New one on me

[Greg Fretwell]

I think calling either of the pullouts a "main" is going to be misleading. The one on the left is simply a disconnect for the plug fuses and the one on the right used to be for the range (or some other large appliance), now it disconnects the breaker panel. Pulling either one does not disconnect the other side.
This is a classic case of the < 6 disconnect rule. There are 2. Some of these panels could have more pullouts. I have seen 4 and I suppose 6 would be possible. Marc is our expert on antique hardware.

[Randy D. Stufflebeem]

I think this may help fellas! Enlarged and another photo thrown. The front cover said A. 60 and 240V which was my first indication of 60 AMP fused. The left "pull out" is the incoming service connection #3 Copper. The right "pull out" has #6 Copper to the sub-panel (newer).

[Marc D. Shunk]

Originally Posted by Greg Fretwell

I think calling either of the pullouts a "main" is going to be misleading.

Not really.

I'd rather see this subpanel under the range pullout than the subfeed lugs.

This install looks like good work, to me, save for the fact that they didn't feed it with 4-wire.

[Greg Fretwell]

Marc I was just referring to the fact that pulling either one will not drop power to the whole panel like most people think of when they say "main" AKA Service Disconnect"

[Marc D. Shunk]

Originally Posted by Greg Fretwell

Marc I was just referring to the fact that pulling either one will not drop power to the whole panel like most people think of when they say "main" AKA Service Disconnect"

The "mains" of a split buss panel don't dump the whole panel either. A main is still a main, without regard to how much of the connected load it disconnects. Feel free to make some arbitrary distinction if it gets you hard. You might note that a new panel will come with stickers for this use. It will have one sticker that says "service disconnect" and many stickers that say "main". There is, indeed, a difference. Just because a certain portion of the population might not be aware of this difference is no reason to pretend the distinction does not exist.

[Greg Fretwell]

I guess we are saying the same thing I am just pointing out "main" in this case is not "service disconnect" and that might confuse people who think "I pulled the MAIN, why didn't everything go off". The other thing is they are using the size of the "main" to determine the service size.

[David P. Valley]

I guess what's most important right now, is what size are the cartridges inside the left pull-out?

[jtedesco1]

Wrong thread deleted and relocated message

[Speedy Petey]

Originally Posted by dvalley

I guess what's most important right now, is what size are the cartridges inside the left pull-out?

They can be no larger than 60A, same as the right side.

Two "mains", with a maximum of 60A each.
100A service.

I don't know why this is so confusing. Most of you are clear on what a split-buss breaker panel is. This is no different.

[David P. Valley]

Originally Posted by Speedy Petey

They can be no larger than 60A, same as the right side.

Two "mains", with a maximum of 60A each.
100A service.

I don't know why this is so confusing. Most of you are clear on what a split-buss breaker panel is. This is no different.

I don't see split buss panels in my area.

Tell me something, what is the purpose of using a split buss panel (2 60 amp pulls) verses a simple 100 amp panel?

[Speedy Petey]

I'm very suprised you don't see them in Ma. We see them ALL the time here in eastern NY.

I'm not sure what the answer is though.
Possibly that one big main was not required, and if one of the several smaller mains tripped it would not take out the whole house? I'm really not sure of the original intent of that design.

The fuse panels were designed that way and used for a LONG time, and breaker panels were very popular in the 50's & 60's.

[David P. Valley]

Originally Posted by Speedy Petey

I'm very suprised you don't see them in Ma. We see them ALL the time here in eastern NY.

I'm not sure what the answer is though.
Possibly that one big main was not required, and if one of the several smaller mains tripped it would not take out the whole house? I'm really not sure of the original intent of that design.

The fuse panels were designed that way and used for a LONG time, and breaker panels were very popular in the 50's & 60's.

Hmmm, I can't recall ever seeing them here. If I did inspect one, I wasn't aware of it being a spilt buss.

[Greg Fretwell]

I think it was simply the cost of 100a fuses. You could put in a pair of 60s to run the 120v and then use other pullouts for the range and any other 240v loads. My next door neighbor has a 4 pullout split bus panel, installed in the 60s. One P/U controls 8 (or 10?) plug fuses, one goes to the water heater, one for the range and one for the wall heaters. I really try to stay away from this thing. I did take out all the 30a fuses and replace them with 20s but since they have fuse stat adapters and I don't have the tool I couldn't get them to the 15s that belong in there.
I have told this lady a bunch of times she needs a panel upgrade and I won't work on it.

[jtedesco1]

Here's a diagram of this equipment along with an explanation:

[Peter Hughes]

Good picture Joe