200 amp panel with 1/0 wire

[Harold E. Miller]

Originally Posted by phughes

The only reason I questioned the 1/0 was becasue on one inspection that I pointed this out their electrician said it was OK to go one size breaker larger than the rating of the wire.

So I wondered if anyone on NACHI had heard such a thing but based on the answers they have not.

Peter
Never read that in the codes. (about the using a breaker size one larger tan the rating of the wire) I think your electrician was misinformed.

Roy
I was surprised to find out that in Canada the HI's don't inspect the electrical panel with the deadfront cover removed.
Here I find so many home owner produced safety hazards inside panels that it is unreal. Especially when it comes to home owner installed distribution panels. If I were a home buyer I would want to know if these conditions existed in the home I am about to purchase and move my family into.
Just the day before yesterday I found where a homeowner wanted some more space in a panel for outlets in a garage. The owner removed the 10-2 cable from a 30 amp breaker and double tapped it to a 50 amp breaker, and then proceeded to install the garage outlets (14-2 cable) two circuits, on the 30 amp breaker. Might as well have just double tapped everything at the SEC lugs....it is just about the same result.

[Paul W. Abernathy]

Strange because I thought all NACHI members had to follow the SOP atleast to the minimum of the standard.

I just happen to find it very important that if an HI is going to comply with the SOP that they need to understand that the Conductors must be sized properly for the service in question. The OCPD's should not be oversized for the conductors to which it is protecting and so on.

I did not know that concept was different in Canada.....I think quite possibly that Nick and Deanna ( if they are reading this ) should consider dropping me from the speaking list in Canada...I most certainly do not mind not going.....

I will preach this day in and day out....so if this is not the case in Canada I think people will be wasting their time listening to me at the convention and I have better things to do with my time.....

[Roy D. Cooke, Sr]

Originally Posted by hmiller

Peter
Never read that in the codes. (about the using a breaker size one larger tan the rating of the wire) I think your electrician was misinformed.

Roy
I was surprised to find out that in Canada the HI's don't inspect the electrical panel with the deadfront cover removed.
Governmet regulations will not allow it .
It looks like we soon will not be able to remove the cover of of any panel.
Here I find so many home owner produced safety hazards inside panels that it is unreal. Especially when it comes to home owner installed distribution panels. If I were a home buyer I would want to know if these conditions existed in the home I am about to purchase and move my family into.
Just the day before yesterday I found where a homeowner wanted some more space in a panel for outlets in a garage. The owner removed the 10-2 cable from a 30 amp breaker and double tapped it to a 50 amp breaker, and then proceeded to install the garage outlets (14-2 cable) two circuits, on the 30 amp breaker. Might as well have just double tapped everything at the SEC lugs....it is just about the same result.

We also still manfacture Stablok panels and a large % of new homes have them installed .
Yes My home has A Stablok service
Roy Cooke

[Harold E. Miller]

Roy,
Actually if they could keep the homeowners out of the panels, there would be a lot less for us to report on.
BTW the way I don't think anyone is concerned with the newer Stay-Loks, just the old ones.

[Frank M. Carrio, CMI]

Originally Posted by rcooke

Please read what I said unless our main panels are different then ours

Originally Posted by rcooke

the main breaker is still covered when the the lower section is opened .
No where did I talk about Double taps ,circuit breakers,smaller gauge wire,or water seepage ..
I was talking about the main feed and nothing else.
I again reiterate I do not think many if any home inspectors should be going into see what size the main feeds are.
Please refer to electrical selection of the NACHI standards of practice
I hope you have been reading some of the electrical questions on this BB and you have seen how little knowledge many home inspectors have on electricity.
That is what makes NACHI so great the inexperienced can learn for free!!
I do think I have a reasonable electrical knowledge maybe more then you .
Sigh…….
No I was not joking not a little bit.
Those in power in Canada are trying to stop HIs from even looking in the lower section of the panel.
We have had some activists from the electrical union tried to do the same to us but to no avail!

Do you yourself really think all Home inspectors are qualified to throughly inspect the main electrical panel??????? Roy Cooke

We have 93 members in our state chapter. I don't know about "all" home inspectors but I do know that our chapter members are certainly qualified.
We are “top-heavy” with engineers, electricians, certified HVAC technicians, certified plumbers, past and present code officials, etc., etc..
We provide three hours of continuing education on different subject matter each and every month. One of our members taught Home Inspection classes at the local community college.
We have a very highly trained and educated group of people.

• I don't think we are different from any other chapter.

[Greg Fretwell]

The "next higher breaker size" rule only refers to rounding up when the ampacity falls between two standard sizes. Since 175a IS a standard size you can't round up.

[Peter Hughes]

Thank you