George Little / Member posted 01-23-2005 08:43 AM
I wonder why more installers don't install the panel with the Main on the bottom. Next time you have a situation where the meter is outside and back to back with the breaker panel look at the panel and see if it is universal with respects to bottom fed or top fed. It's a lot easier to install and you won't fill up the gutter space with Service Entrance conductors.
Man did this thread ever get side tracked.
I have had inspectors object to the two more feet of SEC that it takes to reach the bottom of the cabinet and technically they are right in that it is not "nearest the point of entry."
In CSA excepted panels there is a dead front over the line terminals so you have to run the supply conductors in through that end of the cabinet. The dead front also prevents you from running branch circuit conductors out of that end of the cabinet. On one old panel type I saw on the air force bases I served on as a lad the cover fasteners were studs with wing nuts and the panel cover would not come off if the main breaker was in the on position. I sometimes think that would be a good technique to adopt in the US for all residential panels when coupled with a Canadian style dead front.
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Tom H
[This message has been edited by tdhorne (edited 01-25-2005).]