30 Amp Fused Main service-Meter in basement

[Gregory A. Liebig]

I did an inspection yesterday on a 1923 home and I found this. It's an as-is estate property and a real fixer-upper. I didn't think these even existed.

This is one for the archives! Notice the package of fuses next to the panel...
All receptables were original 2-wire. Knob and tube in the attic was in good shape and it wasn't even covered with insulation. Not hard to do since there was only 2 to 3 inches of insulation in the attic.

I've seen many 60 Amp and even one 50 Amp split bus (Realtor tried talking me into a 100 amp because there was a 50 amp double pole main on the lower half of the bus...NOT)

[Paul W. Abernathy]

Greg,

hmmm....interesting picture because if THAT is the service drop for the dwelling I am only seeing (2) conductors coming down so we can only assume it is a 120V service.

Now, if this happens to be the case I question those (2) 30A fuses and so on and then BEGS me to ask......did you find any 240V appliances within this house......I would think NOT based on the drop image.

but I could be wrong...the eyes are getting fuzzier over time.

Another example of a realtor WANTING something to make the sale easier.....but their are issues here.

YET...intersting enough AGAIN I see from the meter itself to the fused/knife panel it has (2) ungrounded and (1) grounded coming into the panel itself....very interesting...are these two images of the SAME service.

[Gregory A. Liebig]

You are correct. I reported it was only a 120 VAC service. Gas range, no other appliances.

[Paul W. Abernathy]

Opps....I think I mixed your comment up about the 100A panel with a comment and not in regards to the actual picture.

Yep.....that is a 120V service and I am sure you did the proper thing and inform them it is a outdated system and not having the ability to handle any appliances or modern features and should be replaced.

And while they are at it.....chances are their is only 3-4 circuits in the whole house, they might as well remove that KNOB and do a service change and circuit update...

[Gregory A. Liebig]

Forgot to metion that the service drop to the house was over the driveway and only 11 feet at it's lowest point at the roof tie-back.

The buyer was/is very well aware there must be a service upgrade to a minimum 100 amp and to contract a licensed electrician for the upgrades to bring the home into NEC compliance.

Did I mention there wasn't any grounding, too?

[Paul W. Abernathy]

Yeah...on the Grounding.....

probably you are in an area with very FEW lightning days a year so they have the better end of that CRAP SHOOT. basicaly the GEC and GES is for lightning, higher voltage possibly crossing the lines from a high power line anyway so people wonder all the time how dangerous is a house without a Grounding Conductor or Grounding System......well if you are in a Lightning Prone Area.......could be NASTY.......

But as you see.....homes can run fine without this.......BUt most certainly it will get taken care of in the service change.

Basically a Grounded Conductor to an Electrode is good for 3 things....Lightning, Transient Voltage from the same and the potential of high voltage lines dropping down on the service lines to the house causing a SURGE....otherwise....thats about it