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Question of the Day These are inspection questions posted daily by members of InterNACHI's Educational Committee.

View Poll Results: What would you report the sevice amperage to be??
100 amps 7 26.92%
125 amps 12 46.15%
150 amps 5 19.23%
175 amps 0 0%
200 amps 0 0%
Cannot be determined 2 7.69%
Voters: 26. You may not vote on this poll

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  #16  
Old 11/16/08, 8:28 PM
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Marcel R. Cyr Marcel R. Cyr is online now
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Default Re: QOD for 11/16/08 Electrical

Quote:
Originally Posted by badair View Post
teaser + or minus shoe size
Hey, don't forget to hit the lug with hammer to make sure it don't come loose.




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  #17  
Old 11/17/08, 10:56 AM
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Default Re: QOD for 11/16/08 Electrical

You got me on this one... As I hit the vote button I'm thinking AL wire..... Ohhhhhh too late.



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  #18  
Old 11/17/08, 10:58 AM
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Default Re: QOD for 11/16/08 Electrical

It looks like the cable could have a rating of anywhere from 125 A to 170 amp (e.g. TW vs. THHW vs. THHN).

It needs a main breaker rated to the lower of the cable rating or the panel rating.



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  #19  
Old 11/17/08, 10:32 PM
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Default Re: QOD for 11/16/08 Electrical

Quote:
Originally Posted by rbrady View Post
It needs a main breaker rated to the lower of the cable rating or the panel rating.
Hi Ralph, you sure??

Regards

Gerry



Virtue is more to be feared than vice, because its excesses are not subject to the regulation of conscience.
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  #20  
Old 11/17/08, 11:45 PM
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Default Re: QOD for 11/16/08 Electrical

Wow, over 200 views and only 25 answers????

Strange

Gerry



Virtue is more to be feared than vice, because its excesses are not subject to the regulation of conscience.
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  #21  
Old 11/17/08, 11:55 PM
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Default Re: QOD for 11/16/08 Electrical

Quote:
Originally Posted by gbeaumont View Post
Hi Ralph, you sure??

Regards

Gerry
After your comment, I zoomed in and it looks like it may be a split bus with 5 throws to disconnect all power. In that case, I guess it does not need a main shut-off/breaker, except that there should be a shut-off at the exterior (if it is not an exterior mounted panel).



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  #22  
Old 11/18/08, 1:05 AM
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Default Re: QOD for 11/16/08 Electrical

The answer was 125 Amps.

200 amp meter
1/0 AL SECs<------------ big key. "This is the lowest capacity component"
Panel rated @ 150 amp

1/0 "Aluminum" service entrance cable is only rated for 125amps

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  #23  
Old 11/18/08, 1:09 AM
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Smile Re: QOD for 11/16/08 Electrical

Quote:
Originally Posted by gbeaumont View Post
Wow, over 200 views and only 25 answers????

Strange

Gerry
I guess they didn't want to look bad?~

My excuse??... I'm either so darn good looking...
or.... I just don't know any better!
LOL
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  #24  
Old 11/18/08, 2:25 AM
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Default Re: QOD for 11/16/08 Electrical

I'm glad to know I got it right. The second time.... lol I voted for 150A but then clued into it being AL. I keep a note book full of cheat sheets, went and looked it up and saw it should be 125A.

I don't need to remember everything, I just need to know where to look for the answers to everything!



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Last edited by jsopher; 11/19/08 at 10:53 PM.. Reason: type-o
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  #25  
Old 11/19/08, 7:44 PM
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Default Re: QOD for 11/16/08 Electrical

Hi to all,

OK here's the answer

The meter is 200 amp
The SECs (1/0 AL) are good for 125 amps
The panel has no single disconnect (split bus) but has fewer than 6 moves to shut the home down.
The panel is rated at 150 amp.

I'd be reporting this as a 125 amp supply, in fact I did, this is from one of my inspections.

Regards

Gerry



Virtue is more to be feared than vice, because its excesses are not subject to the regulation of conscience.
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  #26  
Old 11/19/08, 7:55 PM
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Default Re: QOD for 11/16/08 Electrical

The way I understand it, there are different types of cables, as I stated in one of the early posts. I think the main difference is the type of insulation. Cable insulated with teflon has a higher rating than PVC.
For 1/0 Aluminum, my code check book shows a rating of 100A for TW or UF, 120 for XHHW or USE and 135A for USE-2 or XHHW-2.

I had an electrician on site at an inspection one time and I know he was trying to figure out the rating based on the type of wire, not just size.



"An expert is a person who has made all the mistakes that can be made in a very narrow field"
Niels Bohr

"Learn all you can from the mistakes of others. You won't have time to make them all yourself"
Alfred Sheinwold


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  #27  
Old 11/19/08, 8:05 PM
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Marcel R. Cyr Marcel R. Cyr is online now
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Default Re: QOD for 11/16/08 Electrical

Hey Gerry, got it right. Not bad for a hammer Eh!

Well, I did get some inside undercover assistance.




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  #28  
Old 11/19/08, 8:44 PM
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Default Re: QOD for 11/16/08 Electrical

Quote:
Originally Posted by rbrady View Post
The way I understand it, there are different types of cables, as I stated in one of the early posts. I think the main difference is the type of insulation. Cable insulated with teflon has a higher rating than PVC.
For 1/0 Aluminum, my code check book shows a rating of 100A for TW or UF, 120 for XHHW or USE and 135A for USE-2 or XHHW-2.

I had an electrician on site at an inspection one time and I know he was trying to figure out the rating based on the type of wire, not just size.
Hi Ralph,

I definately agree on the differences in cable types however my code book shows the following for service entrances.

2 AL = 100 amps
1 AL = 110 amps
1/0 AL = 125 amps

Regards

Gerry



Virtue is more to be feared than vice, because its excesses are not subject to the regulation of conscience.
Adam Smith (1723-1790)

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  #29  
Old 11/23/08, 2:22 AM
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Default Re: QOD for 11/16/08 Electrical

Looks to be upside down?
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  #30  
Old 11/24/08, 8:51 PM
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Default Re: QOD for 11/16/08 Electrical

lol......guess not enough people watched my sizing video before I removed it from the web....lol



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