Inspectiong Main Panel if its raining....

[David Nasser]

Ive never did a home inspection in the rain. If it is raining
What should a Home Inspector do about inspecting the main panel ?


David

[Jeffrey R. Pope]

Just be careful and use common sense. In most cases, the panel is somewhat protected from direct rain fall.

I wouldn't stand in a puddle during wind driven rain, but that just me

[ROBERT W. NEWLAND, JR.]

Originally Posted by jpope

Just be careful and use common sense. In most cases, the panel is somewhat protected from direct rain fall.

I wouldn't stand in a puddle during wind driven rain, but that just me

That's the key

[W. Michael Chris]

Guess I'm lucky, most of my panels are inside, but I'm with Jeff . . . be careful!

[Paul Pendley]

ummm!! puddled water....electric...Im not doing it....

[Russel Ray]

I'm wondering what rain is.

[David Nasser]

thanks MR. Ray.

[Gerry Beaumont]

Hi to all,

I always teach that inspectors should check for stray voltage on the panel covers before even thinking about removing them, this is even more important when dealing with exterior panels as wet or damp ground will provide a better electrical return path than typical interior locations.

Buy a Voltage tic, and be carefull out there

Regards

Gerry

[Eragorn Northe]

I totally agree with these guys, be careful out there, stay out of the puddles while playing with electricity. must just be my part of the country they grow the electric panels on the inside, it good to hear about other parts of the world.

Above all Be safe!

[Jeffrey R. Pope]

In all my years, I've only seen two (2) service panels that were located on the interior of the house or garage. . .

[Joe Funderburk, CMI]

Very common to have a panel on the outside of the home here. I'd say 30% of them.

[Paul W. Abernathy]

In my area ofthe country ( Virginia ) I would sy 95% of the electrical panels are inside the dwelling or garage. When I was out west doing some seminars I saw alot of them outside...gotta be ready for either.

I would say if you are on an inspection and it is raining.....save the panel for when it calms down a little...kinda like I dont walk roofs in the rain.....so do other things and in that few hours of an inspection it may calm down a bit.

Be aware of your surrounding, and as Jerry stated aways TICK your panel for "Objectionable Current"...I prefer to use stray voltage for some other areas....lol

[Paul Pendley]

I agree with russel....what is rain??? hopefully we get some this weekend.

[Frank P. Newman]

It is very common around here to see one (or sometimes two) 200 A service panels located right next to the meter, partly because the fire department insists on having an outside disconnect. So most of the time it is just 200A breaker(s), although sometimes you will find a feeder for a well pump there as well. From there the service will be routed to one or two indoor distribution sub-panels.

[David Nasser]

Thanks everybody, luckily I havent encountered the rain !!