you are allowed to do it. later on a couple of US members will be on to give better advice.

plugsandsparks · Sep 25, 2019

Typically you would go upstream and disconnect there, that type of board has not been designed to allow live working so hopefully someone has installed a disconnector upstream of the two thick black cables

westward10 · Sep 25, 2019

@Trucker_john I have moved this to the American section.

Megawatt · Sep 25, 2019

Trucker_john said:
Here is a pic of my panel.View attachment 52549

Thanks!

Is that panel with the picture inside your house, if so do you have a panel located outside where the meter is. That’s where your main should be and it should be 100 amps
[automerge]1569448985[/automerge]

Megawatt said:
Is that panel with the picture inside your house, if so do you have a panel located outside where the meter is. That’s where your main should be and it should be 100 amps

trucker john let us know what you find after my advice, I’m confident that’s what’s going on

Trucker_john · Sep 26, 2019

Megawatt said:
Is that panel with the picture inside your house, if so do you have a panel located outside where the meter is. That’s where your main should be and it should be 100 amps
[automerge]1569448985[/automerge]

trucker john let us know what you find after my advice, I’m confident that’s what’s going on

@Megawatt,

Thanks for your response, The panel is outside of my house and right next to the city power meter. The panel in the pic has 2 2x50amp breakers and there isn't any other panels outside the house.

Megawatt · Sep 26, 2019

Trucker_john said:
@Megawatt,

Thanks for your response, The panel is outside of my house and right next to the city power meter. The panel in the pic has 2 2x50amp breakers and there isn't any other panels outside the house.

Do you have 2 panels
[automerge]1569513608[/automerge]

Megawatt · Sep 26, 2019

Megawatt said:
Do you have 2 panels
[automerge]1569513608[/automerge]

Trucker do you have a panel inside you house and 1 outside your house also

Trucker_john · Sep 27, 2019

Megawatt said:
Trucker do you have a panel inside you house and 1 outside your house also

I have another panel in the garage but i think its just a sub panel with only breakers in it. Ill look around to see if there are anymore.

Megawatt · Sep 27, 2019

Trucker_john said:
I have another panel in the garage but i think its just a sub panel with only breakers in it. Ill look around to see if there are anymore.

Does the garage panel have a 100 amp breaker in it, if so that feeds your house panel

Trucker_john said:
Here is a pic of my panel.View attachment 52549

Thanks!

@trucker the pitcher you showed us , is that panel inside your house or outside your house ?

norcal · Nov 5, 2019

That panel was installed using the 6-disconnect rule, no more then 6 throws of the hand to disconnect power, and no main was required, just plain cheap but residential is as cheap as they can get away with, you cannot add any more breakers and be compliant with code, my advice is get the panel replaced with a main breaker model and consider a upgrade to 200A if planning to add major loads, load calculations should be done to determine if needed.

The 2020 NEC will require a outside disconnect on dwellings, although means nothing until it is adopted.